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Coventry V Poole 1/6/15


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To reply to Woffers Mick Horton explained why he was disillusioned Sky dominate Speedway teams who own/rent their Stadiums are not allowed topreparetheir own circuits, Ronnie Russell running about as usual in his autocratic manner dominating the running of the meeting. Mick Horton has made it clear that he didn't want to run the meeting and wanted to all it off during the day as in Wolves and Belle Vue. It was raining heavily at the start and was still the same at conclusion of heat 10. Horton reports that he and Neil Middleditch wanted the meeting off at heat 8 as conditions were getting worse by the minute. I can't understand how an employee of Sky can dictate what happens at a Stadium where they are filming. The Managers wanted the referee to examine the track at heat 8 and she failed to do so. We live in a world of 'Heath and safety" how does this work in Speedway, I would suggest that if a rider had been killed last night at Brandon there could quite easily a case to answer for Corporate Manslaughter. I was there and have followed Speedway for 50 years and that track was not fit for a meeting to start. Sad on you Sky to which I subscribe the whole thing was a shambles mainly down mismanagement by Sky and the match referee must also be blamed for her part. I feel for Mick Horton who has lost a considerable sum of money not through his own making. Woffers suggest you take some of these points when you ask your questions! I know there will be criticism of me for denigrating Sky, this was a high profile meetin at this stage if the season and should have been staged in decent weather conditions. I'm sure Sky don't dominate other sports the way they treat Speedway. Supporters of Speedway are a unique breed watch 10 heats of "racing" moan, go home, back next meeting. We had this last night and even at top level Polish Grand Prix round. (I can't blame Sky for that).

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How can you tell who's being honest if you weren't there :wink:

Because Tatum and Pearson said it was light rain ...you would also see it if was heavy or torrential .

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To reply to Woffers Mick Horton explained why he was disillusioned Sky dominate Speedway teams who own/rent their Stadiums are not allowed topreparetheir own circuits, Ronnie Russell running about as usual in his autocratic manner dominating the running of the meeting. Mick Horton has made it clear that he didn't want to run the meeting and wanted to all it off during the day as in Wolves and Belle Vue. It was raining heavily at the start and was still the same at conclusion of heat 10. Horton reports that he and Neil Middleditch wanted the meeting off at heat 8 as conditions were getting worse by the minute. I can't understand how an employee of Sky can dictate what happens at a Stadium where they are filming. The Managers wanted the referee to examine the track at heat 8 and she failed to do so. We live in a world of 'Heath and safety" how does this work in Speedway, I would suggest that if a rider had been killed last night at Brandon there could quite easily a case to answer for Corporate Manslaughter. I was there and have followed Speedway for 50 years and that track was not fit for a meeting to start. Sad on you Sky to which I subscribe the whole thing was a shambles mainly down mismanagement by Sky and the match referee must also be blamed for her part. I feel for Mick Horton who has lost a considerable sum of money not through his own making. Woffers suggest you take some of these points when you ask your questions! I know there will be criticism of me for denigrating Sky, this was a high profile meetin at this stage if the season and should have been staged in decent weather conditions. I'm sure Sky don't dominate other sports the way they treat Speedway. Supporters of Speedway are a unique breed watch 10 heats of "racing" moan, go home, back next meeting. We had this last night and even at top level Polish Grand Prix round. (I can't blame Sky for that).

So why did Havvy say on Sky that Terry had worked wonders all day to get the track ready for racing??!

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Read earlier somewhere an excellent suggestion from Noggin that should a result be declared after 10 heats the full points win should be reduced...

 

Think this an excellent idea... :t:

 

Last night both teams might have got together and made the right decision of postponing the meeting before it even started (perhaps not)..

 

However, why should any team get a maximum points win after heat 10, when the result could change over the remaining heats if the track allowed the remaining heats to be raced...

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Watched the meeting, and have listened to the Mick Horton podcast.

Does anybody know at what point Mr Horton became disillusioned with speedway?

Was it before last night? Presumably not, his team are doing very well in the league this year, with a high degree of success both home and away.

If he was disillusioned before last night, why haven't heard before now? And exactly what is it that he is disillusioned about? He is in a position of some influence isn't he, so his concerns could be shared with others and a way forward sought?

So perhaps it was only last night, around heat 8 when Coventry conceded a 5-0, slipped 7 points behind and the writing became clearer on the wall?

I should imagine he would be disallusioned having lost quote 10s of thousands of pounds in a situation he had no control over, or perhaps you are wealthy enough not to let these small matters bother you eh!

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I was there and have followed Speedway for 50 years and that track was not fit for a meeting to start.

Maybe you need to go for longer as the track and racing were fine at the start ...even Havvy said that the trackman had done amazing .

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Just to offer another angle on the situation. The moment Swindon offered admission at £5 they immediately set the bar for all future TV stagings. The amount of fans? saying they would not pay the full price for what was potentially the biggest meeting at Brandon outside of the playoffs, is staggering. I know the weather ruined the match as a spectacle and ultimately affected the crowd levels, but if the sun was shining this had the makings of a really good meeting, and well worth the normal admission price, my opinion anyway.

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The officials are the only people who can call a match off. AKA pro football, the referee is the only person who can call off the match. Sky do not have the authority to call off a match although in the interest of the sport it would be good if televised fixtures could go ahead but as we have seen over the years sometimes meetings are called off before the scheduled start and also during teh meting itself. We speedway loving folk should treat Sky as our friends and not some dark murky bogeyman hellbent on ruining our sport.

From what i've been reading, it seems as though Sky/GSI (and not the promoter) are have sole right to postpone a meeting, up until when it starts, then the responsibility transfers to the SCB official (who some would argue, is a puppet of GSI).

Sky is not the bogeyman, but it just seems that the balance of the relationship between BSPA/GSI/Sky such as it has been struck in formal terms, is out of kilter, with too much tilt towards GSI and Sky when it comes to decisions on postponement prior to the scheduled start time. Does this balance need to be corrected, via some sensible discussions between the parties? -yes it appears to be so.

What was witnessed last night was hugely detrimental to the reputation of speedway and probably Sky Sport too, at a time when that damage can't be afforded. The parties need to work out a better, and workable balance of power as an urgent priority.

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Watched the meeting, and have listened to the Mick Horton podcast.

Does anybody know at what point Mr Horton became disillusioned with speedway?

Was it before last night? Presumably not, his team are doing very well in the league this year, with a high degree of success both home and away.

If he was disillusioned before last night, why haven't heard before now? And exactly what is it that he is disillusioned about? He is in a position of some influence isn't he, so his concerns could be shared with others and a way forward sought?

So perhaps it was only last night, around heat 8 when Coventry conceded a 5-0, slipped 7 points behind and the writing became clearer on the wall?

About 7.15 I'm guessing when he counted a couple of hundred fans there.

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To reply I didn't say that Sky drove the tractor but they have the last say as tithe setup of the track, why should they have that power?. I defy any reasonable fan to suggest that this meeting should have started or continued as the evening went on downright dangerous after beat 8.

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Looking at the crowd last night it looked like it was just ST holders, and the way the supporters are treated I doubt any future sky matches will attract many more.

 

Can anyone provide heat times for heat 1 to heat 10 as I should think that will say a lot.

Heat 1 was 62 seconds and heat 10 was 66 seconds. It's usually around the 59-60 seconds mark at Brandon.

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I'm sure Sky don't dominate other sports the way they treat Speedway. Supporters of Speedway are a unique breed watch 10 heats of "racing" moan, go home, back next meeting. We had this last night and even at top level Polish Grand Prix round. (I can't blame Sky for that).

Yes they do. There have been a number of complaints from Premiership football clubs who have criticised having to play on Sundays and Mondays. Also the fact that they have staggered starting times to fit in with TV schedules. Sky (and now others) pay big money so they get a big say.

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My point of view is,normally with the forecast and the band of rain predicted to be in coventry early evening it would not have started but once started unless it absolutely hammered it down it was always going to be a result.

The times were slower as you would expect but the crashes in the later heats were mainly down to garrity not the track

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foreverblue, on 02 Jun 2015 - 2:48 PM, said:

He wasn't allowed!! Isn't it up to Coventry who calls it off, what can sky do? threaten to not film them? If this was at Poole and Matt Ford wanted it called off what do you think would happen? Weak Coventry management.

If supporters can get away from the HATE POOLE - HATE BEES interests , doubt if 40 pages would have been generated if it was two other clubs ..Our sport has reached an Emperor's new clothes moment ! Anybody with a bit of sway got the balls ?

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Read earlier somewhere an excellent suggestion from Noggin that should a result be declared after 10 heats the full points win should be reduced...

 

Think this an excellent idea... :t:

 

Last night both teams might have got together and made the right decision of postponing the meeting before it even started (perhaps not)..

 

However, why should any team get a maximum points win after heat 10, when the result could change over the remaining heats if the track allowed the remaining heats to be raced...

Its all fine and well discussing 10 heat matches and who gets what points,What about the fans what should they get in return when this happens, as usual treated like sh#t.Not good enough.
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Last night's match, and the rush to get to heat 10, it reminded me of being a kid... when you used to scoff your tea really quick, so you could get back out to play. There was more important things, like being outside with your mates... or, in speedway's case, a flight to catch.

 

In 10 seemed so important to reach. Never mind the paying fans (what there were). It makes a mockery of it being an entertainment, a value-for-money night out, and certainly reduces support the next time there's rain on match day.

 

Who in their right minds will pay admission, travel costs etc, to see 10 races of speedway?

 

Fans' loyalty to speedway has been tested far far too much recently.

 

Last night's antics was another occasion.

Edited by moxey63
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