Oxford vs Kent - NDL - 08/08

[geoff100]

42 minutes ago, lucifer sam said:

Those in glass houses, Mr. Trigger!  At least Oxford take sensible options in trying to get meetings on - none which end up with the fire brigade being called!

As for yesterday, there was no rain at all until 5pm and the heavy rain didn't come until after 6pm.  You can't call a meeting off simply on the strength of the forecast alone, when we all know how unreliable British weather forecasts are, especially at this time of year when the weather is so changeable.  Had it been belting down with rain all day, and also been forecast to rain in the evening, I'm sure they would have been an earlier call-off, as there was Oxford v Swindon right at the start of the season which was called off in the morning, but that wasn't the case.

Oxford have got on at least two meetings (Cheetahs v Poole and Chargers v Leicester) when some internet "weather experts" said otherwise, and supporters know that Oxford will always put on every effort to put the meeting on. Last night didn't work out, while in other instances it has.

Many meetings have been called off due to a bad forecast!

[steve roberts]

17 minutes ago, geoff100 said:

Many meetings have been called off due to a bad forecast!

I recall back in 1974 Gordon Kennett phoned ahead from his Kent base to check as to whether the meeting at Cowley against Swindon was to go head and was told by then Oxford Promoter Bob Radford that it had been postponed only for it to go ahead and Oxford used Alan Johns as a replacemant and we lost to those pesky "Budgies"...Radford resigned soon after and always maintained a chip on his shoulder as regards Oxford thereafter.

[lucifer sam]

5 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

I recall back in 1974 Gordon Kennett phoned ahead from his Kent base to check as to whether the meeting at Cowley against Swindon was to go head and was told by then Oxford Promoter Bob Radford that it had been postponed only for it to go ahead and Oxford used Alan Johns as a replacemant and we lost to those pesky "Budgies"...Radford resigned soon after and always maintained a chip on his shoulder as regards Oxford thereafter.

We had a little wager in 2004 on whether Oxford or Swindon would finish higher. It was Oxford, and fair play to Bob, who promptly handed over £50 to the Ben Fund.

[lewy]

2 hours ago, lucifer sam said:

Those in glass houses, Mr. Trigger!  At least Oxford take sensible options in trying to get meetings on - none which end up with the fire brigade being called!

As for yesterday, there was no rain at all until 5pm and the heavy rain didn't come until after 6pm.  You can't call a meeting off simply on the strength of the forecast alone, when we all know how unreliable British weather forecasts are, especially at this time of year when the weather is so changeable.  Had it been belting down with rain all day, and also been forecast to rain in the evening, I'm sure they would have been an earlier call-off, as there was Oxford v Swindon right at the start of the season which was called off in the morning, but that wasn't the case.

Oxford have got on at least two meetings (Cheetahs v Poole and Chargers v Leicester) when some internet "weather experts" said otherwise, and supporters know that Oxford will always put on every effort to put the meeting on. Last night didn't work out, while in other instances it has.

Dress it up how you like,bad call end of,poole and Isle of Wight went by the forecast and made the sensible call Oxford didn't, poor show.

[lucifer sam]

New dates:

Tuesday, August 8th - Oxford v Kent

Sunday, August 20th - Kent v Oxford

[Sings4Speedway]

10 minutes ago, lucifer sam said:

New dates:

Tuesday, August 8th - Oxford v Kent

Sunday, August 20th - Kent v Oxford

Interesting as Kent Mildenhall is also that date. Double header feels like a touch of madness given Iwades recent meetings

[lisa-colette]

4 hours ago, lucifer sam said:

Those in glass houses, Mr. Trigger!  At least Oxford take sensible options in trying to get meetings on - none which end up with the fire brigade being called!

As for yesterday, there was no rain at all until 5pm and the heavy rain didn't come until after 6pm.  You can't call a meeting off simply on the strength of the forecast alone, when we all know how unreliable British weather forecasts are, especially at this time of year when the weather is so changeable.  Had it been belting down with rain all day, and also been forecast to rain in the evening, I'm sure they would have been an earlier call-off, as there was Oxford v Swindon right at the start of the season which was called off in the morning, but that wasn't the case.

Oxford have got on at least two meetings (Cheetahs v Poole and Chargers v Leicester) when some internet "weather experts" said otherwise, and supporters know that Oxford will always put on every effort to put the meeting on. Last night didn't work out, while in other instances it has.

You can when the met office are saying 90-95% chance of heavy rain from 6pm -2am. Was never going to be on. But I guess the admission policy makes it so that Oxford will never do an early call off imo. 

[lucifer sam]

2 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:

Interesting as Kent Mildenhall is also that date. Double header feels like a touch of madness given Iwades recent meetings

Looks like it is a double header!

[szkocjasid]

7 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:

Interesting as Kent Mildenhall is also that date. Double header feels like a touch of madness given Iwades recent meetings

As Kent only had 8 home fixtures to fit in, I can't believe they have resorted to staging a double header!

[szkocjasid]

11 hours ago, lucifer sam said:

As for yesterday, there was no rain at all until 5pm and the heavy rain didn't come until after 6pm.  You can't call a meeting off simply on the strength of the forecast alone, when we all know how unreliable British weather forecasts are, especially at this time of year when the weather is so changeable.

Actually you can, clubs just have to judge the situation, some make more of an effort to get matches on, others will cut their losses very often.

The downside of running against a poor forecast if the crowd level will likely be lower with fans either deciding it's gonna get called off or will be a wet & miserable night even if it's on! 

The problem with last night's call off is fans may be even less likely to attend in poor weather in the future now?

[Sings4Speedway]

11 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

As Kent only had 8 home fixtures to fit in, I can't believe they have resorted to staging a double header!

Something jangling in the back of my mind says Kent can only run 2 x NL meetings a month due to planning? Makes no sense as there is no restrictions on running practice/amateur meetings the other weeks of the month. With one September date already taken perhaps the risk of leaving the re-arranged fixture until then is something Kent and Oxford (for differing reasons) didn't want to take? Maybe its time to say if the fixture can't be run by the cut off date the away side gets the points and drop the fines against the hosting sides?

[lewy]

On 7/27/2023 at 10:31 AM, lucifer sam said:

Those in glass houses, Mr. Trigger!  At least Oxford take sensible options in trying to get meetings on - none which end up with the fire brigade being called!

As for yesterday, there was no rain at all until 5pm and the heavy rain didn't come until after 6pm.  You can't call a meeting off simply on the strength of the forecast alone, when we all know how unreliable British weather forecasts are, especially at this time of year when the weather is so changeable.  Had it been belting down with rain all day, and also been forecast to rain in the evening, I'm sure they would have been an earlier call-off, as there was Oxford v Swindon right at the start of the season which was called off in the morning, but that wasn't the case.

Oxford have got on at least two meetings (Cheetahs v Poole and Chargers v Leicester) when some internet "weather experts" said otherwise, and supporters know that Oxford will always put on every effort to put the meeting on. Last night didn't work out, while in other instances it has.

Another shocking decision, late call off against scunthorpe in the championship tonight 

[Bojangles]

The weather looking like it might win the re-staging of this tonight as well. Although with the rain due to stop around 5pm (according to Met Office, BBC has it raining a bit longer), wouldn't surprise me if Oxford leave it late before making a decision again.

Edited August 8, 2023 by Bojangles

[arnieg]

Just now, Bojangles said:

The weather looking like it might win the re-staging of this tonight as well.

Think you may be overly pessimistic. While forecasts show high percentage chances of rain through the day (like the last two weeks) the BIG difference is the volume of rain. The last two weeks forecasts were (accurately as it turned out) showing 12-15mm of rain. Today we are looking at light intermittent rain  amounting to no more than 3-4 mm (if the forecasts are right).

[Bojangles]

Just now, arnieg said:

Think you may be overly pessimistic. While forecasts show high percentage chances of rain through the day (like the last two weeks) the BIG difference is the volume of rain. The last two weeks forecasts were (accurately as it turned out) showing 12-15mm of rain. Today we are looking at light intermittent rain  amounting to no more than 3-4 mm (if the forecasts are right).

I hope you're right, that certainly sounds a bit more optimistic. Just a bit weary of making the trip after the last two meetings.

[Chairboy]

Will Kent be announcing their line-up at some point?!

[Bojangles]

3 minutes ago, Chairboy said:

Will Kent be announcing their line-up at some point?!

It's on their website...
Kent Royals: 1. Nathan Ablitt, 2. Connor King, 3. Matt Marson (guest), 4. Ben Morley, 5. Rider Replacement, 6. Ashton Vale, 7. Tom Woolley.

Oxford teams as follows:
Oxford Chargers: 1. Jordan Jenkins, 2. Jacob Clouting, 3. Ryan Kinsley, 4. Jody Scott, 5. Henry Atkins, 6. Luke Killeen, 7. Jason Garrad.

[Bojangles]

Scratch all that.....the meeting has been postponed.

[Chairboy]

Cheers Bojangles...not sure how I missed that when I looked a few minutes ago.

[Chairboy]

1 minute ago, Bojangles said:

Scratch all that.....the meeting has been postponed.

Thanks for that as well!