Strange tales from the depths of despair

[admin]

Chapter I


Berwick versus Kings Lynn - 10-06-06

The downward spiral of the dispossessed

One never knows when the blow may fall. But supporters of Berwick speedway have a better idea than most – usually some time after 8:00pm on a Saturday evening. These are traumatic, torrid, terrible times for that ever-dwindling band of brothers (and sisters) who regularly watch their speedway in the cruel, crazy town on the banks of the River Tweed. And it didn’t look like getting any better tonight, with a powerful looking Kings Lynn side the visitors.
And so to the racing:

Ht 1 and Doolan, in as rider replacement for Nermark, makes the start, but, for a moment, it looked like Burza might get around him on the 1st-2nd bends. But if Burza thought about doing that, he rapidly had second thoughts and settled for second, with Harding in third. 4-2
Ht 2 and we’ve the first of many re-runs, as Oliver bites the dirt on the 1st bend, after Branney had impeded him. The referee – perhaps sensing the Bandits are up against it tonight and looking to help them out a little – excludes Oliver. In the restart, the Bandits race into an early 5-1, but Mills soon passes the duo for a relatively easy win. 5-7
Ht 3 and Makovsky goes from 4th to 2nd in splendid fashion, while Smethills goes from 2nd to 4th in not so splendid fashion – Doolan’s an easy winner, again. 7-11
Ht 4 and Topinka strolls to a win that was easier than easy – helped, of course, by the usual poor gating of Bergstrom. Indeed, it appears that Topinka’s biggest trouble was with the Sun, which was setting over the 3rd bend. 10-14
And now there’s a break while we waited for the Sun to settle over Simpson’s Malt works in the distance.
Ht 5 and the Sun’s set, but the Stars are still winning. On this occasion, it’s Batchelor, in as rider replacement for Nermark, who races to an easy win over Makovsky and Harding. Smethills was there, but he wasn’t at the races. 12-18
Ht 6 and it’s almost a re-run of Ht 1, with Burza looking like swooping around the Kings Lynn rider, in this case Topinka, on the 1st-2nd bends, but deciding discretion is the better part of valour when it mattered. An easy win for Topinka, an easy second for Burza, an easy third for Mills and an easy fall at the back for Meldrum. 14-22
Ht 7 and Doolan races to an easy enough win over the slow starting Bergstrom. 16-26
Ht 8 and we’ve Branney taking a Tactical Ride outing. And he’s off gate one – it looked like trouble to me. Sure enough, an uncompromising 1st bend from young Branney saw his three rivals all bite the dust. Actually, one demolished the safety fence. So, we’ve a re-run with all four riders, which was probably fair enough. In the re-run, Mills made the start and raced to an easy win. And with Meldrum easing off to gift Branney second, we’ve a long-awaited Berwick heat advantage. 21-29
Ht 9 and Oliver replaces Mills for Kings Lynn. And he picks up a point, as Smethill’s awful evening continues with a starting gate engine failure. 23-33
Ht 10 and we’ve a Berwick winner, at last. And it’s “storming” Stan Burza, who makes a good gate and clamps down on the previously unbeaten Doolan on the 1st bend, before racing to a win that’s as easy as Topinka’s. But should he have been wearing white and black, that’s the question? 26-36
Ht 11 and we’ve another re-run, this time without Warwick, who took a tumble on the 2nd bend. In fact, there was something wonderfully noble about Warwick’s demise, coming, as it did, after a bold attempt to swoop around the outside of Topinka, in as rider replacement for Nermark. It never looked likely to succeed, it always looked likely to end in the fence and so it did. Warwick also made a good fist of trying to get off the track before the race was stopped – full marks for effort and idealism. In the re-run, Topinka cantered to an easy, easy, easy win. 28-40
Ht 12 and we’ve reached the last resort, where the terminally helpless reside – a tactical substitute. In this case, Makovsky replaces the anonymous Smethills, wearing the white and black helmet colour and starting 15 metres back. And he has to do it twice – yes, we’ve another re-run, this time without Mills, who takes a tumble on the 3rd bend of the first lap. Makovsky, steaming up behind him, does remarkably well to miss the stricken Mills, but Mills’ bike makes less effort to avoid the Mills-avoiding Makovsky, who takes a nasty tumble over Mills’ bike. In the re-run, Batchelor takes an easy win, while Branney lets Makovsky past on the second lap. And it’s a heat advantage – only their second - to the Bandits.
Ht 13 and Burza – wearing the old black and white helmet cover - makes a wonderful move on the 1st-2nd turn to block Topinka’s attempted swoop around the outside. Thereafter, Burza races to a surprisingly easy win over the previously unbeaten Topinka. In fact, Topinka looked more likely to be caught by Bergstrom than he looked like catching Burza – had the race been over 5 laps, I think Topinka would’ve been third. But, it wasn’t. Still, it’s a 7-2 to the Bandits. 40-45
Ht 14 and another we’d another splendid race between Branney and Makovsky for second place. It was the same against the Isle of Wight – Branney into second and Makovsky making desperate efforts to pass him. Actually, this race was better than their race against the Isle of Wight, since on this occasion, the opposition rider looked like he could be caught. Makovsky probably stood a better chance, but Branney had 2nd place and he wasn’t giving it up without a struggle. Which, you suspect, was good news for Doolan, the race winner. And his win means Kings Lynn had won the meeting, with a heat to spare. 43-48
Ht 15 and what a glorious race we have. Burza makes the start, but this time Topinka’s not to be denied his swoop around the 1st-2nd bends and the two riders go down the back straight level. But Topinka’s just got the edge and he races away, while interest switches to an epic struggle for third between Makovsky and Doolan. Eventually, coming out of the 4th bend on lap 2, Makovsky finally drives through on the inside to take the point. 46-51

So, a well deserved win for Kings Lynn tonight. But I’ll leave you with a single thought: only in modern British speedway could it be possible for a team to have three heat advantages from only two individual heat wins. And in one of those heat wins, they didn’t even get a heat advantage. You know it [doesn’t] make sense.

[admin]

Chapter II


Berwick versus Newcastle - 17-06-06

Weird thoughts on the bankruptcy of hope

I was just outside Scremerston, on the edge of the cultural desert, when the drugs took hold. In the distance, where the cruel, crazy town usually stands – or sleeps – a post-apocalyptic landscape appeared, with a bonfire at the centre. Sitting precariously atop the bonfire was Berwick promoter Peter Waite, about to be consumed by the flames, while the brazen women and pansexual male thugs that populate the border town danced around the edges of the fire, as if involved in some pagan ritual.
A sudden urgent blast on the horn from the car following brought the old Mongol to his senses. And just in time. My turning was coming up rather quickly.
If things don’t get much better for the Bandits, my drug-induced vision may become reality – all things are possible in Berwick.
Twice previously this cruel, crazy season the Geordie hordes have travelled up the A1 in hope and travelled the opposite direction a couple of hours later as winners. Could they make it three in a row, or would it be third time lucky for the Bandits? A quite reasonable crowd had gathered at Shielfield Park to find out.
And so to the racing:

Ht 1 and Newcastle aren’t messing about – they wheel their big gun Stancl straight in as rider replacement for the missing Franc, while the Bandits bring in Branney to replace the missing, but hardly likely to be missed, Smethills. But it’s Burza who takes the win, after a bit of a tussle with Stancl on the 1st-2nd bends. With Henry in 2nd and Stancl 3rd for much of the race it looked like a shared heat, but on the 3rd-4th bends of the last lap, Henry went walkabout and Stancl and Branney both nipped past him – a dreadful error. But it wouldn’t be the last from Henry. 4-2
Ht 2 and young Warwick’s first away, as the tapes go up. And he remains in front until the chequered flag, with some very intelligent work to keep the charging Robertson at bay, while team mate Branney charges past McKinna on the second lap to give the Bandits another heat advantage. 8-4.
Ht 3 and it’s a truly glorious ride from Makovsky to go from 3rd to 1st on the first couple of laps. The fast starting Diamonds’ pair make the gate, but entering the 3rd turn on the 1st lap, Makovsky dives up the inside of Grieves and then repeats the trick on Hauzinger going into the 1st turn of the 2nd lap – superb. 11-7
Ht 4 and we’ve another of those wonderful cameo races between Branney and a team mate – they’re becoming quite a regular feature of Berwick meetings. This time it’s Branney and Bergstrom battling for 2nd place: a battle eventually won by Bergstrom, who stormed past Branney down the back straight on the 3rd lap. What about the Diamonds? Well, Stancl won the race at a canter, while Robertson fell on the 2nd bend, remounted, poodled round for a couple of laps and then retired. 14-10
Ht 5 and another superb race, with Makovsky initially looking to take a run around the outside of the fast starting Henry on the 1st-2nd turns, before switching to the inside and charging past the Diamond entering the 3rd turn. With Makovsky racing into the distance, attention turns to Birkinshaw’s efforts to pass Henry by continually charging round the boards. In the end, Henry, perhaps unable to cope with the pressure from Birkinshaw, took a tumble entering the 3rd turn on the last lap. Birkinshaw did remarkably well to avoid the stricken Diamond, but less well in avoiding the safety fence, as he too takes a tumble. The referee correctly excludes Henry and awards the 5-1 to the Bandits. 19-11.
Ht 6 and another super race, as Burza flies around the outside on the 1st-2nd bends to pull level with the fast starting Stancl as they enter the back straight. And Burza keeps it wound on to claim the 3rd bend as his own and then races off into the distance. Meanwhile, young Warwick, in as Berwick’s rider replacement, claims 3rd place and it’s another heat advantage to the home team. 23-13
Ht 7 and it’s a wonderful ride from young Branney, replacing fellow reserve Warwick, to round the Diamonds’ pairing on the 1st-2nd bends and to hold on for the win despite severe pressure from Grieves. But there’s disappointment for Bergstrom, who makes no impression at the back. 26-16
Ht 8 and hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, Henry manages four laps without making an error. And he finishes second behind rider replacement Makovsky as well. But with Branney getting the better of Robertson, it’s another heat advantage to the rampant Borderers. 30-18
Ht 9 and out comes young Stancl wearing white and black. And he makes no mistake with a tapes-to-chequered flag win over the previously unbeaten Makovsky and Birkinshaw. It’s a heat advantage – their first – to the Diamonds. 33-24
Ht 10 and another storming win for Storming Stanley Burza, as he again rounds the fast starting Diamonds on the 1st-2nd bends and disappears into the distance. 36-27
Ht 11 and Grieves is out as rider replacement for the Diamonds. And not only that, he’s wearing black and white as well. And more than that, he also wins the race. It’s another heat advantage for the Diamonds, but they really didn’t need Henry to be last – they didn’t need it, but he was last. 39-33
Ht 12 and another super race, as the ever-willing Birkinshaw tries everything he knows to get past Hauzinger. He doesn’t succeed, but not for the want of trying. At the back, Warwick gets the better of McKinna and another heat advantage goes the way of the Bandits. 42-36
Ht 13 and Burza again gets the better of young Stancl. This time it’s one of those lightning starts from the Pole that confounds the Czech. 46-38
Ht 14 and Grieves storms into the lead for Newcastle, with Branney and Makovsky taking up the chase. The old Mongol is eagerly anticipating another of those splendid tussles between Branney and a team mate, but Makovsky gets himself into a muddle on the 3rd-4th bends of lap 1 and retires, leaving Branney to take the meeting winning 2nd place in the race. And we’ve fun and frollicks after the race as well, unless you’re Robertson. I have to confess, I didn’t see it – I was dutifully filling in my programme when I heard a crash and muffled squeals. I looked up from my programme and down onto the track to see Robertson spread-eagled. It seems that he and Branney had been doing synchronised wheelying, when he lost control and crashed.
Ht 15 and we’ve Burza and Makovsky up against Stancl and Hauzinger. Can the “Storm” get his first maximum as a Bandit? That’s the question. And the answer, sadly, is he can’t, as Stancl finally gets the better of him on the 1st-2nd bends and races away to a well deserved win. Still, young Burza doesn’t seem too upset as he goes into his traditional post-meeting antics. 51-45

So, a rare victory in this dismal, depressing season for the Bandits. And well deserved it was as well. Not only that, but it was also a splendid meeting, but might’ve been better if the wondrous watering tanker had made an appearance – there was a little dust out there tonight, but not enough to detract from the meeting.
And those drugs I mentioned at the start; they turned out to be nothing more than orange tic-tacs.

[admin]

Chapter III


Berwick versus Sheffield - 24-06-06

Darkness at the edge of Armageddon

Armageddon came early for Peter Waite in 2006 and he wasn’t prepared for it. He lingered and delayed in making his intentions known and has paid a heavy price in lost credibility and good will.
All I ever hear is criticism whenever I venture with trepidation into the cruel, crazy town for a “fix” of speedway – and most of it’s directed at the helpless, hapless Peter Waite. But, you know what? I really don’t have much criticism of the fellow, because I’m still enjoying my speedway Shielfield Park style in 2006. The racing – all I really attend speedway for – is still pretty good and apart from the occasional delay after an accident, the meeting is rattled through at a good tempo, with a barely noticeable interval.
What’s the point of an interval? I’ve never really seen any need for one. Have you?
And it’s hard to criticise a promotion that plays Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ wonderful “Geno” over the PA – one of the finest tunes of the 1980s, the decade that style forgot. My only criticism is that they didn’t play enough of it – surely the start of a heat could’ve been delayed so that the glory of the full song could’ve been played? It would’ve brought a little culture into the barren wastelands.
Anyway, to the racing:

Ht 1 and we’ve a re-run, after Birkinshaw takes a very nasty tumble going into the 1st turn on the 2nd lap – his bike actually made it to the 2nd turn (if it hadn’t been for the fence, it might’ve made it to Newcastle), but Birkinshaw didn’t. Anyway, young Birkinshaw takes a trip in the ambulance and there’s a slight delay to proceedings while the medical staff get up to whatever medical staff get up to these days. When racing starts again, Burza gets shuffled out of it on the 1st turn and then appears to have a Gollob “tactical” engine failure (what a cynical old Mongol I am) while lying 3rd on the 3rd lap – he poodles round for the point, but it’s a bad start for the Bandits. 1-5
Ht 2 and young Warwick is away again and, try as he might, Cooper can’t do anything about it, while Armstrong settles into 3rd place. 5-7
Ht 3 and a wonderful race, as Smethills and Legault ride side-by-side for the 1st lap until finally the Bandit edges into the lead. And then entering the 3rd turn on the 2nd lap Makovsky charges through the inside to join his partner, while Legault takes a tumble. Legault lingers on the track for a while, looking hopefully at the official’s box, but he didn’t really have a case, Makovsky never touched him, and eventually he dragged himself to the centre green. 10-8
Ht 4 and we’ve the brothers Compton, Andre and the not-so-good-one, against the Bandits’ pairing of Bergstrom and Armstrong. And it’s that Bandits’ pairing that takes the honours, with Bergstrom, resplendent in new kevlars, rounding Andre Compton on the 1st-2nd bends on the first lap and Armstrong getting the better of Benji (was he named after the dog?) Compton. 14-10
Ht 5 and Makovsky blasts around everyone on the 1st-2nd bend to take the lead, with Ashworth 2nd and Smethills 3rd, but Wilson soon gets the better of Smethills who grinds to a halt shortly thereafter, possibly with one of those “tactical” engine failures we spoke of earlier. 17-13
Ht 6 and Andre Compton leads the Bandits pairing home for an easy win, but credit to Warwick, replacing the injured Birkinshaw, on a very creditable 2nd place ahead of team mate Burza, who really doesn’t look “at the races” tonight. 20-16
Ht 7 and Sanchez leads the way with the ever-trying Bergstrom 2nd and Warwick 3rd. Legault’s disappointing night continues, with him never looking likely to catch Warwick and eventually withdrawing with what looks like another of those “tactical” engine failures – they come in so handy from time to time, don’t they?
Ht 8 and it’s a disaster for Berwick, as the Sheffield pairing of Wilson and Cooper – replacing the lesser Compton – race away from the start and, despite the sterling efforts of Warwick, that’s the way it finishes and we’re all level again. 24-24
Ht 9 and Andre Compton leads the way, with Makovsky 2nd and Smethills steaming around the outside like a man possessed, but with Makovsky and Smethills both trying to occupy the same piece of track at the same time, something’s got to give. And on this occasion, it was Smethills’ nerve, as he shuts the throttle off and settles in behind his partner, who’s settled in behind Andre Compton, who’s won the race. 27-27
Ht 10 and finally Burza makes a decent start, dominates the 1st-2nd bends and races off for a comfortable win. For a brief while, Warwick joins him at the front, but eventually the Sheffield pairing both pass Berwick’s over-worked reserve. But Warwick picks up a point when Sanchez grinds to a halt later in the race. 30-30
Ht 11 and a wonderful cameo from Bergstrom who misses the gate completely – nothing new there then – and then makes Herculean efforts to pass the Sheffield pairing. He manages to pass Wilson with a wonderful blast around the outside on the 3rd-4th bends of the first lap and then tries to repeat the feat against Ashworth on the 2nd and 3rd laps, before diving to the inside on the race to the line. But Ashworth holds on and we’re all square again. 33-33
Ht 12 and Smethills leads from, as young Millard from the empire of darkness might say, pillar to post, but it’s the Sheffield duo behind them as young Warwick, replacing Armstrong, runs out of steam. And who can blame him? He used to only having three outings around Shielfield and it’s a bloody big track – Ht 12 was his sixth and he’s still got another one to go. 36-36
Ht 13 And it all goes avocado shape for the Bandits, as Sheffield’s powerful duo of Andre Compton and Ashworth shuffle Burza out on the 1st-2nd bends and race off into the distance. Bergstrom, again not involved in the 1st bend shakedown eventually also gets the better of Burza, but he was never going to catch the Sheffield pairing, well, not over four laps anyway. 37-41
Ht 14 and Makovsky rounds everyone on the 1st-2nd bends and races to a very easy win from Sanchez and with Warwick getting the better of the lesser Compton it’s a heat advantage to the Bandits and they’ve a slim, slender chance going into Ht 15. 41-43
Ht 15 and what little chance Berwick had of winning the meeting disappears down the drain with the election of Bergstrom to partner Makovsky. Burza might’ve had a poor meeting, but he can get out of the starts. And that’s always an advantage in Ht 15. As it is, Bergstrom misses the start, tries his best to catch up, overcooks it on the 4th turn on the 1st lap and hits the fence. The race is stopped, with Compton leading, Makovsky 2nd and Ashworth 3rd. And in the re-run that’s exactly how they finish. 43-47

So, well done to Sheffield on a well-deserved victory over a Bandits team that really didn’t fire.

[admin]

Chapter IV


The Bordernapolis

A brief respite from the descent

Mr Borrowdale didn’t want me to make it to the cruel, crazy town tonight.
But, once again, the old Mongol confounded the evil machinations of Edmund Nuttall and BNG and made it to Shielfield Park in time for the pre-meeting parade. And, infinitely more important, in time to see the marvel that is Berwick’s watering tanker take a few laps immediately prior to the meeting starting. But the watering tanker is not alone tonight. No, indeed, it’s joined by not one, but two brand-spanking-new John Deere (one of which was an absolute bloody monster of a machine) tractors to do the track grading.
Well, the locals should’ve been happy tonight: first of all, the Bandits couldn’t get beaten since it was an individual interlude and secondly their beloved Adrian Rymel was back in town, while the dastardly Pole Burza who took his place was missing. And who can blame Burza for missing this one? He’d have suffered a Mussolini-like fate (Mussolini ended his days ingloriously strung up on a Milanese lamp post by his ankles, together with his mistress) had he suffered defeat at the hands of Rymel.
So to the racing:

Ht 1 and Todd Wiltshire serves early notice of his intentions with an imperious win from “pillar to post” as the empire of darkness’ Millard might say. Behind Wiltshire it’s pretty strung out with Doolan 2nd and returning hero Rymel 3rd. And what about the fourth guy? I hear you ask. Oh, yes, Stojanowski took a tumble on the 3rd turn of lap 1, remounted, toddled around for a couple of laps and retired.
Ht 2 and we’ve the first signs that Shane Parker means business, as he rounds Simon Stead on the 1st-2nd turns of lap 1 and storms into the lead. Stead keeps him honest, but never looks like seriously mounting a challenge.
Ht 3 and Chris Holder tries to replicate Parker’s effort of a heat earlier and round Travis McGowan. But McGowan shuts the door, Holder looses his momentum and Theo Pijper nips past him entering turn 3. Holder tries to recover his position, but Pijper rides a very steady race and keeps his 2nd place behind McGowan.
Ht 4 and Wiltshire races away to a very easy victory, but there’s action aplenty behind him as returning hero Rymel, in 3rd place, desperately tries to steal 2nd from his former team mate Wilkinson. For a while, it looked like Rymel might get the better of Wilkinson on the run to the chequered flag, but he didn’t.
Ht 5 and Parker again impresses with a comfortable victory over Messrs Stojanowski, Pijper and a disappointing Holder.
Ht 6 and we’ve an awarded race, after the referee calls a halt to proceedings after Travis McGowan takes a tumble on the 3rd bend of the 3rd lap. McGowan, somewhat surprisingly, had been tailed off at the back, while Simon Stead had been cruising at the front. Stead was awarded the win, from Doolan and Stancl.
Ht 7 and something had to give, as the unbeaten duo of Todd Wiltshire and Shane Parker meet. And it’s Wiltshire who takes the honours after a very close and hard-fought 1st-2nd turn on the opening lap. Theo Pijper claimed 3rd place, while the woeful George Stancl gave up at the back.
Ht 8 and we’ve a very suspicious start from Josef Franc – he was half a bike length up before anyone else moved – but the referee lets it go and in spite of a couple of “interesting” moments from the ex-Bandit, he takes the win from Doolan and Wilkinson, with McGowan tailed off at the back.
And now we’ve an interval while Berwick’s wonderful watering tanker is put through its paces by Berwick’s uber-boss Peter Waite (who copes manfully with what look to be a few tricky gears). And those John Deere tractors are following close behind grading the track. Let me tell you, it’s an impressive sight and one you should all rush to witness. The only problem is that the John Deere tractors will probably never be seen again at Shielfield again.
Ht 9 and we’ve a re-run after Britain’s GP superstar (according to Dick of the Barrie) Simon Stead comes a cropper entering the 3rd turn of the 1st lap, caught out by the recently watered track. In the re-run, Rymel takes the honours with a start, which was more dubious than Franc’s a heat earlier. Still, it kept the locals – or most of them – happy. Behind Rymel, there was an interesting race between the Isle of Wight’s duo of Holder and Stojanowski, with Holder passing the Pole very forcefully on the 2nd turn of lap 2.
Ht 10 and another convincing win for Wiltshire, with McGowan 2nd and Holder 3rd, while the ever-willing Wilkinson brings up the rear.
Ht 11 and another super effort from the very impressive Parker as he rounds the fast-starting, returning idol Rymel on the 1st-2nd turns of the 1st lap – it really was a glorious manoeuvre from the Glasgow star. Edinburgh’s Theo Pijper kept his semi-final hopes alive – barely – by claiming 3rd, ahead of Stojanowski.
Ht 12 and Simon Stead blasts to a very impressive win over Doolan, Franc and the dreadfully disappointing Stancl.
So, to the semi-final and it’s Simon Stead, Kevin Doolan, Adrian Rymel and Travis McGowan racing to see which two will join Wiltshire and Parker in the final. And it’s Stead who takes the hnours with a comfortable – and rather spectacular – victory over Rymel, with McGowan 3rd and Doolan bring up the rear.
The final and, after an interminable delay, while Dick Barrie extended the choice of gate positions for as long as was humanly possible, we’ve got an absolute cracker of a race between Wiltshire, off gate 4, and Parker, off gate 2. Parker makes the start, but Wiltshire’s got the outside line the 1st-2nd turns and takes the lead. But Parker never gives up and throws everything at Wiltshire in a noble, but ultimately futile, effort to get past. And Stead wasn’t very far away either, Rymel – on the other hand – was quite far away, but that didn’t matter to his devoted followers in the cruel, crazy town.

So, Todd Wiltshire wins the Bordernapolis and well done to him – he looked very much like the class act that he is and won every single race he took part in.
As for the meeting as a whole, there was much to admire about tonight’s meeting, even taking into account some tepid on-track action. The presentation was slick and professional throughout and – in my view – reflected very well on Berwick’s much-maligned promoter Peter Waite.

[admin]

Chapter V


Berwick versus Rye House - 08-07-06

Hey Stan! Faith, hope and conquering the champions

It's hopeless.
Apparently, so they say, the Italians put up greater resistance at Caporetto than the helpless, hapless Bandits put up at Redcar earlier in the week. So what hope did they have against Len Silver's Rye House, the reigning Premier League champions? Was it even worth the cruel, crazy town's speedway supporters turning up?
Was it worth while the Mongol escaping the clutches of Edmund Nuttall and BNG in time to make it to the border town for the meeting?
These were the things I had to ponder on while making the long trek homewards from another week in deepest, darkest Cumbria?
In the end, I decided that I'd nothing better to do, so I made my way up the A1, through the falling rain (which, I guessed, might put paid to the meeting and would definitely put paid to seeing the wonderous watering tanker), to see if my faith would be rewarded.
And so to the racing:

Ht 1 and the Mongol warrior is stuck at the turnstiles as the tapes fly up. So, all I got to see was the riders coming down the home straight as the old dear took my entrance fee. It didn’t look good for the Bandits from where I was stood, until Boxall disappeared midway through the second lap. I wonder what happened to him? Anyway, the result was an easy win for Bird with the Bandits in 2nd and 3rd to share the spoils. 3-3
Ht 2 and we’ve a genuinely stunning ride from Warwick. He makes the start and then attacks a very tricky track with great determination and no little skill. And with the Rye House pairing struggling, a brave effort sees Adam Roynon pass Cockle to join Warwick for a 5-1. 8-4
Ht 3 and it’s another 5-1 for the Bandits as Bergstrom and Smethills leave the Rye House duo – who had gated first – trailing far behind and looking as if they’ve never ridden a speedway bike before. 13-5
Ht 4 and we’ve controversy at the starting gate, with Rye House’s Neath unhappy at Makovsky’s starting position. I couldn’t see clearly from my position, but I’d imagine he probably had a case. However, the referee didn’t and Neath was eventually ordered forward and the race started. But Neath was unsettled and Makovsky took an easy race win and with Roynon again boldly attacking and passing Rye House’s Cockle, who was making his way tentatively around, it’s another heat advantage to the Bandits. 17-7
Ht 5 and an early appearance for a black and white helmet colour as Bird takes a TR for Rye House. And for a while it looks good for the Rockets, as Bird and Boxall race into the lead. But Boxall’s not looking to steady and Bergstrom – after his usual appalling start – is chasing hard. In the end, Boxall sheds a chain, grinds to a halt and is passed by both Bandits, so it’s a 3-6 to Rye House. 20-13
Ht 6 and we’ve a wonderful first lap from Burza to take the lead. It’s Neath who makes the gate, but Burza’s blasts around the outside on the 1st-2nd bends to draw level as they race down the straight and then takes the lead entering the 3rd turn. From there on, it’s race over, with Burza never looking like seriously being challenged (and, it has to be said, never looking entirely comfortable on the track). At the back, Roynon again gets the better of the Rye House reserve, in this case Betson. 24-15
Ht 7 and it’s another 5-1 for the Bandits, as Warwick and Makovsky get the better of the hapless Allen and Brady, who gives up after 3 dismal laps at the back.
Ht 8 and we’re seeing a black and white helmet colour again, as Boxhall takes a T/R for Rye House. But it’s high farce at the starting gate, as Bergstrom makes, even by his standards, a truly hopeless, hapless effort from the tapes. Words can’t begin to describe how amazingly awful it was and it left him well adrift. However, he battled hard and eventually got the better of partner Roynon and Rye House’s Cockle, but he was never, ever going to catch a by now flying Boxall.
Ht 9 and where the hell did Smethills come from? It looked like either Neath or Bergstrom would get the better of the 1st-2nd turn, until Smethills appeared, seemingly from nowhere, to round the both of them and take the lead. And he proceeded to race off into the distance, leaving Neath and Bergstrom to srubbish over 2nd place. A srubbish that Neath won with some comfort. 35-25
Ht 10 and the fast starting Burza takes another win from Allen, with Warwick third and Brady – again – doing God alone knows what at the back. Whatever it was he was doing, he gave up doing it after 3 laps and headed for the sanctuary of the pits – pitiful. 39-27
Ht 11 and the Rockets fire back, with Bird and Boxall taking a relatively easy 5-1 over the previously unbeaten Makovsky. 40-32
Ht 12 and we’ve a surprise as Brady manages to complete 4 laps. And he manages to claim 2nd place ahead of young Roynon, but he’s miles adrift of race-winner Smethills. 44-34
Ht 13 and finally a Bandit gives young Bird a race to the 1st turn. And, of course, it’s the fast-starting Burza and he probably regrets it as Bird – in uncompromising mood – takes him right out to the fence for his troubles. Burza manages to stay on, as does Makovsky who gets baulked by his partner and they both manage to get the better of Neath to salvage a 3-3 from the heat. 47-37
Ht 14 and we’ve a re-run without Rye House’s Allen who takes a tumble on the 2nd bend and stays down looking beseechingly at the referee. He probably thought Warwick had been a bit naughty. But, if he thought that, he wants to hope and pray that he’s never on the outside of Bird in a tight 1st-2nd bend. The referee correctly excludes him and in the re-run the Borderers take an easy 5-1 over Cockle. 52-38
Ht 15 and it's Burza and Makovsky against Bird and Boxall. And it's a tight 1st-2nd turn in which Burza, possibly remembering Ht 13, gets himself shuffled out after making a good start, while Makovsky battles his way into 2nd place behind Bird, who races away to an easy win and a superb 18 point maximum. And at the end of the race, they all come round for an extra lap, with the Rye House pairing pulling wheelies and Burza going through his by now traditional antics to thank the crowd for their support. 54-42


So, it’s a win for the Bandits. And they thoroughly deserved it. But did the fans deserve it? I have my doubts. In the queue to enter the stadium, all the talk was of how many the Bandits would lose by. They’d lost faith and they’d lost hope. But, don’t you know, faith can move mountains, nevermind defeating the PL champions. The riders had faith and they got their reward. So, today’s lesson from Subedei, is that the cruel, crazy town shouldn’t lose faith in its speedway team so easily.

[admin]

Chapter VI


Edinburgh versus Berwick - 21-07-06

Barbarians and Heathens: a curious Friday adventure

Decisions, decisions; what should I do (no suggestions from Auntie Sue, please)?
Once again, Edmund Nuttall and BNG had conspired to frustrate my best efforts to head for civilisation and had left me stranded for an extra night among the barbarians in west Cumbria. So, my choices were: spend another tedious evening in the abyss that is west Cumbria, or head north of the border, among the heathens, for a bit of speedway action at Armadale?
In the end I decided for the latter and compass discarded I headed northward in search of Armadale. But, thinking it was a 7:00pm start, I was on a tight schedule, after leaving Sellafield at 4:30pm and hitting the traffic all the way to Carlisle.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. What I needed was a short cut. I thought I’d found one, but it turned out to be the scenic, roundabout, completely lost, route. Why are there no decent road signs in Scotland? I never saw a worthwhile one until I got to the outskirts of Edinburgh – yes, I was that lost, I admit it.
Still, from the outskirts of Edinburgh, it was a simple enough drive to Armadale. But would I be able to get back to west Cumbria without a detour to Edinburgh? That question would be answered later, but now to the racing:

Ht 1 and who knows what happened? I don’t. I was still making my way to the track, but at least I was heading in the right direction, still cursing the abysmal road signs north of the border, and closing in on my target. 3-3
Ht 2 and, nope, sorry, I was still on the road, but getting closer and closer – hell I was probably just passing the first decent road sign (the AA one that says speedway every Friday) while this one was being raced. 3-3
Ht 3 and I heard it. Didn’t see it, but I did hear it. Yes, I’d arrived and was – unbelievably – in a queue to get into the stadium (why do speedway tracks have doddery, old dears on the turnstiles?).

First impressions – dear God, it’s a derelict, desolate wasteland of a place, mind you, so is Shielfield Park. But when one’s memory takes you back to the splendour and glory that was Powderhall in its pomp, it’s quite depressing to see the Monarchs living the life of an aristocratic pauper in the badlands of West Lothian. Still, there seems to be a decent gathering of the terminally addicted to witness the meeting.

Ht 4 and the Edinburgh pairing make the start and it’s game over. Makovsky tried, but never looked likely to split the Edinburgh pairing, while Branney gave up at the rear. 5-1
Ht 5 and again it’s the Edinburgh pairing from the gate, but Burza draws level with Wethers coming out of the 2nd turn. For a couple of laps it’s touch and go as to who’ll take 2nd place, but on the 3rd-4th turns of the 2nd lap, Burza finally prevails – yes, it’s a Burza overtake, and a damned good one as well. He stuck to the outside line and got his reward. But it’s another heat advantage to the Monarchs. 4-2
Ht 6 and reserve replacement Derek Sneddon, known, apparently as “Desperate Deek” (don’t think I want to know why – hasn’t he had you know what in baby who knows how long?), taking the lead and leaving Pijper and Makovsky to fight over the sc-raps – a fight that Makovsky eventually gets the better of. Misfortune then strikes Pijper as he sheds a chain on the 3rd lap, allowing young Warwick to get the third place point and the Bandits a share of the heat. 3-3
Ht 7 and Lawson races away to an easy win, with the Bandits’ pairing filling the minor places ahead of Stoddart. 3-3
Ht 8 and we’ve a re-run after Desperate Deek takes a tumble after an uncompromising, some would say very hard, 1st turn from Branney. But the referee, Mrs Vardy, sees nothing amiss and it’s all 4 back. In the re-run, rider replacement Moller gets the better of rider replacement Bergstrom and Branney manages to hold off the advances of Desperate Deek – another fine “blocking ride” from Branney, and this time he wasn’t holding back a team mate. I call that progress. 3-3
Ht 9 and it all goes avocado shape for the Bandits, with Makovsky taking just a couple of laps to go from 1st to 3rd, as first the impressive Moller passes him (turn 2 lap 1) and then Wethers follows suit (3rd-4th turns, lap 2). Makovsky has his moments around Armadale, the announcer states, but sure that wasn’t one of them, was it? 5-1
Ht 10 and it’s another 5-1 for the Monarchs, as the home pairing race away from the gate. Bergstrom tries his best to mount a challenge, Smethills, on the other hand, doesn’t and ends up well adrift. 5-1
Ht 11 and with the Monarchs looking like pulling away, in comes young Burza wearing black and white, going for double points. But can he beat an opponent and claim double points? You bet your bottom dollar he can, as he takes advantage of the outside gate to blast round the field on the 1st-2nd bends. Lawson keeps the Pole honest and it’s a pulsating contest between the two. And there’s action at the back as well, with reserve replacement Branney getting the better of Sneddon to give the Bandits a 7-2. 2-7
Ht 12 and Smethills makes the most of having the outside gate, blasting round the outside on the 1st-2nd turns to take the lead. But he can’t keep hold of it, as Wethers goes round him on the 3rd-4th turns of lap 3. A good ride from Wethers, but poor trackcraft and judgement from Smethills eased his passage through. Smethills would be shown how to do it in Ht 13. 4-2
Ht 13 and it doesn’t look good for Stanislaw Burza – he’s off gate 1 and that’s a poor gate at the minute, leaving its occupier open to attack from outside blasts on the 1st-2nd turns. But that doesn’t trouble Burza, who makes one of his lightning starts and he’s a good bike length clear entering turn 1, allowing him to dominate his rivals and head down the back straight in front. And Lawson’s not far behind and is pressing hard, but Burza – unlike Smethills in Ht 13 – knows exactly what to do. No matter which piece of track Lawson went to in his efforts to get the better of the Pole, when he got there, he found the Pole was already there. And Makovsky got the better of Pijper as well, so it’s a heat advantage to the Bandits. 2-4
Ht 14 and insanity strikes down the Bandits’ team manager, as he nominates Bergstrom for a tactical ride. And something, not sure what, strikes down Stoddart, as he takes a tumble on the 3rd bend of the 1st lap. Branney, following behind takes evasive measures and comes a heavy cropper himself (actually, it looked to me like Branney, unsure what to do, got caught in two or three minds and fell himself while trying to make his mind up, but, hey, don’t want to upset the uber-protective Auntie Sue, do we?). In the re-run, Bergstrom somehow – not sure how – makes the gate and races away to 6 points and with Branney picking up 3rd place, it’s a 7-2 to the Bandits. Which just goes to prove that insanity is good. 2-7
And now we’ve a comic interlude, as not one, not two, but three tractors take to the track for a spot of grading. Nothing funny in that, I hear you cry. True, but it was bloody funny when two of them crashed together – had the drivers been at the orange tictacs?
Ht 15 and Edinburgh win the toss, taking gates 2 and 4. So, could Burza repeat his gate 1 heroics of Ht 13? The answer was no, but he wasn’t far away from it. As it was, Lawson was able to clamp Burza down on the 1st-2nd turn, allowing his partner to come around for a 5-1, although Burza did keep them honest for the 4 laps. After the race, Burza did his traditional doughnuts in front of the travelling fans, before heading off for a very warm and generous ovation from the Monarch’s fans. 5-1

Question: why did the watering facility only come around between Hts 3 and 4, in spite of quite a little dust? Had the Heathens heard that the uber-critical Subedei was in town now? And knowing this (if they did know), did they fear ridicule and scorn being poured on the poor little watering can on wheels? Fear and ridicule in West Lothian, maybe that’s what I should’ve entitled this piece. Certainly the hordes (does 10-or-so people constitute a horde, I wonder?) from the cruel, crazy town feared the Monarchs would ridicule their heroes on track, but, instead, the hapless Bandits put up a brave showing.
And the travelling horde went home happily to dream (wet or otherwise) about the prospect of a bonus point heading their way. And me? I headed off in search of fish and chips, before making my way back to the heartland of barbarity. Help!

[admin]

Chapter VII

Berwick versus Somerset - 29-07-06

Madness and resurrection in the heart of darkness

The rain came down as the weary old Mongol headed towards the cruel, crazy town. Would the meeting go ahead? Had I made a poor decision in forsaking the comforts of home and a televised GP, to travel into the heart of darkness to watch a little live action? The rain was light, surely the meeting would go ahead, after all, it had rained harder in the Rye House meeting a couple of weeks earlier and that had gone ahead. But, you just never really know, do you?
One of the joys of returning to speedway after a long break was the discovery that new tracks had emerged around the country. When I finally tired of the sport in the early-1990s, I’d never have conceived of speedway racing emerging in places like the Isle of Wight and Somerset, but it has and all credit to those involved. As you can guess, this was going to be my first viewing of the Somerset Rebels and I was looking forward to it.
So to the racing:

Ht 1 and Zetterstrom makes the start and disappears into the distance on a very difficult track, with Burza 2nd and Phillips 3rd. But Burza’s struggling to cope with an injured shoulder and an awful entrance to the 3rd turn never looks comfortable and Phillips is never far away. Burza hangs on, but it’s a heat advantage to the Rebels. 2-4
Ht 2 and the Berwick pairing make the start and Branney gets a taste of his own medicine as teammate Warwick blocks his attempt to get past, allowing Walker into 2nd spot. But he didn’t hold it for long, as Branney swept around him for a 5-1. 7-5
Ht 3 and it’s a surprisingly easy 5-1 for Smethills and Bergstrom over rider replacement Phillips and Kramer.
Ht 4 and it’s Makovsky from the gate with the Rebels’ pairing settling in behind for a 3-3, especially after the ever-willing Branney, attempting to overtake Barker for 3rd, slid off on the difficult 3rd turn on the 2nd lap and retired. 3-3
Ht 5 and we’ve a bit of a delay as the track staff attempted to sort out the 3rd turn with some extensive grading. When the heat finally gets underway, it’s the Rebels who make the start and race away to an easy 5-1 in a very fast time. Zetterstrom, as he headed into the 3rd turn on the last lap, glanced over his shoulder, but he’d have needed good eyesight to see the other riders – they were miles behind him. Smethills, for his part, tailed off at the back, gave up after 3 laps and headed for the pits. 1-5
Ht 6 and is there anyone in the stadium not aware that Stanislaw Burza is riding in the Scottish Open next week? No, thought not. And he’s out in this race, looking a good deal more comfortable on the track and gaining an easy win ahead of Cunningham, who got the better of the game, fast-starting Warwick heading in to turn 3 on the first lap. 4-2
Ht 7 and a very slow, but non-the-less interesting, race as Makovsky manages to shepherd Warwick around for a 5-1 over the ever-trying Kramer. It often looked like ending in tears, as Kramer tried desperately to split the pairing, but they hung on. A marvellous effort from Makovsky. 5-1
Ht 8 and a super ride from Branney to pass Phillips on the 4th turn of the 1st lap to join partner Bergstrom, in as rider replacement, for another 5-1. 5-1
Ht 9 and a third 5-1 on the trot for the Borderers, as Smethills and Bergstrom easily outpace Cunningham and Barker.
Ht 10 and if Dick Barrie mentions the Scottish Open one more time, I’m going to scream – aaaaaaarrrrrggggghhh, he did and again and again and again and again. I get the bloody picture; Burza’s going to be in the Scottish Open. And Burza races away to an easy win in this race, with teammate Branney getting the better of the ever-trying Kramer for a fourth straight Berwick 5-1. 5-1
Ht 11 and with the Bandits 20 points clear, Zetterstrom makes an appearance wearing black and white – it’s a little late in the day to make a difference to the meeting result, but the bonus point is still “in play”. And Zetterstrom makes no mistake, rocketing away from Makovsky and with teammate Phillips getting the better of young Warwick it’s a 7-2 to the Rebels. 2-7
Ht 12 and I know things look desperate for the Rebels, but surely they’re not desperate enough for a tactical substitute ride? But, obviously they are, since out comes Phillips, wearing black and white, starting from 15 metres back. And he picks up a point, but that’s all and he only got that because teammate Kramer, in as rider replacement, had an engine failure on the 3rd lap. As you can guess, the Bandits picked up another 5-1 through Smethills – fast when he makes the gate, pretty hopeless when he doesn’t – and Branney. 5-1
Ht 13 and this could’ve been interesting had Burza been fully fit, as he clearly made the better start, and headed Zetterstrom into the 1st turn, but Zetterstrom had the outside line and blasted into the lead exiting the 2nd turn. A fully fit Burza might’ve made more of an effort to block the blast and we’d have had a race, as it was, Zetterstrom headed off into the distance once again. Makovsky passed teammate Burza, before slowing down with engine problems and being relegated to the back. So, it’s a heat advantage to the Rebels. 2-4
Ht 14 and it’s the race of the night, as Emil Kramer wears black and white for the Rebels. But he doesn’t make the start and the Bandits’ pairing heads into an early 5-1. And it stays that way until the 3rd-4th turns of the last lap, when Kramer, who’d tried everything in his efforts to pass Branney, finally got his reward – a wonderful effort by Kramer. 4-4
Ht 15 and there’s tension in the cruel, crazy town. The Rebels need a 5-1 to secure the aggregate bonus point, anything else and the Bandits rise from the foot of the table. But did Berwick really need to use Burza? I didn’t think so – give the guy a rest, use Makovsky and Bergstrom, since Burza’s clearly not fit, so went my train of thought. But, as it turned out, they did need Burza. Zetterstrom charged off into the distance – again – with Burza settling into 2nd, the ever-trying Kramer 3rd and Makovsky at the back. When Makovsky fell at the back on the 3rd bend of lap 2, it came down to an epic duel between Burza and Kramer for 2nd. Kramer charged, but Burza held him off: the bonus point was Berwick’s. And wasn’t the much maligned Peter Waite a happy fellow? He ran out of the pits to “high five” with Burza after the “warm down” lap, before Burza trundled off for his usual post-Ht 15 doughnuts.


You know what? Last night might just have been the time that Stanislaw Burza was accepted by the brazen women and male pansexual thugs from the cruel, crazy town. As that tense Ht 15 unfolded, the masses in the grandstand were crying out: “Come on Stan.” And Stan didn’t let them down. He gamely held off the challenge of Kramer and gained Berwick their first bonus point (Berwick get a bonus point, Nicholls makes a GP final, the world’s gone mad I tell you). For a while, Rymel was forgotten and Stan was king, his post-Ht 15 antics gaining approval, rather than scorn.

[admin]

Chapter VIII

Berwick versus Edinburgh - 05-08-06

Weird musings on expectation and hope

They came, the weary masses from “Auld Reekie”, to the cruel, crazy town in expectation rather than hope. They expected to get thrashed and they had no hope. But they came, nonetheless. And in considerable numbers as well. They knew what to expect: Dick Barrie ramming Stanislaw Burza’s wonderful victory in the Keyline Scottish Open down their ears at each and every available moment and probably a few unavailable moments as well. They didn’t care. Why should they? They think as highly of Burza as the Berwick fans do.
It’s just not on. Edinburgh fans just aren’t supposed to say “he’s lovely” when asked about a Berwick rider, but those were the exact words used by a young lady from the Heathens’ capital tonight – you can bet your mortgage she’d have cut her tongue out before saying such a thing about Rob Grant Snr (if she was alive when he was striking the fear of God into Edinburgh riders, which I doubt).
As you’ve probably guessed, tonight saw Berwick take on the Edinburgh Monarchs at Shielfield Park and I was there.
And so to the racing:

But, before we start, if anyone in the Berwick area has noticed their Porsche is missing, Berwick borrowed it to parade the new Scottish Open champion Stanislaw Burza before his now adoring public. The question is: why the hell was Peter Waite waving to the crowd from the Porsche as well as Stan the Man?
Ht 1 and Jacek Rempala makes a good gate, rides a super 1st-2nd corner to race into the lead before surrendering it to Pijper after an error on the 4th turn. A good effort from the Monarchs’ captain to dive up the inside of Berwick’s very surprised Pole. Thereafter, Rempala had an “interesting” time as he made his way around Shielfield track, discovering its various dips and bumps. 3-3
Ht 2 and Sneddon rides a sensible 1st-2nd corner to take the lead from the Berwick pairing of Branney and Warwick. And the Desperate one holds onto his lead, in spite of the best efforts of Branney to get past him. 3-3
Ht 3 and Burza makes his first appearance on track and as Kelvin Tatum MBE might say, they didn’t see which way he went. Burza won by miles and miles and miles. And he won from team mate Warwick, taking the rider replacement ride, so it’s the first heat advantage of the night and it goes to Berwick. 5-1
Ht 4 and Makovsky makes the start, with the Edinburgh pairing filling the minor placings. But Lawson, holding down 3rd place, is under pressure from the charging Branney for the full 4 laps. He holds on, but it doesn’t bode well for the Monarchs. 3-3
Ht 5 and we’ve a re-run after a very nasty tumble on the 2nd turn involving the Edinburgh riders, with Tessari taking out Pijper. Now, it’s been suggested that Tessari had a “nudge” from the uncompromising Branney, but I’ve got to confess, I wasn’t concentrating on that part of the track – I was watching Burza and he was on the 2nd turn by the time everyone else reached the 1st – I just caught the tail end of it and I’ve no argument over the referee’s decision to exclude Tessari. In the re-run Burza races away to an even more emphatic and faster (fastest time in two years at Berwick) win than his first one. Pijper bravely, considering the earlier incident, takes 2nd spot, with Branney 3rd. 4-2
Ht 6 and Rempala rockets away from the gate for his first win in Berwick colours. And although he doesn’t look entirely comfortable, he’s still got plenty in hand over Lawson, who heads home Bergstrom. 4-2
Ht 7 and Warwick and Makovsky make the start and that’s the end of that – no challenge whatsoever from a desperately disappointing Monarchs duo of Lawson and Moller. 5-1
Ht 8 and, for Edinburgh, desperate times call for “Desperate Deek” to make an appearance wearing a black and white helmet colour. And it almost pays off for the Monarchs as Sneddon leads right up until the 4th turn of lap 4 when Bergstrom rather unsportingly swept round the outside of him to win. And with Branney getting the better of the out-of-touch Tessari, it’s a shared heat. 4-4
Ht 9 and Burza’s away with it again; giving it full gas and looking very, very fast until he gets a little out of shape coming out of the 2nd turn on the 3rd lap and decides to cool it down and take things a little easier. But he still finishes at least 50 yards in front of the labouring Lawson. 4-2
Ht 10 and again it’s the Berwick pairing that show first, but Rempala gets himself into all sorts of trouble on the 2nd turn, allowing team mate Bergstrom to take the lead. But Rempala gets himself out of trouble by ramming the throttle open to keep himself upright, which propels him down the back straight, sweeps him around the outside of Bergstrom and back into the lead. And although he never looks entirely comfortable, the Monarchs pairing never, ever look like mounting a challenge to Bergstrom never mind Rempala. 5-1
Ht 11 and Pijper makes an appearance wearing a black and white helmet colour. And he takes the lead from the tapes, but Makovsky’s pushing him hard and riding right on the limit. In fact, Makovsky’s beyond the limit and eventually comes a cropper on the 2nd bend of the last lap as he tried desperately to get past Pijper. The Monarchs fans cheer, but there was no malice intended and it was obvious that Makovsky hadn’t done himself any harm (in fact, for a time, it looked like he could’ve remounted and still got the better of Tessari for 3rd – they were just a little over-excited at the prospect of picking up a mighty 7-2. 2-7
Ht 12 and what the bloody hell’s going on here? Moller, who’s done next to nothing all night, leaps away from the start and races to a win. And with partner Desperate Deek this time managing to fend off Bergstrom, it’s a 5-1 to the Monarchs. Could the bonus point still be “in play”? 1-5
Ht 13 and I opine to the Edinburgh fans next to me, that they’ve a chance of getting something out of the heat. After all, I say, the signing of Rempala has weakened Berwick in Ht 13 by taking Burza out of it. But the Edinburgh lot, canny folk that they are, aren’t convinced by my argument. And they were right not to be. As the tapes went up, the red and blue helmet colours came to the fore first. And although Pijper made a noble effort to pass Rempala, it never really looked likely, as the Bandit appeared to have a few more horses under his bike covers. 5-1
Ht 14 and surprisingly Storming Stanislaw Burza isn’t leading the charge to the 1st turn, but a full-throttle sweep around the 1st-2nd corner sees him take the lead from team mate Warwick, with Desperate Deek in third and Moller back to bringing up the rear. And again there’s no real challenge to the Bandits duo. 5-1
Ht 15 and there’s fun and frollicks in the pits as Edinburgh struggle to find anyone to partner Lawson. Pijper’s supposed to be there, but he doesn’t show (maybe suffering the effects of his Ht 5 crash). And just as it’s announced he’s been excluded under the 2-minute rule, young Stoddard takes to the track. Anyway, normal service is resumed, with Burza leading the charge to the 1st turn, followed by Rempala and Lawson. For the third time in as many heats, there’s no real challenge for the Berwick pairing as Burza romps to a 15-point maximum and Rempala completes a very encouraging debut.

So, a huge win for Berwick and another bonus point in the bag. Everyone in the cruel, crazy town should’ve been happy, but I detected a hint of sorrow as Burza went through his post-Ht 15 antics. Maybe, just maybe, the realisation dawned that Burza’s something a little bit special and that perhaps he’ll move on to bigger and better things in 2007. And before hopes soar in Auld Reekie, I’m not talking of a move to the Monarchs; I’m talking about the Elite League.

[admin]

Chapter IX


Newcastle versus Berwick - 06-08-06

Controversy and shame in the Promised Land

An air of indescribable melancholy swept over the old Mongol as he travelled down the A1 to the Promised Land. It was raining heavily and I was recalling memories of the great Joe Owen, now so tragically confined to a wheelchair. You see, many moons ago, I used to regularly travel down to Brough Park to watch the Diamonds in the hope of seeing Owen defeated at Brough Park. Hell, Joe Owen defeats were so rare around the Byker bowl that even die hard Diamonds fans probably treasured the handful or so that happened each year. At least they saw them, I don’t think I ever did, although now I think about it, a vague memory of Barry Thomas getting the better of him in 1983 comes to mind. Or maybe the mind is playing tricks; it has a habit of doing that when you get to my age.
As you can perhaps guess, I’m heading to Newcastle to see if Stanislaw Burza can continue his stunning form. But it’s not looking good. Constant rainfall all the way down and arriving at the track to find the track staff desperately laying dry shale to soak up the water aren’t good signs. And the Brough Park track, like so many in the UK, has shrunk. However, with the rain easing off, the meeting goes ahead.
And so to the racing:

Ht 1 and the Berwick pairing surge from the gate, but not-so-young Rempala’s carrying a lot of speed entering the 1st turn and gets caught out by the difficult conditions, baulking team mate Bergstrom and allowing the Newcastle duo through. Thereafter, although Bergstrom gives chase (Rempala doesn’t), it’s an easy 5-1 for the home side. 5-1
Ht 2 and again it’s the Bandits pairing that make the better starts. But a very good ride by Jamie Robertson sees him force his way past Warwick down the home straight entering the 3rd lap. And then entering the final lap Warwick grinds to a halt and McKinna claims a fortunate 3rd place. 3-3
Ht 3 and Berwick’s man of the moment Stanislaw Burza makes his first appearance. And he jets away from the tapes and although he never looks entirely comfortable on the difficult track, he still wins by a large margin from the Newcastle duo. 3-3
Ht 4 and Makovsky makes it 3 wins out of 4 for the visitors. For a while, it looked like it could’ve been much more, as Warwick settled in to 2nd spot behind his captain. But Warwick just couldn’t hold off the challenge of Grieves. He did, however, hold up Grieves enough to let Makovsky carve out an enormous lead. And he did hold off McKinna (not a difficult task, I know) and claim 3rd place and a heat advantage to the Bandits. 2-4
Ht 5 and Franc makes the start and races away to an easy win from Bergstrom and Henry, with Jacek Rempala, in spite of furious work on his bike between rides, again misjudging the 1st-2nd turns and more or less giving up. 4-2
Ht 6 and a wonderful move on the 2nd turn by Stancl sees him dive under Makovsky and into a lead that he never looked like surrendering. And with Robertson getting the better of Warwick, it’s a 4-2 to the Diamonds. 4-2
Ht 7 and when is 2 minutes not 2 minutes? Clearly, it’s when Tony Steele is the referee responsible for the 2 minutes. Newcastle’s McKinna hits machine troubles at the starting gate and returns to the pits as the announcer declares there’s just 30 seconds remaining. About 5 minutes later McKinna reappears and takes up his place at the tapes, remarkably beating Tony Steele’s 2 minutes. Well, who knows, maybe I was stuck in a time warp. But I don’t think so. It’s shambolic refereeing from Tony Steele. And his night would get worse, much worse. As it happened, McKinna brought up the rear of a race won by Franc from the Berwick duo of Branney and a disappointing Burza. 3-3
Ht 8 and it’s another heat advantage to the Diamonds as Henry heads home Branney and Robertson, with Bergstrom – again his woeful gating letting him down – bringing up the rear. 4-2
Ht 9 and the actions all about who’s going to claim 3rd place. And it’s between Henry of Newcastle and Warwick of Berwick. Up ahead, it’s an easy win for Franc over fellow countryman Makovsky. At the back, it’s not decided until the chequered flag falls. Henry makes the better start, but Warwick dives under him coming out of the 2nd turn. Thereafter, Henry tries everything he knows to get the better of Warwick and finally a wonderful faint to the outside on the 3rd turn before cutting back through the inside on the 4th turn of the final lap, brings him level with Warwick as they race for the line. And Henry, carrying better speed, wins by half a bike length or so. 4-2
Ht 10 and we’ve the race of the night, which does great credit to the duo that made it happen. With the Bandits now 10 points behind on the night, Burza takes to the track wearing black and white and going for double points. Facing him is the unbeaten George Stancl. It’s Burza who makes the better start, but Stancl chases hard and never gives up; it’s a marvellous spectacle as Burza blocks Stancl’s every move to claim the 6 points. Wonderful stuff. At the back, Branney slides off while desperately trying to find a way past Robertson. 3-6
Ht 11 and it’s raining very heavily as James Grieves wins from the Berwick pairing of Bergstrom, chasing hard as ever, and Rempala, with McKinna again bringing up the rear. 3-3
Ht 12 and the night turns sour, as controversy rears its ugly head. Here goes my take on events. Prior to the 2 minutes coming on, Robertson comes out and rides round to the starting gate, does a practise start, races into the 1st turn and promptly bites the slime that now passes for a track after the very heavy shower during Ht 11. Nonetheless, the 2 minutes goes on and 2 Newcastle riders appear, but there’s no movement in the Berwick side of the pits. After another 5 minute, 2 minutes – Steele, you really do need a new stopwatch – the 2 minutes appears to be cancelled (well, after Ht 7 it was debatable if anyone was taking notice of the 2 minutes anyway) and the referee made his way down to inspect the track. After a while of trudging round in the slime, the referee declared the track fit to ride, but ordered track work to be carried out to make it, well, fit to ride – you couldn’t make it up, could you? Anyway, eventually, after Tony Steele had for once and all shattered the myth of his refereeing greatness (as both sides of the argument would no doubt agree), four riders took to the track. It wasn’t much of a race, Henry made the start, the Berwick pairing packed the minor placings and Robertson slid off into the slime. 3-3
Ht 13 and we’ve a re-run after shameful, shameful, disgraceful behaviour from Newcastle’s James Grieves in the initial running. The Berwick pairing of Rempala and Makovsky had made the better start and in prevailing track conditions, if they stayed on, they’d stay ahead, but Grieves at the back slides off: he then has a bit of a lie down, a look around, gets wearily to his feet and makes no effort whatsoever to remove either himself or his bike from the track. Disgraceful and shameful behaviour, that’s all there is to it. The referee, again showing his complete incompetence, fails to award the race, even though there wasn’t a chance in a million of Stancl getting anywhere near Rempala or Makovsky. In the re-run, Rempala again races away to an easy win, but Stancl shuffles Makovsky out on the 1st-2nd turns and claims 2nd place. But a 4-2 to Berwick puts them just ahead on aggregate. 2-4
Ht 14 and Franc leads from start to finish with the Berwick pairing packed in behind him and McKinna – surprisingly not replaced by Robertson in this crucial heat – packing up at the back. Franc’s winning time is a stunningly slow 71.1 seconds – the track record is a full 9 seconds faster, according to the programme. What it says about track conditions, I’ll leave you to decide for yourselves. 3-3
Ht 15 and – if you were looking carefully – it’s the Newcastle pairing that drop the clutches first, but Rempala’s bike rockets him into the 1st turn a good bike length up on every one. And the Newcastle pairing never really sees which way he went after that. A very easy and surprisingly quick (69.0 seconds – over 2 seconds faster than Ht 14) win that brings the bonus point back to the cruel, crazy town on the banks of the Tweed. 3-3
As a postscript to Ht 15, Stanislaw Burza, as ever came around for a parade lap – even though he’d finished a distant last – doing his traditional party tricks on track and then in the pits, which was a bit naughty. Stan, young fellow, there’s a time and a place for doughnuts; and I’m pretty sure the place isn’t the pits.

So, the Bandits rack up another bonus point as they continue to turn a dismal season around. But it could’ve been so much better. This meeting was dominated by the weather and track conditions. On a dry track, you fancy that Berwick might’ve sneaked an away win. As it was, they fully deserved the bonus point, if only because of the shameful antics of Grieves in Ht 13. Sorry folks, there is no excuse for such unsporting behaviour.
And the mock-rage of the home support regarding Peter Waite’s actions ahead of Ht 12 is quite preposterous. Peter Waite was just looking after the interests of his club and riders, unlike a Newcastle promotion desperate to win at all costs and regardless of the interests of anyone other than themselves. No doubt, had Peter Waite not intervened prior to Ht 12, George English would probably have done after Ht 12, when the result would’ve stood and the bonus point would’ve been Newcastle’s.
To me, it was debatable whether the meeting should’ve started, but with stadium rental to shell out, the Newcastle promotion were desperate for the meeting to go ahead, regardless of the entertainment provided for the paying public. Yes, Peter Waite would probably have done exactly the same. But two wrongs wouldn’t have made a right and the long-suffering paying public would’ve still lost out. Just as invariably they always do.

[admin]

Chapter X


Berwick versus Workington - 26-08-06

Bizarre thoughts on small cabbages

The barbarians from West Cumbria came to the cruel, crazy town; saw the cruel, crazy town and conquered the cruel, crazy town.
And here’s how the small cabbage eaters did it:

Ht 1 and Rempala’s the first to show as the tapes rise, but in a taste of things to come, it’s the Comets’ pairing that make the most of the 1st-2nd bends, with Mogridge taking the lead and Rempala slightly fortunate to hold onto 2nd from Stead. But Stead chases the Pole hard and finally catches and passes him on the 4th turn of the final lap to give the barbarians a perfect 5-1 start. 1-5
Ht 2 and it’s the Bandits who make the start, but Collins rides excellent 1st-2nd turns to slot in front of Warwick down the back straight. And Collins then chases and harries Branney for the whole 4 laps and almost gets the better of him coming off the final turn. But he doesn’t, Branney hangs on and Warwick gets the better of Belfield to give Berwick a heat advantage. 4-2
Ht 3 and it’s an even break at the tapes, but the Workington pairing of Piszcz and Harrison completely dominate the 1st-2nd turns to race into a 5-1 position that they never looked like surrendering to a labouring Burza. 1-5
Ht 4 and there’s shenanigans at the starting gate as Makovsky covets James Wright’s starting position. Wright’s not happy – with pretty good reason – about Makovsky’s position at the gate, but he eventually, reluctantly moves forward to race. As the tapes rise, it’s the Berwick pairing who make the start and race into a 5-1 position, which the unsettled Wright can do nothing about. 5-1
Ht 5 and we’ve a re-run after Berwick’s Warwick takes a tumble on the 1st turn. And the referee’s rather generous – to the Bandits – decision is all 4 back. To be honest, no one could really have complained if Warwick had been thrown out, especially the Comets, who were, at the time the race was stopped, on a 5-1. In the re-run, Burza roused himself enough to make a wonderful swoop round the outside on the 1st-2nd turns to take a lead he never looked like surrendering to the Comets in 2nd and 3rd. 3-3
Ht 6 and it’s the Berwick riders who make the start and race into a 5-1 position, with Rempala leading and Bersgtrom 2nd, but a wonderful, wonderful swoop around the outside on the 1st-2nd turns of lap 2 take Wright past Bergstrom. And then Wright has the temerity to chase after Rempala. And if the race had been 5 laps, he’d probably have got the win. But, fortunately for Rempala and Berwick, races are over 4 laps, so Wright’s magnificent effort was only rewarded with a 2nd – it really deserved more. 4-2
Ht 7 and it’s the Comet’s pairing that show first and take up a 5-1 position, but in a move as glorious as Wright’s a race early, Makovsky swoops round the outside of Piszcz on the 3rd-4th turns of the opening lap to split the Comets. Makovsky chases after Harrison, but never looks likely to get the better of him. But it was still a marvellous effort from one of the few Bandits showing any fight on the night. 2-4
Ht 8 and wonderful 1st-2nd turns from dear old Alan Mogridge, rolling back the years once again, sees him take a lead he wasn’t likely to surrender. In the 1st-2nd turn shakedown that Mogridge dominated, Branney edged into 2nd ahead of Collins, with the abject Bergstrom relegated to the rear. And that’s how it stayed. 2-4
And now we’ve a watering interlude. Was it really necessary? I didn’t think so. But, I guess, needs must when the Comets are leading and looking very much like winning. Apparently, dust was a problem – dust, dust! What dust? Hells bells, if people think that was dusty they should’ve been at the Workington versus Newport meeting earlier in the season, then they’d know what dust really is. So, out it came, that wonder of the speedway world: the Berwick watering tanker. And at least it showed the barbarians what they want to get themselves. Come on Comets admit it, that watering tanker is one very impressive piece of kit.
Ht 9 and Wright finally makes a decent start and races away to what must surely be one of the most emphatic wins the border track has seen in many a long meeting. Wright, giving it full gas, roaring round the track, is miles and miles and miles ahead of the chasing pack, led by a distinctly out of sorts looking Burza. And with Branney getting the better of Belfield, it’s a shared heat. 3-3
Ht 10 and again it’s the Workington pairing that make the most of the 1st-2nd turns to race into the lead, but a wonderful swoop round the outside on the 3rd-4th turns of the 1st lap sees Rempala pass Harrison. And for the next couple of laps you could, literally, have thrown a blanket over Piszcz, Rempala and Harrison as they raced round, with Bergstrom tailed off at the rear. But, ultimately, Harrison overcooked it on the 3rd turn while trying desperately to pass Rempala and took a tumble, gifting the undeserving Bergstrom a point. Try as he might, however, Rempala just couldn’t find a way past the very impressive Piszcz. 3-3
Ht 11 and we’ve more shenanigans at the starting gate as Mogridge gives Makovsky a taste of his own medicine by encroaching on the Czech’s starting grid position. Makovsky isn’t happy, but he can’t really complain, he seldom wants to stay in the grid position allocated to him. Anyway, the race eventually starts, but soon stops again as Warwick takes another tumble during a very tight 1st bend. But this time there’s no second chance for Warwick, as the referee excludes him – he was fortunate in Ht 7, unfortunate in Ht 11 – you see, the luck does eventually even out, as do arguments over grid positions. In the re-run, a marvellous ride from Makovsky, riding on the edge, saw him get the better of the Workington duo and share the heat. 3-3
Ht 12 and did you know that carp is the traditional Christmas dish in the Czech Republic? Carp is also an anagram for how Andreas Bergstrom, taking the rider replacement ride for the Bandits, is riding in this meeting. Anyway, in this heat, which Piszcz wins easily ahead of the ever-trying Branney, Bergstrom does at least manage a point ahead of Belfield. But it’s really just not good enough for the borderers – the hero when last the Bandits rode he’s now a zero. 3-3
Ht 13 and again there’s shenanigans at the starting gate, as Makovsky once again covets Wright’s starting position, just as he had in Ht 4. And this time, he even manages to get himself completely into Wright’s position, as the unsettled Comet charges into the tapes and has to go off 15 metres after being excluded. And what a race we have as Ht 13 finally gets underway. Rempala’s first to show and races into the distance, but after the 1st bend shakedown Stead’s in 2nd with Makovsky breathing down his neck. And a wonderful do or die swoop around the outside on the 3rd-4th turns sees Makovsky pass the Comet, but a small error on the 1st-2nd turns of the 2nd lap allows Stead to retake 2nd spot, only for another wonderful do or die swoop on the 3rd-4th turns sees Makovsky back into 2nd spot. And this time, in spite of pressure from Stead, he holds on for a match levelling 5-1. 5-1
Ht 14 and Berwick really, desperately, do need Stanislaw Burza to rouse himself to the challenge. But he didn’t and the Workington pairing of Harrison and Collins raced away to a 5-1, with Branney offering token resistance and Burza tailing off at the rear. 1-5
Ht 15 and we’ve Rempala and Makovsky attempting to get a meeting drawing 5-1 over Workington’s Piszcz and Harrison. But this time there’s no 5-1 salvation for the cruel, crazy town as Piszcz and Harrison race into a 5-1 position of their own. The borderer’s pairing try their best and both almost come to grief – especially a fence sc-rapeing Rempala – in their efforts to get the better of the Comets. But it’s all in vain as Workington send the visiting fans into raptures by holding on. 1-5

The plain and simple truth, unpalatable as it may be to the border folk, is that Workington wanted to win this more than Berwick did and were prepared to ride aggressively in the 1st turns – the Bandits just seldom had an answer for them. The Shielfield Park track is big and, I imagine, slightly intimidating, but the Comets weren’t intimidated: they attacked the track and got their just reward. They out-muscled and out-fought a, for the most part, sorry looking bunch of bedraggled Bandits.
Were the Bandits complacent? Did they think easy points against a demoralised Workington side were in the offing? Who knows? Who cares? The result is the result; it’s not going to change. A thoroughly deserved victory for the barbarians and one fears for the Bandits in the return fixture at the barbaric heartland of West Cumbria on Monday. Maybe, just maybe, Peter Waite should get them on a diet of fish and chips garnished with cauliflower, those small cabbage things and carrots – it seems to work for the barbarians.

[admin]

Chapter XI


Workington versus Berwick - 28-08-06

A slow, savage journey into the heart of barbarity

Workington lies way, way beyond the pale.
Unless you’ve been to Workington, it’s hard to conceive of the atmosphere of dereliction, destitution, decay and desolation that pervades the air and poisons the senses – it’s a God forsaken place where barbarians proudly stalk streets of fear and shame. Hell, even people used to traipsing the mean streets of Glasgow tread carefully in Workington. It’s a modern-day Babylon and no place for the meek – the earth the bible foretells of the meek inheriting will not include Workington, if they’re lucky.
But it doesn’t intimidate an old Mongol warlord, who once rampaged across the central Asian steppes with Genghis Khan – not a chance.
As an old military man, I plan my travels with care and precision. A visit to Workington is no less important than, say, a campaign of conquest against the Russian principalities and Europe – you just exclude the bit about mass slaughter of anyone who tries to stop you, more's the pity. And I’d meticulously planned my expedition to the heartland of barbarity. So, why the hell did I end up arriving in Workington at 7:20pm, instead of the planned 6:20pm? I’ll tell you exactly why: the barbarians seem to be under the impression that the speed limit in this country is 20 miles per hour. All the way up the A695 at 20 miles per hour (I had to drop something off in Kendal on the way). I couldn’t believe it. Sure, it gave me plenty of time to admire the great industrial complex of Sellafield, rising bold and stark in the distance, but I can do that any day during the week. I was in a hurry. Did the dawdling barbarians not realise that?
Since the sport was reintroduced to the capital of Barbaria, it's been one of the sport's few real success stories, with impressive attendances and good local interest. But that appears to be changing. The crowds have drifted away. So, what's gone wrong? Well, the Workington success story was built on the twins icons of Ian Thomas and Carl Stonehewer - Ian Thomas has now gone, taking over the reigns at speedway's La Vecchia Signora at Belle Vue, to be replaced by a humourless golem and Stonehewer has been sidelined by injury. The return of Stonehewer might see a return to the "golden age", but once people lose the speedway habit, it's hard to rekindle interest. We'll have to wait and see.
As you may have guessed, I've travelled to the edge (if not beyond the edge) of civilisation to watch Berwick take on Workington. And here's my take on events as they happened:

Ht 1 and as Workington race away to an early 5-1, I'd guess I’m making my way (slowly) through Whitehaven, the land of the jam eaters, where they serve their fish and chips with a side order of small cabbage things - try convincing me they're not barbarians, but you'll not succeed. 5-1
Ht 2 and Genghis give me strength, please. Do these people (and I use the term in its loosest sense, you understand) not realise I’m in a bloody hurry? Yes, I’m still stuck behind the slowest barbarian in the history of barbarianism (didn’t think that was a word, did you: but it is). But at least I’m going through, I’d guess, Distington, which is such a terrible, depressing hole, it should really be renamed Desperatington (now that isn’t a word, but it should be). On track, Branney’s a winner all the way; Warwick’s a loser all the way, so it’s a shared heat. 3-3
Ht 3 and I’m getting close. But close to what, you ask? Close to Derwent Park and even closer to committing murder, to tell you the truth. I’m driving the streets of fear and shame, behind a shamefully slow barbarian, who would try the patience of a saint never mind a 13th century Mongol warlord. Anyway, according to reports, a wonderful ride from Branney to pass both Comets on the final bend gives Berwick a share of the spoils. 3-3
Ht 4 and I’m there and calming down after a fractious journey, muttering darkly under my breath about “bloody barbarians”. And I’m just in time to watch as Wright makes mincemeat of Makovsky on the 1st-2nd turns and races into an impressive lead. A lead so impressive that he has an engine problem on the 1st-2nd turns of lap 4 and Makovsky just manages to pip the coasting Comet on the line. 3-3
Ht 5 and it’s all happening in this one. Rempala and Bergstrom make the start, but the Comets’ pairing get the better of Bergstrom on the 1st-2nd turns of lap 1 and set off in pursuit of Rempala. On the 4th turn of lap 1 Piszcz takes a tumble out by the fence, while on the 2nd turn of lap 2, Harrison makes a huge mistake and sheds a chain. Piszcz, who seemed to be considering a retirement, then makes a half-hearted and never wholly convincing (the Comets’ fans aren’t altogether sure he understands that a 3rd place point is his for the taking) effort to complete the race. And then entering the 1st turn of the final lap, Rempala’s machinery starts to slow down, allowing Bergstrom to pass him for a bizarre and wholly unexpected win. A very slow Rempala trundles across the line in 2nd, while a distant Piszcz finally does claim 3rd. 1-5
Ht 6 and dear old Moggo (or, as young Walsh insists upon in the Workington programme Mogo – doesn’t he realise that changes the phonetics irreparably?) – surely the 2nd tier of British speedway’s equivalent of “Sudden Sam” (always likely to take a tumble just when you least expect it) – leads home Stead for a very easy 5-1 over Makovsky and Warwick. 5-1
Ht 7 and the trading of 5-1s continues, as Burza makes one of his lightning starts to take the lead, with team mate Branney getting the better of Wright on the 1st-2nd bends. It’s actually an enthralling contest between Branney and Wright, which the Comet looks likely to win on the final lap. But we never got that far, as Belfield took a tumble at the back on the 4th turn of lap 3, cleared the safety fence and the race was stopped and awarded. I guess the award of a 5-1 to Berwick was fair enough, or was it? Wright looked a nailed on certainty to get the better of Branney and surely a race should only be awarded when its result is certain, especially when there can be no suspicion of foul play? Ah well, the result is the result; it’s not going to change. And we’re all level again. 1-5
Ht 8 and it’s not looking good for Berwick as the Workington pair shuffle them out on the 1st-2nd turns and race into a 5-1 position. But it doesn’t last, as Mogridge sheds a chain on the back straight on the 2nd lap and grinds to a halt. Collins holds on for the win, in spite of severe pressure from the barnstorming Branney, with a lacklustre Bergstrom gaining a point he hardly deserved. 3-3
Ht 9 and – once again – it’s all happening in this heat (you tend to find that happens when Piszcz the unpredictable is involved). The Berwick pairing make the start, but Harrison slips passed Makovsky on the 2nd turn. Then on the 1st-2nd turns of the 2nd lap Piszcz slips passed Makovsky as well. Then, I think, on the 1st-2nd turns of the 3rd lap, everyone passes Warwick, with Makovsky also re-passing Piszcz. And it stayed that way until the chequered flag – an interesting race. 4-2
Ht 10 and Stead won this race. I don’t care what the announcer said, or what the referee awarded. If they thought Mogridge won – and they did – they haven’t been eating their bloody carrots. Yes, Stead slowed exiting the 4th turn of the final lap while Mogridge gave it full gas to the chequered flag, but Stead was still half a bike length up as the chequered flag was waved. Such abject decisions really are unacceptable and annoying. Anyway, as you can probably guess, it was a Workington 5-1, with Branney 3rd and Burza, looking suspiciously underpowered, a distant last. 5-1
Ht 11 and an explosive start and 1st-2nd turns from Wright sees him take the lead and storm away to a very easy and very fast win from an uncomfortable looking Rempala and Bergstrom, with Belfield valiantly, after his earlier incident, bringing up the rear. 3-3
Ht 12 and hopes weren’t high among the small band of brother and sisters bedecked in black and gold. If there were two riders you didn’t want in a heat together it was Messrs Bergstrom and Warwick. And sure enough, Piszcz and Collins raced away to an easy 5-1, with Bergstrom managing to pass Warwick for the 3rd place point – big deal. 5-1
Ht 13 and after tight 1st-2nd turns between Wright and Rempala, Wright pulls away to an emphatic win, while Rempala claims 2nd place without ever looking remotely comfortable – apparently he’s not a great admirer of banked tracks. But he’s doing okay. 3-3
Ht 14 and out comes Branney wearing black and white, going for double points. And as the tapes rise it’s the Berwick pairing who show first, Burza on the inside and Branney on the outside. But would Burza understand the situation? You bet he did. Coming round the 1st-2nd turns, Burza’s looking for Branney and allowing him into the lead. And for a couple of laps the borderers’ are on an improbable 8-1, until Harrison rides a marvellous 3rd-4th turns on the 2nd lap and steams under Burza going down the straight into lap 3. But Burza had bought Branney enough time to hold on for 6 points. A clearly delighted Branney milked the generous applause (from both sets of supporters) as he took a lap of honour before receiving a huge hug from young Waite on returning to the pits. 2-7
Ht 15 and it’s a Mogridge-Wright combination for the barbarians, with a Makovsky-Rempala combination for Berwick. And again it’s the Berwick pairing who show first, but while Rempala hits the front, Makovsky loses out to Wright on the 1st-2nd turns. Rempala’s looking good out front, but Wright, such an exciting prospect, isn’t too far behind and finally an error of judgement from Rempala on the 3rd-4th turns of the final lap – he went mid-track instead of out wider – allowed Wright to storm round the outside to take the win. It was a glorious manoeuvre from the youngster. But Rempala wasn’t happy with himself as he returned to the pits and showed a remarkably good command of the “industrial” aspects of the English language – confirmation of my belief that English is the best language to swear in. 4-2

So, another deserved win for the barbarians. But Berwick restored some pride. And if the luck had been one-sided, they might even have sneaked a win. But the luck was pretty much even – Workington had their share of bad luck and so did Berwick. But is it luck? In Ht 5 Piszcz fell (which he often looks like doing), Harrison made a huge mistake and shed a chain, while Rempala’s machine tried desperately to give up the ghost. Is that bad luck? Maybe it is, but I’m not convinced.