Three Berwicks Below Freezing!

Does everyone have a sporting event that sticks in the mind so much that it becomes the measure that all events are judged against in future or is it just me? In my mind the boring nature of all football matches is measured in comparison with Watford 0 Bury 0 Saturday 20th March 1999 quite simply the worst game I have ever attended. An old radio mate of mine used to regularly come out with the phrase "and my wife thinks I'm out enjoying myself!" On that occasion he was dead right both teams could have gone on until Christmas and they wouldn't have scored. Now when it comes to speedway and more precisely the temperature everything gets measured against Rye House Rockets v Berwick 3rd May 2010. It might have been May but those of you who braved it might remember seeing a few Polar Bears wandering along the river that day. A 59-33 win and paid 14 for Linus did nothing to raise the temperature in the Video Suite (as Craig now calls it!) with both cameraman and commentator freezing our whatsits off. I've played the DVD back a few times and I swear I can hear my teeth chattering. So when Len appealed to the crowd last Saturday after the unfortunate Dylan Black had been taken away in the ambulance (with thankfully not a broken arm as feared) it was fairly obvious what the answer would be. The weather had thrown us a half Berwick and lets face it despite their best efforts the Americans were hardly at the races for most of the night. Quite why that is I'm not sure as they seemed to have no trouble in turning over Buxton the following day. Still Ritchie and Jason got some track time which hopefully they will both put to good use on Saturday when the Plymouth "Top Heavy" Devils are in town. Messrs Barker and Fisher will no doubt prove a handful Cory Gathercole will be exciting to watch but I'm not sure about the rest of the line-up. Hopefully though after last weekend the gloves will stay in the bag and we won't be measuring the temperature in Berwicks!

An Old Speedway Coat Will Never Let You Down

Easter Sunday weather forecast for the first double header of the season would have Noah worried so there's nothing else to do but clear out the cupboard under the stairs. Under a pile of coats of various styles there I found it, it was like rediscovering an old friend, memories came flooding back. Razza's Grand Slam win at Oxford in 1988, the optimism of a KO Cup Final trip to the East of England Showground in 1992 (it was good while it lasted: until Heat 1 if I remember rightly!) and the tears shed at the final meeting in 1993. Complete with National League Speedway emblem and Rye House Rockets patch it was my old speedway coat purchased at the track in 1987. "How old is that?" said the daughter "Older than you" replied Dad "Please tell me you're not going to wear it." "Why not?" "Do I really have to tell you?" So it looks a bit retro but there's no way you can replace class. The Mrs reckons it will come up a treat if I fork out £10 to get it dry cleaned. I think it's time for a comeback so if the Rockets make the play offs I'll be turning back the years giving my old friend another airing. It may not compete with Steve Webb's Union Jack trousers but what does? Up The Rockets

I Know I'll Regret This But......

OK so how many times have I fallen foul of the curse of the commentator "Nelson certainly seems to have added some solidity to his early season promise" cue Aussie teenager careering through fourth bend fence when out in front by a mile, you know the sort of thing. So after Saturday's very entertaining challenge against the Panthers I really don't know whether I should keep my thoughts to myself after all in 2005 and 2007 my Speedway Star predictions both had the Rockets finishing second in case I put a jinx on two line ups I really thought would win the title. Any way here goes if things disappear in a its all gone pear shaped direction over the next few months feel free to hurl some abuse but I think with Charlie Gjedde and Anders Mellgren on board we have half a chance of a push for the play offs. Now it could be considered a rash prediction as with Jason Bunyan on his way back from New Zealand and Anders only just put pen to paper we haven't seen our new line up in action yet. The case for my optimism though is as follows: In Charlie we have an out and out number one rider and a thoroughly nice guy as I found on my first interview with him on Saturday, in the two Jason's we have an excellent reserve pairing and lets face it anyone who pays tribute to the great Norman Wisdom with his choice of headgear as young Mr Garrity does deserves respect. I also think the Bowen 747 is looking as sharp as ever his win in Heat 8 on Saturday was a special one and as he commented to me in the pits afterwards "Nobody told me that Michael Jepsen Jesen rides in the Polish Extraleague!" Anders Mellgren looks a good prospect to me and one who was responsible for our demise against Newport last season now one meeting doesn't make a star but I think a lot of us have followed his progress since that performance for the Wasps. So that leaves Jordan who in his own words on Saturday just needs "a bloody bike that will get out of the start!" and Ritchie who has yet got to grips with his new engine. I think both will be fine after a few more meetings hence my glass half full attitude. On another note it was great to see the skipper around on Saturday night Chris is a thoroughly top bloke and I'm hoping when he's a bit more mobile he'll be able to do some co-commentary with us at T2TV.