WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND AUSTRALIA 2009 PREVIEWS

2009 AUSTRALIA TOUR PREVIEW - posted 3 February 2009

by top cycle speedway columnist Steve Harvie

With only a few days to go before the Lions' tour to Australia commences, all concerned will be keen to leave these shores, which have seen Siberian winter conditions hamper several of the training sessions organised, to enable a strong British challenge Down Under to compliment our successful Olympians.

Prior to the heat and humidity of Adelaide, I am not looking forward to the tedious hours spent in cramped seating, next to someone oudourly challenged, regularly woken up for noisy plastic bland refreshments, constant comfort breaks, continuous interruptions only interspersed by the occasional vivid panoramic views, comical accents and unexpected moments of action. And that’s just at the local Multiplex Cinema watching the “blockbuster” film Australia!

Tales of Harry and Blinner

For many past travellers it will be strange not to have the ever present “Harry and Blinner” on board, although recollected tales about them will continue to be told. Travel arrangements by now will have been dealt with by the obviously gorgeous Tanya at Worldspan whilst the not so gorgeous “Chairman” Brown and “Ecclestone” Barnes will have to deal with all the complaints of missing baggage, substandard accommodation, wrong flight seating, surcharged car hire, personality conflicts, inter family rifts, doomed relationships, unaccompanied children and 101 other problems arising - and that’s just in the departure lounge at Heathrow!

Although not having flown since my last tour in '97, this flight will not be as long with only the one break in Hong Kong where I doubt there will not be enough time to explore the former British Territory by rickshaws pedalled by members of the junior squad to put them in their place and build up their gating legs.

Arrival in Adelaide should be a relief despite the anticipated heat, settling in quickly at our Beachside Caravan Park with our own hired transport. Hope the air conditioning is working this time! Monday will be a busy day for some as the racing will not commence until Thursday. So many of the party will depart on short breaks to explore the former Penal Colony. Me to Melbourne to stay with 70’s biker mate, big John Gartside who was my mechanic and minder on the '97 tour, his cricket playing son Sam lodging at Haggis Mansions last summer.

Others will acclimatise to the conditions and get a couple of practice sessions either side of the official “Welcoming Do”. Those staying at the caravan site will now be familiar with the West Lake Shopping Mall, Semaphore’s High Street or the fleshpots of Port Adelaide’s dockside.

Team GB will Prove Too Good for Aussies

With a myriad of racing taking part over the next three weeks, there is a lot of previewing and predictions to get through. The first week sees the Australia v GB test series, senior (three matches) and junior (five matches) staged at the three Adelaide venues – Findon, LeFevre and Salisbury, interspersed with local club meetings for the remaining riders.  At the end of this preview, there is a provisional list of all riders involved in the whole tour and there are individual descriptions of the superstars on the website, although there will no doubt be absentees, non arrivals, short stay competitors and last minute entries to all categories. (“Geeze sport I could beat that old greybeard Scotspom any day, no worries!”)

With keen training behind them, the UK squad looks strong and well balanced, managed by Dave Murphy capably assisted by captain Lee Aris and British champion Gavin Wheeler. With top club riders Birks, Cossey, Jewkes, Osborne (L), Pike, Winwood and Wadhams to choose from, along with proven tourists Harris and Marchant, I feel they will comfortably win the series. Only suspect temperament under pressure of some riders and misuse of the usual “Brit Abroad Syndrome” could undermine this but will not be a problem as there are keen replacements from the junior squad awaiting and steadying old hands in the veteran ranks to fall back on if the going gets tough.

Doubts Over Aussies Line-Ups

Their Australian counterparts however on paper seem vulnerable having only their main man Daniel Pudney to carry most of the expectation. Apparently top rider Mitchell Spear will not be there after all and only Brad Hoppo has the experience of several previous years of test matches behind him. The amazing Matt Gentle is on the list but rumoured not to be competing. As an 18-year-old in '97 he was the “Man of the Moment” then, totally responsible for the dominance of the Aussie side in both classes and only a couple of unaccustomed errors and some bad luck in both World finals prevented him from claiming them as well, likewise a similar repeat in 2001.

Despite a reluctance to mix socially with his opponents along with a “Thomas Gollob” attitude, on his day he was the most complete cycle speedway rider that I have witnessed and it would have been a privilege to see him pitted against Symanski or Ganczarek now. No longer being able to call on the likes of Tony Herd, Mark Fraser, John Palmerie, Neil Toye and others to recall some legends. To succeed now, they must mount a Ryder Cup style atmosphere amongst their relatively young recruits similar to the enthusiastic way they raced in Poland in 2007.

Junior Tests will be Much Tighter

The longer junior series will be tighter to decide but the strength in depth of the hosts should eventually overcome the more talented but inexperienced in the international scene Brits. Despite the ridiculous haircuts of some of our squad, most have worked extremely hard at the indoor at Chesley and the winter get togethers and under Lee Aris’s guiding experience should put up a good fight in a definite “Gallipolli” campaign. My knowledge of their opponents is limited but recent scores posted have consistently been higher than Daniel’s and Brad’s in “Spokesman” reports, so with guaranteed vociferous support from the locals this could well be the difference in the end.   

Tests with Poland will be Highly Charged

Interspersed with the Club Championship qualifiers, Britain finally take on Poland in two test matches which should have been a yearly fixture over the past decade if the xenophobic politics of the sport in the UK and “petty reluctance of rule clarification” by both governing bodies had not got in the way. It promises to be highly charged encounter with the total commitment of the world class Eastern Europeans likely to determine their superiority but if the UK side stay focussed from the Aussie matches who knows. I only hope the Australian organisation are going to stage similar fixtures with them as there no doubt will be a large migrant Polish spectator presence to add to the atmosphere and boost the bar takings or will they decline to save embarrassment of another defeat!

Riders and families not involved in the Club Championships and Nations Cup, which is up next, will take advantage of cheap flights to other parts of the “Commonwealth Dependency” or local outings to the wine valleys, Kangaroo Island and the near Outback or just relax in Adelaide itself where group activities have no doubt been organised as before – karting, water skiing, car bonnet slamming (?) and the like.

Leszno and Torun to set pace in World Club Championship

These Championships, involving most of the non-international riders present, should make for a more relaxed event with Leszno or Euro champs, Torun, the obvious choice of winners but will depend on the match and race draws, which usually throw up some interesting results. The host clubs cannot be ignored, although most are short of a top rider or two.  Likewise the UK clubs of which Leicester, Birmingham and Sheffield look to be the best. Hethersett should be congratulated for entering yet another competition in their best season ever while I am personally disappointed that East London’s anticipated agreed side of a year ago containing Steven Jarvis, Alex Zeilinski, myself and Adelaide resident Glynn Whale will after all not materialise. I only hope the organisers take a fair and lenient view of team eligibility to avoid the scenario of meaningless qualifiers with the majority of races only containing three or less riders as happened in the Euro equivalent at Leicester last May and if necessary compile scratch teams to make up the numbers from keen and willing volunteers present – Vets Select, Cockney Rejects, East Anglia United or Future Prospects etc.

Jessica - One Special Woman

The second weekend prior to the Club finals on the Sunday at LeFevre sees Salisbury stage the World Cup and Women’s World Final now re-branded as “Miss Adelaide” for some strange reason. Initial predictions for fame is that should go to either Jessica Lamb or Rachel Edge, if appearing, both champions back in Blighty but as Australia has had many girls competing in club events in '97 when the UK only had one nationwide (Jessica), it might not be so straightforward after all.

World Cup too Close to Call

I am not sure of the Junior World Cup line up.  Will Baraka’s USA be there after all?  I think England will secure this from the hosts because of the quality they have available. The senior version is another thing altogether. With less riders involved in each team compared with the tests, room for error is critical. The Poles would probably win if they used Leszno again but “Inngerlaand” will be desperate for success whilst Australia, regrouping from defeats in the tests, will be more composed, enjoying not just local support but sympathy from the “Keltic Konnection”.

Wales could well be the catalyst for the ultimate destination of the title as they have dealt with England before and the (Norfolk) Irish team through Dave Martin and Lee Cossey will surely dent a few egos en route. Unfortunately my Ecosse equipe seem doomed to the wooden spoon position already being described as a team of “Jessies” by top “welly boot wearer” Murphy.  In the year of the Scottish Homecoming, Marcus, it’s no too late to change yer mind, come back tae yer ain folk, stuff the Sassenachs, yoor only reserve for them onyway, thattle gie Haggis Harvie his usual fifth rider space and we winnie have tae use the wee lassie efter aw!” ejockulated “Groundskeeper” Baxter forced to field his Aussi Toye boy, exiled Norfolk man Elliot Jones and himself. As with the Club Champs the draw will be crucial to the final outcome.

We'll keep Kylie 

Another pause before the final series of competitions in the tour will lead me into a cultural examination of Australia which I found slightly strange back in '97 where I witnessed a Hamstead/Edinburgh/Brighton all day “Peace I Love You” festival on Semaphore seafront containing all the usual left wing/green/pacifist and lifestyle types whose participants seemed to disappear back to their materialistic, carnivorous, normal family life situations at closing time! For virgin tourists forget Neighbours, even my lodger said it was crap.  Watch the Kath and Kim show on BBC2 in the wee small hours as this cross between Absolutely Fabulous and Gavin and Stacey has it all. My Aussie education in the 80’s was Mad Max with Scotland’s favourite son Braveheart ibson and I was one of these bikers at the all night showing of all three films at the Well Hall Odeon back then. Other celluloid gems are the original Strictly Ballroom and Muriel’s Wedding. In the UK we are now tired of Dame Edna, Rolf Harris and Kevin “Bloody” Wilson so you can have them back along with Geramine Geer and Clive James as well! Although we will hold on to Kylie!

World Individuals Eagerly Awaited

The World Individuals are the events I am most looking forward to with the Veterans one up first. Back in '06 I was enjoying an Indian Summer in my racing career finishing in the top halves of the over 40’s and 50’s British finals and fourth and second in the Eurovets versions.  So I signed up for Australia back then thinking at least a podium position beckoned as few would bother going over for it. How wrong was I. Everyday new “old blokes” are throwing their hat into the ring with rumours of Dave Hemsley and Andre Cross taking part, it looks like Baxter and me will be fighting it out for the basement places after all. Dave was adamant we should save ourselves for the Best Pairs on the final day instead. Remind me again, will that be Darts or Pool at the Findon Clubhouse! The two former winners Murphy and Venson will be hard pushed to repeat their triumphs in what is turning out to be a class field. I was originally only going to race in this then go on to spectate at the World Superbikes which unfortunately is on the same weekend.  Therefore I feel I will have to honour my priorities. If I get at hired car anyone else like to go to Phillip Island with me instead!

Symanski Favourite to Retain World Title

The Junior Final like their previous test series will be hard to predict but a British name is likely to be on the trophy courtsey of Tom Reed or Ben Mould or one of the Midland youngsters like Carl Jarvis or Lee Smith.  This brings us to the blue riband event, the World Individual Final, previously known as the World Masters. I am afraid to say that this seems likely to go the same way as the last one in Poland two years ago with the Poles liable to dominate the top placings, Symanski continuing his sensational riding form and Nowacki losing out once again. However Pudney will be fired up trying to recapture the title he won four years ago. I fear only Lee Aris and Gavin Wheeler have any chance for the Brits although Wadhams could prove us all wrong if he remains focused and free from other diversions throughout the tour. Bob Prince will have his work cut out to referee this one.

Brits Have No Excuses This Time

I only hope the rest of the British seniors, including famous previous winners, do not adopt the same attitude they have shown at the last two Euro Finals and the World Final two years ago by inventing excuses not to compete like “the Poles are too aggressive”, (it’s a tough sport – get on with it), “they team ride each other” (team riding by whichever club / nationality has always gone on) and “I am saving myself for the British Finals Weekend” That final excuse baffles me as it is more than a decade since that competition was more of a challenge than the World Final and despite worthy champions it decreases in quantity and quality each season with more riders actually appearing at the Indoor equivalent last year. It will take more than “theatrical” presentation to revive the event and only major surgery to it and the other two principal competitions will restore Cycle Speedway in Britain and be considered a serious cycle sport by others.

The final competition, the World Pairs at the little used Murraylands track, may suffer due to racing fatigue by the visitors and thoughts of the return home so it could be a very open event giving the host nation the best chance of silverware at last. Do not count out lesser known riders to determine the final placings here either.

Pudney's Little-Known Road to World Stardom

All that’s left now is the Final Night Frolics at Findon which I partly missed out on in '97 when Daniel Pudney’s parents did not want their young son to witness the “stripper” obtained for Karol Wlodarczyk’s 18th birthday and I had to spend the time giving young Daniel the benefit of my CS riding knowledge round the Findon track and grooming him for eventual World stardom. You owe me Pudney!

My travel arrangements now are almost complete and it only leaves this weekend’s training at Leicester to convince Dave Murphy that I may be the missing cog in the names to be selected for the Lions team and realise my only remaining international honour in the sport I am reluctantly doing for my last season as do not wish to become one of these geriatric 60 somethings (or nobodies!) and could wish for a place in the final match after we have whitewashed the Aussies or more likely been soundly thrashed by the Poles.

My Work is Done

Harvie the Hack’s work over, I can look forward to a safe, non controversial month’s Cycle Speedway which it most certainly will not be as “Johnny Foreigner’s” tampering with the starting system has already ignited fierce passions in the Spokesman’s Viewpoint, the first of many no doubt.  The hospitality of the host nation will be most appreciated and I am looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones if they ever forgive my chastisement of their great nation.

The return journey will no doubt be a drag with plenty to think about for the coming season which starts with more international duties for the Scots and Irish at Norwich on the 8 March with the Premier League and normal racing commencing soon after. It would be good to put the controversies of last year behind us and build on the optimism of a successful tour Down Under and try and promote our sport in the way it should be.

In My Dreams ...

Murphy eventually granted me my Lions jersey and I did not disappoint him. My last bend swoop under a confused Pudney in the final heat secured the series 2-1. ”I kept some skills from you after all Daniel!” Likewise a similar move panicked Symanski into a rare fall defeating the still smarting Poles. Unable to compete as East London for contractual reasons Steve Harvie’s three Cockney Rebels from Newham and Bow Monarchs including Nicky Thresher and Glynn Whale easily won the Club Championship whilst the unfancied Scots overcame their handicaps to claim the World Cup streets ahead of the opposition. Personal advice to the young guns secured the Junior Tests and Nations Cup plus suggested number one haircuts resulted in all podium positions in their individual final. The Vets was hard going with a rare inside grid against Old Man Wheeler stealing the six-man run off also containing Hemsley, Harris, Cross and Venson. The coupe-de-grace was a faultless maximum in the World Masters (as it should be called) before being whisked off by speedboat to Phillip Island for the World Superbikes which I can’t recall much about. The swift return by helicopter in time for Jessica and me to win the Best Pairs for Scotland was followed by a reverse backward summersault through the blazing fire hoops at the Findon Farewell Night on a unicycle dressed only in speedos, flip flops, goggles and a snorkel rounding off a remarkable tour.  Not bad for a former Edinburgh Royal High schoolboy equalling rival Watsonian Chris Hoy’s Olympic medals haul. Privileged seating arrangements for me beside Lord Coe at the London Olympics await!

Wake Up, wake up Meester Harvie squealed a Suzi Wong airhostess. We have arrived in Adelaide airport. The rest of your party disembarked ages ago!  Walter Mitty inspired hallucinating terminal jet lag kicked in early this trip me thinks!

Jock Harvie

WORLD ENTRIES - updated at 5 February 2009

SENIOR/OPEN INDIVIDUALS (x81)
Australia
Daniel Bax
Tony Bax
Ben Blaker
Cody Chadwick
Joel Chadwick
Warren Corbett
Cameron Crisp
Ryan Edson
Robert Fitzpatrick
Robert Fleming
Damien Ffrench
Ty Geertsen
Matthew Gentle
Nigel Greenhalgh
Jason Jesson
Dean Jolly
Jessica Lamb
Matt Mathews
Bobby McMillan
Ross Pries
Daniel Pudney
Jack Spear
Mitchell Spear
Brad Thompson
Daniel Thompson
Nick Thresher
Paul White
Farren Wills
Great Britain
Andrew Angell
Lee Aris
Mark Boaler
Jonathan Birks
Jamie Brown
Steve Copping
Barry Copping
Leigh Cossey
Chris Eaton
Steve Harris
Sam Hearn
Ryan Hoyland
Richard Hudson
Chris Jewkes
Mick Knowles
Lee Lawrence
Kevin Lowman
Craig Marchant
David Martin
Dave Murphy
Lewis Osborne
Chris Osborne
Garry Pearce
Daniel Pike
Chris Timms
Norman Venson
Marcus Wadhams
Gavin Wheeler
Leon Wild
Jake Williams
Poland
Robert Bedra
Przemek Binkowski
Pawel Cegielski
Rafal Dulinski
Maciej Ganczarek
Kristian Gorniaczyk
Radoslaw Handke
Marcin Kolata
Pawel Kozlowski
Sebastian Morawiak
Marcin Niedzielski
Lukasz Nowacki
Marcin Paradzinski
Konrad Pietak
Darius Pilas
Artur Poprawski
Marcin Puk
Dominik Rycharski
Pawel Szychalski
Marcin Szymanski
Karol Wlodarczyk
Tomasz Wlodarczyk
Jacek Wojciechowski
Aleksander Zielinski

WOMEN’S INDIVIDUALS (x12)
Australia
Gabby Aston
Annabell Blaker
Morgan Faulkner
Jackie Kinross
Nicole Kinross
Sarah Kinross
Lucy Millikin
Lucinda Spear
Georgia Tulloch
Great Britain
Tiffany Collins
Jessica Lamb
Molly Walker

JUNIORS (x42)
Australia
Daniel Bax
Tony Bax
Ben Blaker
Cody Chadwick
Joel Chadwick
Nathan Condo-Evans
Anthony Daniels
Robert Fitzpatrick
Ty Geertsen
Dean Jolly
Nicole Kinross
Sarah Kinross
Scott Kinross
Matt Mathews
Bobby McMillan
Sebastian Morawiak
Ross Priest
Lucinda Spear
John Stevenson
Molly Walker
Jay Walters
Tyrone Walters
Farren Wills
Great Britain
Jazz Abbott
Jamie Brown
Mark Carmichael
Ben Collins
Josh Davis
Leyton Glover
Paul Heard
Sam Hearn
Richard Hudson
Carl Jarvis
Ben Mould
Dayle Peace
Thomas Reed
Lee Smith
Leon Wild
Jake Williams
Poland
Krystian Gorniaczyk
United States of America
Cody Eaves

VETERAN INDIVIDUALS (x21)
Australia
Craig Baker
Steve Clarke
Warren Corbett
Robert Fleming
Nigel Greenhalgh
Robert Thompson
John Hill
Rick Jolly
Frank Jones
Nick Thresher
Paul White
Great Britain
Dave Baxter
Gilbert Davis
Steve Harris
Steve Harvie
Mick Knowles
Dave Murphy
Bob Prince
Norman Venson
Colin Wheeler
 
WORLD CUP (Senior) (x6)
Australia
England
Ireland
Poland
Scotland
Wales

WORLD CUP (Junior) (x2)
Australia
England

WORLD PAIRS (Senior)
Australia
England
Ireland
Poland
Scotland
Wales

WORLD PAIRS (Junior)
cancelled - insufficent entries
 
WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP (x13)
Australia
Findon
LeFevre
Murraylands
Salisbury
Great Britain
Birmingham
Hethersett
Leicester
Poole
Sheffield
Wednesfield
Poland
Czestochowa
Leszno
Torun

WORLD JUNIOR CLUB PAIRS (x8)
Australia
Findon
LeFevre
Murraylands
Salisbury
Great Britain
Hethersett
Poole
Sandwell
Sheffield