EASTER ALREADY…..

It was cold at Shielfield last Saturday, but just to be there, sniffing the fumes, told me winter was over.

As I write, I’ve still to see a meeting.

There have been a few media days to visit – ours was the only one I attended that actually had bikes on track, but it was surely good to catch up with folk at the big Premiership launch at Belle Vue – very well-choreographed by Phil Morris, I thought – and today at Armadale, where the Monarchs and NDL Academy lads were out in force for pictures and interviews, but found their circuit a tad too wet to be lapping.

Never mind, at most media gatherings you get nibbles – usually mainly Lidl, with a sprinkling of Waitrose for effect – so the day out is rarely wasted.

It’s frightening to think that this is Easter already.

March is running out, chilly and fickle, but with the promise of good things to come…..

Warmer Saturday nights – and maybe a bagful of home wins….. Why not?

Each week, we’ll be turning up hoping the opposition will prove to be the dog’s breakfasts while the Jewson Bandits are the dog’s bollocks.

Tomorrow might be a good time to start the winning habit, eh?

I think it’s certain that, with Newcastle out of action, the Comics are our main derby rivals, even if Edinburgh and Redcar are fractionally closer in miles.

Certainly, there was less goodwill — and like Sarah, remembering the behaviour of some Derwent Park devotees in 2010 I can understand why — in the past, but that was then and this is now.

I am personally, privately and publicly pleased to have Workington back where they belong in our league.

I do believe they were rather railroaded into moving on up from NDL racing – their promotion might well have preferred to stay where they were for another year, investing in stadium infrastructure before changing competitions – but as it was being widely suggested there wouldn’t be an NDL for them to race in, they had to, perhaps reluctantly, agree to join the good guys at Championship level.

Of course, no sooner had they accepted the challenge, lo and behold it turned out there would be an NDL after all…….

Pure coincidence, I’m sure.

As I write, not a single lap has been contested at Championship level anywhere, so everybody’s dreams are intact.

By Sunday at tea-time, weather permitting, there’ll have been five matches raced off in various competitions – obviously, the Border Trophy being the most-important – and six out of the nine CL clubs will have had a meeting or three.

Who’ll be smiling widest by Sunday night?

Whosoever wins or loses, be sure there will be comment on the dreaded socials to play the blame game.

So easy to win races on a lap-top, not just so straightforward on a bike with no brakes…..

As these platforms multiply I see critics increasing exponentially. Other clubs have even-sterner critics than we have – always destructive in their tone.

Look folks, the promotion, riders and me myself – we can accept constructive criticism, that’s always welcome.

The other stuff, well to those who waste their time typing the abuse, thank you.

I can’t even begin to tell you how little it means to me
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Want to disagree with Dick (as so many do)? He is always happy to hear from interesting people on dick@crystalfm.co.uk