A SLENDER PRESENTER

Some sad news for my critics.

I’m not ill – I just decided that, with nothing else to do during lockdown, I might try to get a bit fitter and lose some weight.

Hence the appearance on the infield of your new, slenderer presenterer!

Four stones (25kg in new money) less of me out there than there was previously, and I do feel a bit better for it.

How did I dispose of the weight in the past nine months?

Well, what can I tell you? An hour of tai chi first thing in the morning, an HIIT work-out with my personal trainer, a bowl of steamed kale and a handful of almonds for lunch and then two hours of yoga in the afternoon followed by an ice bath — this is a routine which I’m sure would work miracles for anyone of any age, although I can’t be entirely sure because I haven’t myself adopted any aspect of it at any point.

All I did was follow the old maxim – move more and eat less!

Downside being a need to buy some new clothes – but I’ll maybe keep a few of the old ones handy at the back of the wardrobe, just in case…….

Moving on, I’m enthused about this weekend’s double-double-header. Thirty races at Shielfield on Saturday, and thirty more down at Leicester on Sunday.

Sadly, at Leicester – and at Plymouth and Poole next week, where the Bandits go a-calling on Tuesday and Wednesday – Covid restrictions to crowd levels and indeed travel mean it just won’t be feasible to arrange the trips that would have been so easy-peasy in 2019 and before.

Which is a shame. I really like the south-coast circuits, and the folk there. I was really looking forward to going back to Poole especially – the last time we were there was thirty years ago, in October of 1991, and we won! 47-43, and I can certainly recall that night – and the after-match celebration — as if it was yesterday. It would take a ‘Men In Black’ memory-wiper thingie to make me forget it…….

I suppose the same result next week would do nicely. Even if we can’t have the same celebration……..

Before all that, there’s this Saturday’s double-dip at Shielfield with the reigning Championship and NDL champions in town, and looking to be a tough test for both Bandits and Bullets.

Most folk will be aware of the restrictions we face in presenting speedway to the public in this pandemical period of time. Admission is still by pre-purchased e-ticket only, and the usual social distancing regulations will have to apply. Masks are required entering and leaving, and at any time you want to move about to get some grub or booze, although you can take the mask off while sitting in your seat or standing at the appropriate part of the terracing.

To avoid disappointment at not getting your preferred seat (or terracing area) it is advisable to book early, on https://www.berwickspeedway.com/tickets/ — if your section of the stand is sold out when you get around to clicking that mouse, don’t say I didn’t warn you!

In other news, I was happy – make that delighted — to see Jye getting among the points for Belle Vue on Monday, both at the NSS and away to Peterborough, where his scalps included Bomber Harris and Hans Andersen.

He must obviously be feeling better than on Saturday, when he was clearly uncomfortable on board the bike. At this rate of progress, our tough wee Aussie will be fully fighting fit, come Saturday night.

Which I reckon all, er, eleven Berwick lads will have to be – Leicester didn’t win the Championship and National League titles by accident in 2019, and their 2021 squads are looking pretty good on paper too.

Although, as we know, speedway races are lost and won on shale, not paper.

Let’s go racing!
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Disagree with Dick – as so many do? He is always be happy to hear from interesting people at dick@crystalfm.co.uk