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Proof Positive of Upcoming Disaster
By Bill Gilliham
Just as 1965, with the merger of the National and Provincial Leagues, proved to be the launch
pad for the emergence of an era of British (including NZ) success, so will 2008 signify the
burial of British hopes.
In the very first truly international meeting the truly awesome Nicki Pedersen outshone all
his rivals and he has been effectively excluded for riding for a British club. Not because of
his nationality but because he is too good.
What do we have in his stead? Elite League clubs scrabbling for second (or third) strings from
Polish, Swedish and Danish clubs, whilst a wealth of British talent languishes in the Premier
League.
What sort of stupidity is this? The costs involved in shipping these fine riders from abroad
back and forth from the North and the East is substantial. Why not increase the guarantees for
British riders from the Premier to compete in the Elite and still be quids in?
If we continue to see Poles, Czechs. Russians, Slovenians etc competing for reserve berths
in the Elite, how in heavens name are we going to breed the next generation of British
world-beaters?
This article was first published on 20th March 2008
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