Well I might as well go the whole way and complete this little section with an assessment of my favourite Workington Comets team.
Having given my views on the Reds and Town here goes with a dream team selection on the shale.
At number one and captain it has to be Carl Stonehewer as the success of the Comets when they relaunched in 1999 had a lot to do with the crowd favourite.
As well as being an outstanding talent on a bike and a popular ambassador for the team off it, he helped put Workington even more on the speedway map when he qualified for the Grand Prix through a memorable success in Lonigo.
He helped the Comets achieve several honours in the Pairs and Fours with different partners.
The fact that he was voted Cumbria Sports Personality of the Year in 2001 – the only speedway rider in 37 years of the awards to win it – demonstrates the impact he made.
2. Bob Valentine
If Stoney was the key to Workington speedway taking off again in 1999, the man who made the difference 30 years earlier was Bob Valentine.
He was actually riding for the first time in Britain when Ian Thomas and Jeff Brownhut brought him to Workington through Sheffield who had took a punt on him after hearing of his potential after only a season on a speedway bike in his native Australia, taking up the sport at the age of 29.
Derwent Park, with its broad and sweeping banked bends proved perfect for his style of racing and made him the supporters big favourite.
Hugging the boards on his trademark surge produced some breath-taking and heart-stopping moments for the Comets faithful.
I can remember journalist Alan Sandwith exclaiming excitedly “His throttle’s jammed” at one dramatic manoeuvre.
His form obviously impressed parent club Sheffield as he only raced for the one season for the Comets but what a stay that was.
3. Lou Sansom
another Australian, with a completely different style to Bob, but equally popular with the Comets fans from the early days of the sport in Workington.
I got to know Lou outside of speedway because he was lodging with neighbours where I was living in Workington at the time.
Many a time he would be outside working on his bike and dozens of kids would be gathering round for a chat, along with some seniors who were speedway fans.
Lou was special because he was a smooth, confident rider who always seemed to be in his comfort zone and in charge.
He scored more points and made more appearances than anyone else during Workington Comets’ first spell as a League club.
4. Neil Collins
One of the famous speedway family Neil had two spells with the Comets – a teenager in 1979 and a seasoned campaigner in 2001.
It was his second spell which sticks vividly in the mind when I was announcing at Derwent Park. I dubbed him Mr Excitement for some of the electrifying rides he turned in, particularly with some late thrusts for glory from the last bend.
Later, in conversation, it turned out he was a former racing pigeon fancier which instantly earned him a few extra Brownie points.
If memory serves I once gave him a bird to liberate at Lymm, near where he lived, which happened to be one of our race-points.
I’ve often wondered whether he got himself a loft of pigeons again after he finished!
5. James Wright
Like Neil had family pedigree. His grandad Jim Yacoby rode for Belle Vue for eight years from 1959.
He arrived at Workington in 2004 and not long afterwards I can vividly recall promoter Ian Thomas telling me there was a good line for that night’s meeting.
His mother bred whippets and they had just collected a major award at Crufts.
Well it was too good to ignore and when James had scooted home in eye-catching fashion it was The Whippet who had taken that particular win for the Comets.
Some of James’ last bend passes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat were up there with the best and he was riding with zest and confidence.
They were a real nice family and brother Charles, I’m delighted to say has come good over the last few years.
6 Kauko Nieminen
We’ve had some popular Scandinavians over the years but I think Kake has to be up there with the best ones.
It was a natural call, The Flying Finn, after one of his many victories for the Comets and like the best riders his smooth, cool riding style stood him out from the rest.
Indeed when Ian Thomas flew to Finland to watch Kauko ride and then sign him for the Comets what he emphasised was how stylish a rider he was.
That was emphasised by the countless good luck messages he got when announcing his retirement in 2016, numerous ones from Workington fans who appreciated a top rider and a top guy when they saw one.
7. Craig Cook
Comets launched his senior career in 2009 after Keith Denham knew that both he and Richard Lawson could turn grasstrack success into speedway stardom. He wasn’t wrong.
He has gone on to become Premier League Riders champion, British champion and a Grand Prix rider.
I know at the time several good judges felt Cookie had the talent to go all the way to world honours.
The thing I remember most about Cookie was his unflappable, easy-on-the-eye style. It was as if he was going round in his favourite armchair.
It’s probably the most relaxed style I can recall of any rider at Derwent Park over the years.
Back then there was so much potential and although he’s had his demons to battle in more recent times, hopefully there’s still more big nights to come.
