Conference
League Confusion
Posted 03/02/05
Significant changes seem
to have been made in the criteria for racing in the Conference League
at their conference on Tuesday which could have an effect on Glasgow
riders and assets.
At the moment details are very sketchy although it
is known that a grading system will be used in the Conference League
for the first time. The aim is to encourage Conference League clubs
to use youngsters and it will undoubtedly have an adverse affect on
many of the old hands or experienced riders without a PL berth who
have previously been able to ply their trade at CL level.
Each CL team must use two 'rookies', who will be
graded as a Grade 2. The most experienced riders are graded as 11
and only one per club is allowed.
What is uncertain at the moment is exactly how these
grades are allocated - early suggestions are that it is to do with
age rather than experience although some of the grading's published
- including James Cockle - do not fit with these suggestions.
Weymouth
Wildcats Official Site has a list of grades and some of those
allocated do seem a little strange. Four of next seasons Tigers team
have been allocated a grade - Matthew, Trent and James Birkenshaw
are all graded 11 although under previous CL rules would not have
been eligible to ride CL this year. James Cockle is graded 8.
Glasgow Asset David McAllan could be one of those
badly affected by the new rules as he is currently without a PL berth
and has been graded at 11. Gary Beaton has been graded 5 along with
the likes of Ben Barker and Sean Stoddard, whilst James McBain is
obviously graded as a Grade 2 rookie.
