WF2012 - Johnny Foreigners (3 days to go)

  

3 Days to  go and now we shift our focus to those coming from further afield, (although Holland to Barford and Redruth to Barford is probably a toss up!) and their possible impact on the Big One

Last year, the Dutch took away our Moodie and Speak battle, cos they got over eager. Willie Peeters (H24) took the big title. Despite the Uk Form of Wim Peeters (H3) and Danny VanWamelen (H3), neither is making the trip over. Giel Kubben (H7) and Henk Keins (H66) are the Dutch entrants. Whilst no premier league Dutch drivers, these will be out to prove a few folk wrong. 

And of course the Irish. 40 years since the first time they won at St Austell, the Irish have taken two titles, Jimmy Murray and Ian Thompson Jnr. This time the Irish approach is led by NI251 Jeff Minish
former Ben Fund champ NI312 Christopher Kincade, "The Racing Catalog" NI317 Denver Grattan,
NI436 Matt McCreight, young gun NI551 Kyle Beattie, NI909 William Murray, former Euro Champ NI925 Craig McConnell, NI929 Connor Hughes, NI944 Ryan McCrory and star man, and Barford final winner, NI998 Graham Fegan. With carnage looking to be a given, the Irish could certainly throw a surprise.

The Isle of Man always give us one to do. Gone are the days of Les Palmer et al. Today its wily old veteran Mike Booth (IOM115), and sadly, Onchan isn't the powerhouse it once was.

Does bring the age old debate up to date. Foreigners are now in rude health on the continent. You have Peter Baer (D92) and the Bekkers brothers form Belgium. Add to that the possible Austrian contingent, as well as the Dutch, and you would have a true European spread!

The Irish bring the party and there are many capable drivers over here, as proven by the Skegness, Northampton and Taunton weekends, they like to party hard and drive hard!

Gone are the days of token entries from Jersey and "Darkie" Jim from Jamaica - (it happened in 1982). Our sport is probably getting to the point where we could have a truly world final. With lots of stox ex pats living in Australia and New Zealand, they could certainly make an impact. Give Alex Salmond his way, Scotland could be considered an International Country! In the late 90's and early 2000's they needed it!

Maybe an international semi final is required to sort the wheat from the chafe, or maybe seed the international folk into the semis, and if they are good enough they will qualify. It should be about the best drivers in the world, not token entries because you have too. 

Still, Slán libh, Veel geluk, and Aigh vie! to all our jolly travellers from afar!