they will realise the great concern amongst fans that Brent Webb could be leaving and, in fact, the rumours are very strong.

Here we are the World club champions, Super league champions and the best supported team home and away – it should be unheard of that we could lose one of our top stars.

I feel pretty sure that if this rumour turns out to be

true the attendances at Headingley Carnegie could take a nosedive, so please Rhinos management get this matter sorted out so that the Rhinos can carry on the good work of recent years.

if not Gary Hetherington may have to walk around for years with a false beard and dark glasses.

MALCOLM HOGG, New Farnley, Leeds, (via email)

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I'M writing to say what a fantastic time the family and I had in Cardiff.

The atmosphere was great as was our hotel. We went to quite a few bars to sample the local brew and food as the majority of the 63,144 rugby league supporters did and had a great time with the exception of one bar.

We were refused entry just because we were wearing our rugby league shirts.

My future daughter-in-law challenged this and said that other bars allowed rugby shirts and could this bar do the same because it was a big rugby league occasion.

The reply we got was that rugby league was not their national sport and never will be, union is our national sport, we were told.

I thanked the doorman for his opinion and went to the bar next door, explaining that this was a dumb reason and that rugby league supporters are here to enjoy themselves with no trouble.

That particular bar must have lost a lot of business and if the doorman's employer knew about this I'm sure he wouldn't be happy.

This prompted me into carrying out my own little survey where I visited other businesses and asked if they thought that rugby league would take off in Wales in the form of Celtic Crusaders.

I asked 20 members of the public (Welsh) and the result was 17 against and three for.

I think that the RFL should stop wasting their time in Wales and give a super league franchise to a paying public that wants it i.e. Cumbria.

One other fact that I wish to point out is that I saw and spoke to more Featherstone Rovers supporters than Celtic Crusaders fans.

Well done Featherstone, it was a pleasure talking to fans who appreciates and wants a super league franchise.

NOEL BATEMAN, Bodmin Drive, Normanton

IT is almost 12 months since I used your letters page to draw attention to the deplorable condition of the Roundhay Park arena following the Robbie Williams concert and later by the lack of care with any reinstatement work.

The condition of the cycle track, together with last June's torrential rainfall, meant that the intended series of 11 evening cycle meetings was reduced to a disappointing four.

Now, given that we have enjoyed a prolonged dry spell we, the volunteers who organise the racing and the riders, were eager to start the 2008 racing season with a bang.

Yes, the enthusiasm was there, the willingness was there, but the track was in a worst state than 2007.

There were two areas of the track that were unsafe to use, so detours had to be arranged and the marking out of the track was both poor or non-existent. can you imagine racing on a track that doesn't even have a finishing line?

The West Riding Track League has been promoting cycle meetings at Roundhay Arena for more than 70 years and surely deserves better than this.

Last Wednesday evening the first of this year's youth meetings was held at the Richard Dunn Centre in Bradford. what a contrast to the Roundhay fiasco.

The White Rose Youth League began its 2008 season there in fine style. More than 60 young athletes, aged from eight to 16, enjoyed an evening of high-quality racing within their respective age groups.

This is the beginning of the White Rose Youth League's third season and things are going from strength to strength.

It is following the principles laid down by British Cycling more than a decade ago, the principles that have put British cyclists to the top of the world rankings and produced nine World Championship gold medals in March and offered us our best chances for success at the Beijing Olympics.

With these prime and immediate models to emulate, the youngsters quickly rise to the challenges offered.

It is little over two years ago since the Bradford authority and British Cycling spent £150,000 improving the closed circuit that we use and the results which have followed are testament to our firm belief that if given the appropriate resources young people will always respond positively. For a modest investment we have the beginnings of a major success.

So what can Leeds offer competitive cycling which so many other authorities are recognising as a strongly-developing sport which warrants investment and so are providing the tracks and closed circuits necessary? what are Leeds doing to follow the trend?
Well, I know of the Leeds Cycling Development Group, instituted by Leisure Services and I have attended their meetings. I know of their five-year plan, but what of the resources?

Without tangible resources within the city the plan offers nothing to the competitive cyclist. The cycling community have received no more than broken promises from the Leeds authority for decades.

ALAN EDMONDSON, Secretary, League of Veteran Racing Cyclists, British Cycling Coach

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I would like to congratulate Bryan Smith on his wonderful book about Hunslet Four Cups to Fame.
It is a must for every rugby supporter. So much hard and dedicated work has gone into this.

My, what a Hunslet team. These guys worked all day and played 40 matches in one season!

Thanks Brian and everyone concerned with bringing this famous piece of sporting history to us all. What the side achieved should never be forgotten!

What a pity, however, that part of the stadium or a road around it at least could not have been named after Albert Goldthorpe, pictured left, or the terrible six.

The pack 1907-1908 and your book Bryan are an inspiration to us all. Thanks for remembering them 100 years on.

A JACKSON (still proud to be a Hunslet supporter)

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THE stage is now ready for the city of Leeds to make two appearances at Wembley.

Leeds United are in action this weekend in a derby against Doncaster Rovers to see who goes into the Championship next season.

and with Leeds Rhinos in pole position in Super League I say the time is now ready for the city to come under the spotlight both regionally and nationally.

Our friends over the hill have had their glory and now, at last, it is our time and why not?

Never mind the economy, bask in the sunshine and enjoy these sporting occasions.

KEVIN MAGUIRE, Wheatcroft, Hanover Street, Batley

Ends