Steve Shovlar

Quite remarkable they are going up against Englands first World Cup match. Will there be a crowd or a small gathering?

Reason I think Poole will be in the final is because I think the team is good enough to see off Berwick over two legs. Of course there could be an upset but I don’t think there will be. If it’s a Plymouth v Poole final it should be a thriller. Plymouth have King and Nicholls who are excellent around Poole, Barker who on his day can beat anyone, a reserve that was magnificent on his first ever visit. They are no pushovers this season. Pirates normally ride Plymouth very well. So I think a close final in front of two packed crowds.

Pleased for Gary May and Plymouth. A shame BSN didn’t cover both legs of the semi. Was almost tempted to buy the stream tonight. Should imagine the final against Poole is going to be packed out. Looking forward to it already.

I was disappointed when it was announced we had Kerr in the team. He was next to dreadful last season. Just generally poor with added bike issues on top. And so many duff rides where a reserve would get in front of him and he couldn’t get past. However I will eat humble pie as he has been much much better so far this season and done a good job. I hope he keeps it up.

Just caught up with last nights match. Had no idea of conditions as was up in Swindon and it was dry. Well done to the track staff for getting the meeting on. Only one team wanted that and it wasn’t Edinburgh, who were diabolical to be honest. Glad to see Pirates at full strength even though Bowes is finding it difficult at the moment. Feel he will click soon enough. Kyle untroubled at reserve. Pirates coast through to the final and the very long trip to Berwick.

The club wins as it receives money that it wouldn’t get. Most of the people buying a stream have no intention of being there. The outlets and fundraisers don’t lose as the people wouldn’t have been there in the first place. Streaming has been a lifeline for clubs.

Armchair viewers make up a big chunk of clubs income. 1000 viewers bring in £14000 gross and less expenses to a club on their own stream. Many of those viewers would never attend the meeting in person so it’s money for little outlay. Someone sitting at home in Manchester can see what’s on and think, that Glasgow v Poole meeting could be a bit tasty and for the price of a bottle of wine can watch a meeting they would never attend. Hundreds of Pirates fans can tune in and cheer on their team for £13.99. Everyone’s a winner. For the U21 final, it would attract fans from all over the U.K. I have no idea how many subscribers BSN have, but a lot I should imagine. That’s a lot shared out between BSN and the clubs. Everyone wins.

Will was sitting in last place and knew that Cooper was away and gone with no chance of catching him. A place on the rostrum was better than 4th and so he had to go for the gap that Pijper had left. If he got through he got third. If he failed it would have been the same as where he was before he went for it. Logic says go for it. He nearly pulled it off but not quite. He did catch Pijper wheel so was rightly excluded but it almost came off. The reaction from Pijper though was ridiculous, and frankly, totally expected knowing his personality. He nearly always likes to throw a hissy fit in a meeting. First tantrum when it looked like his mechanic didn’t put fuel in his bike, then a second when he was taken out. He will soon discover someone bigger and tougher will knock him spark out if he comes charging up to the wrong person who won’t take that behaviour. His pit crew were just as bad.

I watched it delayed by about 45 minutes and didn’t have any issues. Fast forwarded between heats and nearly caught up to ‘live’ by the end. Perhaps that’s the best way to watch it if you don’t like long drawn out meetings.

Thanks Andy I will purchase the stream.

I wont be there for this one as my mother’s 90th birthday party takes priority. Question for Andy who runs the streaming service. If I buy a stream, can I watch it on Thursday morning?

Should be a good meeting. Edinburgh have decent strength throughout the team. Cooper up in the team for this one? Pirates by 10 and progress to final.

Glad ref Jarvis was strong enough to award the final. The others in the heat certainly didn’t deserve a second chance in the race. Thought the right 4 made up the final. Best two qualified straight through and home advantage saw the Redcar pair through. Think Jody Scott the better of the two Redcar riders. How is it everytime Ace Pijper is on either BSN or racing against Poole he is throwing a wobbly? Every single time the toys come out of the pram. Well done Cooper Rushen. 16 years old and already out of the reserve berth at Poole. The next Mark Loram/Michael Lee (with better temperament)

Not a nice way to talk about someone who has had serious health issues.

Hmmm called off early. Rain is clearing this afternoon.

Forecast looks ok. Wet in the morning to leave a dry afternoon and evening. Harbourmasters Lineup 1. Harry Fletcher 2. Cooper Rushen 3. Ben Morley 4. Jordy Loftus 5. Nathan Ablitt 6. Mickie Simpson 7. Ollie Binns 8. Seth Norman 9. William Cairns 10. Alex Spooner 11. Vinnie Foord 12. Charlie Southwick 13. Jack Shimelt 14. Ashton Vale 15. Harry Sadler 16. Arran Butcher

Entertaining meeting that. Take a bow Nathan Ablitt. Great effort tonight. Young Ingram surprised everyone in heat 14. While he can do it as home, that was the first time I have seen him do anything away from Scunny. Pickering baring an mechanical issues was always going to bring the points home in heat 15. Edwards beat Pickering in one heat, then can’t get past Ingram in heat 14. Rotten luck for Dan Gilkes. Get well soon.

Two and four the gates to be on at the end of the meeting but Zack could have shut Thomson out if he had gone wide on bend three of heat 15. Poole were never led until heat 15 and the job has been done, but don’t like losing like that. Cooper should have been replaced in heat 14 with Will. Quite gate and go with riders winning or at the back next time. Mitch Cluff had his best meeting by gating and riding steadily. Harris poor though involved in best race of the meeting with Kyle Newman.

Cooper struggled in his first two. Will was good. Cooper needs a good third or might lose his last ride to Will.

Weather radar showing drizzle or light rain. Anyone up there give an eyes on the ground weather update please?

No. They were weather spikes. But now global warming is clear for all to see, with temperature records broken on a yearly basis. Ten of the hottest ever years have been very recently. Stats are there for all to see.

6pm and 31c in Poole. 🥵 And some still don’t believe there’s such a thing as Global warming. As temperature records break every year.

The meeting was at BV at Noon. Over by the hottest time of the day. Poole track has all day. 20 mins outdoors and you are fried.

So hot here. Sizzling heat at 10 am. Bit more of an easterly breeze this morning but that won’t make any difference. Trying to get any moisture into the track is going to be a thankless task. Horrendous conditions for racing but they just have to get on with it. Big crowd expected as it’s half term. The bar staff will be kept very busy!

Expecting a battling and thrilling meeting on a superbly prepared water saturated track against our rivals for the title. Glasgow come as one of the favourites for winning the championship and are stacked with quality riders. Harris loves the wide open spaces of Wimborne Road and as always is a real threat. Howarth is always very quick. Hagon is a top youngster and had a year at Poole. Smith has done many laps around here and Harrison is a battler. Flint can score a few. And then I woke up. 57-33. Dust from heat 3 regardless of track prep. 35c tomorrow.