Steve Shovlar

Traffic has been terrible. Nearly at Leicester but maps showing big delays at Chesterfeild to Sheffield.

Doubt we will get there for the start. Stuck in traffic on M1. Google maps saying 7.15 and its getting worse. Oh well.

Keep taking the tablets pirates Ship! We have now got to M1 at Northampton. Traffic a mare. Eta currently 7.10pm but getting worse. Might miss a few heats at this rate.

You cannot replace a booked guest.

No Schlein tonight. Poole operating r/r. Rory has tested positive for Covid and will miss our next away meeting as well at Leicester next Saturday. I am coming up with Rob tonight but that’s stuffed us for the win.

Spot on. Parade 7.15. First race smack on 7.30. Supporters would soon adjust. Interval at major track grade after heat 8.

Very little choice out there. We are not able to cover for Stefan at all. Ben Morley the best bet.

It should have been. Both track grades were very long and an interval should have been called at heat 8. Used to leaving the stadium 9.15 but at that time last night we still had 4 heats to run. Proceedings really do need to be moved along at a decent speed, faster than currently.

Racing was poor last night. Mostly gate and go. A few good skirmishes on the first lap then little after that.

Hopefully loads of Plymouth fans will travel up to Poole next month for Bjarnes farewell. He is a Pirates legend and deserves a great big send off into retirement.

Agree the majority of fans are friendly there. As you say some are blind to the track shape and the “racing” it provides. Four riders close together might be exciting to some but often a junior can lead a race and much more experienced riders can bust a gut and get nowhere. The track is far too narrow, which makes most heats a procession. When Poole rode there earlier this season there was one pass of note in 15 heats, when Schlein litterally forced himself under Bowtell off the last bend, causing Bowtell to throw a wobbly after the heat. Perhaps they could move the back straight back ten metres to widen the track. It would mean a more circular track, but it would certainly improve the spectacle.

A few years ago I used to VE walking out of the stadium around 9.15. It was about that at the interval. The meetings do need to be speeded up. Tonight dragged and add on crap racing and I was bored.

Last week I was there and the track was very poor. We lost Stefan Neilsen in heat 2 and I spoke to Danyon Hume who rode at Brum and he said it was nothing like how it was when he was there. Set up for gate, go wide and stay wide. No chance if you don’t gate. Having said that, it was gate and go at Poole tonight.

Well the track was smooth, no dust…….but dead. No life in it whatsoever to lead to quite a gate and go borefest. There were a few moments of interest coming near the end with Rowe having a majestic sweep of Bjarne and Keleher, and in heat 13 when Crump, Barker gated and King squeezed between the pair if them into bend 3, but other than that it was not a great meeting. For Plymouth Crump looked like he was turning the clock back 15 years and got away with a huge roller in his second after being pulled back. He should have been out but the ref let it go. Got caught in his next though and thrown out. Bjarne got a huge cheer and it looks like he has been given a farewell meeting at Poole in October. Awaiting further details. An easy win, and not much else to report. I understand no new shale has been put down at all. Whether it’s going to be done in the 2 week break we now have I have no idea. The issues of the last few weeks seem to have been sorted but passing is not as it should be.

Plymouth are far stronger at reserve tonight. How we miss Stefan. But we have more top 5 strength. Should be a good meeting.

Rain lasted 10 mins if that. Almost cleared away now and dry for the rest of the day unless something not there at the moment develops.

Rain should be here shortly and last around 60-90 mins. Clear after that.

Quite easy to look at RainToday.co.U.K. To see the actual rainfall. It has beefed up a bit since earlier and there is a thin band of rain pushing up from the Cherbourg Peninsular which could give us an hour or so of the wet stuff later on. Fingers crossed it’s not bad. At least Poland v England is on the box tonight as a fall back.

Poole track has had its surface issues recently but is a superb Race track with passing on every bend. Far superior in every aspect over the Plymouth track. A much lesser rider can gate at Plymouth and ride a sensible line to keep far better riders behind him. Let’s see him try that at Wimborne Road. I have witnessed at first hand the Plymouth track. Perhaps you should come up for today’s meeting and afterwards tell me that you believe Plymouth is a better track.

I think we will be absolutely fine. A risk of a few early evening showers but it should go ahead. Hopefully Plymouth will put up a good fight, especially bringing in Barker who loves the Poole track. I would like to see a tight meeting rather than the usual one sided slaughter.

A ten thousand pound prize fund? Why didn’t they offer £2,000 and spend £8000 on widening and improving this tiny track to produce acceptable level of racing?

Happened to Poole at Redcar a few weeks ago. 8 up heat 11 to lose by 8. Shocking.

Now THAT is what I call a collapse! Must have Been a high drama thriller.

A shame for Lawson who has had a good season. If he is number one they can cover with a guest. Barker the obvious choice.