Steve Shovlar

Of course but I was talking about since the revival.

Thought it was a decent meeting played out in front of a big crowd. Possibly the biggest ever Oxford crowd. Certainly larger than the pairs. As expected Oxford took advantage on their own circuit, with Masters never led in five rides and backed up by Nicholls who was almost untouchable after a first ride blip. Add in a gating Killeen and a decent performance from guest Gilkes, a couple of gates from Heeps and the damage was done. Pirates battled hard but couldn’t match the Oxford riders once they led down the back straight and that was game, set and match. Special mention to Zach Cook who threw everything at it, and Vinnie Ford for impressing in his first two before taking a purler and withdrawing. Not sure he is OK for Wednesday. 12 point lead is probably enough for Oxford. Has to be 70/30% in their favour. Both Masters and Nicholls are excellent at Poole. Killeen scored paid 14 from 5 last time. Poole needed to keep in to 8 but didn’t have any riders to match Masters and Nicholls in 13 and 15 and so it was a from the tapes gift 8 points. To be honest I thought this would happen before the meeting. Hagon, after a decent start to the season, has certainly not progressed and gone backwards. Tobias, who started well has faded as the season has gone on and Vinnie, while a battler, lacks experience. While we have a good top 4 to get us over the line, when one has a poor meeting we are left vulnerable. Brennans 4+1 killed us dead last night and was his worst score this season. Someone said he looked knackered in the pits before the meeting, having travelled back from Czech the night before, on top of a busy week in the U.K. Not the ideal prep for our most important meeting of the season. Well done to Oxford, who should have used Killeen in heat 12 for a bigger lead. What the hell was that about? Couldn’t believe he didn’t replace Boughen.

Not looking forward to the mad dash (not exceeding speed limit) from Leicester to Oxford later. Accepting I will probably miss the first 4 heats. Hope there’s someone on the gate for late arrivals.

Scunthorpe put up a bit of a fight but the result was never in doubt. Next week much harder meeting with Oxford capable of winning both legs. We need to ride better than we did tonight or the tile is going north. Note to one’s self. When I make a score choice, never change it. I picked 57, saw the Scunny lineup and adjusted it to 61. I lost £206. 😩😂😂

The home riders look over to the other side of the pits and do a little poo. One team riding at a much higher level and wanting it.

Reported on BSN thatChris Harris was in A&E today and his wife posted she was very worried about him. Think he was released later? Not sure what happened. Anyone any idea?

Very enjoyable meeting. Yes it was one sided, made more so by bringing in Boughen as a number one when they could have used Allen, Mountain, Lambert and Howarth/Harrison and kept the score reasonably close. Boughen was on a hiding to nothing. Special mention to two young riders. Harrison and Foord. Both raw and prone to errors but both aggressive and great fun to watch. Harrison was excellent for a reserve and deserved his heat 15. Gave Lawson a hard time and Lawson had to use a bit of skill to back Harrison away. Vinnie Foord doesn’t know when to give up and deserved far more than his score. Some great racing and the meeting was done and dusted in 75 minutes. Can Scunthorpe surprise the Pirates in the second leg? Not a chance. But I hope they come to Poole and put up a fight for their fans.

At what? The teams?

If Boughen is in for Palm-Toft that is a ludicrous replacement, with all due respect. Do they think Boughen is going to score more than Lambert, Allen, Howarth and Mountain? Boughen is a good rider in the making and has a big future, but as number one? And with no T/Rs allowed, he has to take his allocated 4 rides unless replaced by a reserve.

Why would Poole fans get behind Scunthorpe? Poole fans support Poole. Poole is built to entertain and win the same as every club.

Looking forward to this afternoons meeting. Do fancy our chances but take nothing for granted. Young Harrison at reserve has been scoring very well and taken some big scalps this season. We know Allen and Howarth will do well as well as Simon Lambert and all get an extra ride. Four points either way.

Great GP shame about the winner. Dan choosing gate one was a terrible call. The speed was on the outside. Zmarzlik left the best gate!

What a great ride from Bewley. Last to first!

Home banker call. Polish who is leading the meeting.

Disgraceful call

Whatever they have done to the track it’s bloody brilliant. Top notch racing in every heat. He who dares to go out wide……..

Who have we got in for Ben? Or does he ride?

Real average for away, +5% for home meeting.

Been very heavy rain here today. Not a surprise at all.

So Poole V Oxford now 9th October at Wimborne Road. We get second leg after all and Ben should be back for both legs.

Doubt it. Bournemouth are a very exciting team. Most shots other than the top three. Never boring to watch.

Ticket price was £27.50 for me, £22.50 for my daughter. Always good value for away matches in the Premier League with a ceiling of £30. Tomorrow the Bournemouth v Manchester City tickets are on sale for me, and the price will be £43 + postage. However, the money generated by ticket sales for all PL clubs is a negligible % compared to the TV money and they could all let everyone in for free and not really feel it. Ticket sales for Bournemouth are something like 4-5% of the clubs revenue. Shows how much money is involved. If British speedway had 1% of footballs revenue the sport would be in good shape.

Thanks. I doubt I will make it in time.

Yes it’s now wet and the rain has expanded and set in. As I said, right call. Just a shame the rearranged fixture clashes with other sports many of us attend. Bet Alan Bates is p*ssed as Newcastle are at Everton and he has no chance of attending The final.

I just booked a spot at Leicester Homebase which is a ten minute walk away. If I head out of Leicester on the Welford Road, Asquith/Atlee/Glenhills Way, I might have half a chance to get to the M1 without gridlock. As I am late does the Oxford car park at Unipart ever get completely full?