Steve Shovlar

Sorry r&r had more important issues occupying my mind.

Not going to make much of a difference. He is not likely going to bother the scorers. Can’t do any worse though.

Poole re-arrange next weeks meeting due to football clash. Good move! https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/25155902.poole-rearrange-harbour-masters-meeting-due-europa-league-clash/

Completely forgot this event was taking place. Just watched it this morning. First impressions. Did they forget to advertise it? Virtually no one there. A real issue. Belle Vue have hosted the British Final for quite a few years now and clearly the locals don’t want it anymore. They simply can’t be arsed to come out. Time for the event to come further south or try a different venue. But countering that was the racing last night which was excellent, and ended in a final which was top drawer. There’s no doubt that the track is the best in the UK, but if fans don’t come out what’s the point? Are we going to be embarrassed by a really small crowd at GP this summer? I hope not but let’s hope it’s not a repeat of the empty stands we saw there last year for the WTC or what ever it was called. Thought it was Bewleys to lose but Lambert had other ideas and won it well in the end. Great final.

There’s making up the numbers and making up the numbers. Seriously, Matt Marson is a better speedway rider than me. I have never put a leg over a speedway bike and ridden one, in all my years. Yet I would have contributed the same as Marson, had I been number 7 in the Poole team. You don’t get a,point for finishing tailed off by 100 metres, or a lap behind. Marson knew he was well out of his depth at this level and it didn’t do him or the team any favours. Ritchings may or may not do any better but he can’t do worse. Riding for Poole brings more pressure than riding for nearly every other club, and rightly so. Riders should know they can’t have a couple of dodgy meetings. Kerr must know this and get his act together quickly. Starke needs to show some fighting spirit. Tick tock…

Have to say for the first time in many seasons, Matt got the team building wrong. Had serious doubts before a wheel had turned but it’s clear to see that Starke, although hitting his average, has little to no drive and aggression in his racing today, and Kerr has been completely unreliable. We need to look overseas for a young rider on the up with some real aggression and ability. They are out there.

I’m not sure posting that I thought Gilkes had a broken arm is “dangerous”. The fall didn’t look too bad from where we were sitting and we all expected him to get straight up. Clearly after a minute we all recognised it was more serious than that and when the ambulance came out we knew he had hurt himself. It took quite a while to treat him on the track and get him inside the ambulance, where we could see he was in pain, on a drip and taking oxygen. There wasn’t a single person in the stadium who didn’t applaud Dan and wish him the best. Let’s see what the official statement brings. Hopefully not season ending.

First of all well done to Oxford. They started on fire and left us for dead out of the gate in the first half of the meeting. What looked like an innocuous fall for Dan Gilkes turned into a very long break. He sort of slid off, but went over to his right and I believe, though not confirmed, put his arm out and broke it. He was on the track for a very long time and when moved, on an ambulance stretcher, was on a drip, breathing oxygen and holding his arm close to his chest. Let’s all hope he has a speedy recovery. The delay was frankly ridiculous. No county ambulance available. So the casualty had to be taken to hospital, 5 minutes away, then it too a while for the patient to be handed over before it could return. Pirates worked their way back into the meeting but Kerr’s throttle went the wrong way when on a 5-1 in heat 13. It ended up with us needing a 5-1 in heat 15 to force a draw, but Masters got a big roller and to the dismay of the crowd the ref let it go. Lawson got by on lap 3 but it was too much for Cook. A few thoughts. Kerr is a terrible signing so far. Just not good enough. His bike packing up on the final bend cost us a draw, then he was picked of by an excellent McDiamond like he was standing still, then in heat 13 shut off when on a 5-1. The rest blew hot and cold. Believe changes will happen to this side, and I am not talking Cairns. Special mention to McDiamond. Spoke to him before the meeting and he is a level headed young man and could be a future top Aussie. Very good signing who won’t be at reserve for long.

It should and we can all go home. Oxford better team tonight anyway.

County Ambulance is not available we have wait for ambulance to return. May be extended delay.

Didn't think it looked that bad but obviously it hurt him. On Oxygen and holding his arm as wheeled into ambulance. Best wishes to Dan and a very speedy recovery. Oxford deserving of winning tonight. Poole riders last out of the gate heat after heat. Misfiring and crap reserves. No consistency. Masters untouchable and McDiamid a real talent. Dan Ford far from happy. Shows up poor signings.

Purchased the week of the release and still have it. Worn out. Listen to it on Spotify regularly, along with CRIME, even in the quietest moments and Breakfast in America. Saw them in 74 on the Crime tour at Oxford.

Heeps is notoriously crap around Poole.

Pirates could well have three 16 year olds riding in the team next season.

Crisis, what crisis? My fav Supertramp album.

Already signed up. Check his major sponsors.

Then I personally think it was a howler to not resign Vinnie. He will never be a world beater but he had a fantastic rapport with the Poole has and that is something never going to happen with Starkey, even if he scores more points. The fans want a rider who shows his heart on his sleeve and gives his all with a sprinkling of personality. Vinnie had that in spades. I think Danny thought snr’s behaviour could tarnish the images of the club, and that wasn’t acceptable.

Think it might have something to do with Vinnie’s dad. Last season Danny Ford was reputedly far from happy with Foord snr’s behaviour towards some away fans. Would have had Vinnie back but for the behaviour of his dad.

Just caught up with it. Awful GP, lacking any excitement. Zmarzlik untroubled. Totally boring and ended up watching on fast forward. Oh for the days when there were at least ten riders putting up a real fight. Too many no discrips in it today making up the numbers. Few personalities and characters to root for. Perhaps I have fallen out of love with the GPs when I loved to travel Europe watching them.

I meet up with Gary May and quite a few speedway fans at Vitality before every home match. I see dozens of recognisable Poole fans at AFCB every home match. There is a big crossover. There are plenty of Cherries fans sitting around me in the main stand at Wimborne Road.

My daughter and I are heading to Arsenal on Saturday to see Cherries win. Not an Arsenal fan but support English clubs in European matches.

Certainly is down when Poole clash with Bournemouth. There are many fans that go to both. Champions league next Wednesday. A shame there’s a clash which could have been avoided.

A shame Poole were not riding against Oxford this week. Yes I know Oxford are riding v Plymouth on Wednesday, but next Wednesday clashes with the PSG v Arsenal match in the Champions league. Might have been an idea to ride on a Friday or Sunday as it’s a holiday weekend?

Different companies. Some in-house like Redcar, Berwick and Edinburgh. Poole is streamed by Andy who also films at Plymouth and I think Oxford. Varying quality from multi cams to a single cam, but to watch Pirates at Edinburgh for £12.99 is a bargain compared to travelling. Just wish Glasgow would enter the 21st century. Highly frustrating they are the only club to still be in the dark ages.

Click on where is says “live stream started”. I am not using it tonight but it’s normally very reliable, and the stream is available to watch afterwards.