Steve Shovlar

I am guessing the Poole promotion want to get it on tomorrow and won’t make a decision until the morning.

In which case Friday is the obvious date. But fingers crossed all the rain about tomorrow somehow misses us!

Better arrange it for Sunday at 4pm then! 🤪 Seriously, Sunday afternoon would be a good time, and Oxford fans can trundle down the A34 early for fish and chips at the quay before watching Pirates v Cheetahs at Wimborne Road. Perfect day bar the result.

Bournemouth v Arsenal at 5.30pm. I will be there as will be many regular Pirate fans.

Sad to hear about this. RIP Len. A fantastic servant to the sport over the decades.

Currently not looking great for Wednesday at Poole. Thursday a much better day in Oxford. Oxford first leg with returned on Friday making sense.

It will a Poole win regardless of Killeen. Sure it makes it easier for Pirates but Killeen’s inclusion doesn’t mean Oxford win.

That’s a shame. Would have liked a repeat of this weeks final. Trigger knows his way around Wimborne Road but doesn’t yet have the clout Killeen would have bought if fit. No idea how Coles goes at Oxford.

As in? What was he like?

Quite a few years back now, there was a young rider by the name of Justin Elkins. He was very fast. After meetings he took to the track and recorded times similar to the meeting. A best of three race against another young rider was organised and young Justin beat Jason Crump. in the match races. One went on to become World Champion, while the other faded in obscurity within a few seasons. Just like Ashton Boughen, Justin Elkins didn’t like riders around him and ended up trying to cover it up by having false EF’s etc. He had the ability but couldn’t get over the closeness of other riders. I remember going to Monmore and Elkins was riding at number two for Poole. In heat one he gated and held off an almost unbeatable Ronnie Corey for four laps. We were gobsmacked. I think that was the highlight in his career.

Many of us commented on the faux pas the Oxford manager made in heat 12 of the first leg at Cowley, where Boughen was left in the heat when he should have been replaced by Killeen. Sometimes mistakes happen and switches are missed. But surely, the senior members of the Oxford team, Nicholls or Masters, could have pointed out the tactical error to Peter Schroeck, making the suggestion of a reserve change? Or are riders oblivious to such moves and only concentrating on their own rides?

Luke Killeen was removed from the meeting by medics who adjudged he had suffered a concussion. He admitted when interviewed on BSN the second knock in the head had made his vision clearer and got rid of a headache he was suffering from. So a concussion and a 9 day break which ends his season. A shame as I for one would rather he rode. Rather face the official Oxford 1-7 than a team of guests.

So the dates are set. First leg at Poole next Wednesday, with the second leg 24 hours later at Oxford. Will Oxford get their revenge or will Poole get the clean sweep this season? Looking forward to it already.

Just watched the Vinnie Foord/Jody Scott crash. What on earth was Vinnie Foord meant to do when Scott turned left on him and Foord was already there? They just got hooked together. Not dangerous riding just a coming together.

Came out of Matt Ford’s mouth last night at the press conference. At least 200 witnesses.

Of course he doesn’t have an awful attitude. He is a very likeable young lad who loves to chat and interact with all fans in the pits before the meeting. Remember the riders were all pumped up to the nth degree last night. Vinnie has absolutely the right attitude for the sport. But currently not the full skill set to back it up.

From where we were all sitting, to the left of the refs box, it looked to all of us that Tobias led having come under Killeen, with Vinnie following through. Killeen was in third on the outside and tried to go for a gap that wasn’t there. His front wheel then caught on Vinnie’s foot rest sending him down. None of us thought for a moment that Foord would be excluded and the ref thought the same. It was no surprise to us when the white light came on. Having watched it back it’s more of a 50/50, but Killeen was always the likely one to go as he was behind. Yes, it was a hard move by Foord but nothing you don’t see in any Extraleague Polish meeting. No quarter was given. Killeen thought he had to try and go for a gap, and Foord thought you are not getting back around me. Think some are being swayed by Greg Blair’s opinion on BSN.

Max wasn’t scoring. He needs to toughen himself up, but he is young and could improve. Vinnie Ford is chalk and cheese to Perry. Same age but not afraid to get stuck in and mix it. Raw in the extreme and similar to Killeen when he was at Plymouth. Fast but wild. His experience will grow in the next couple of seasons and by 20 he could be a very good rider. Matt is loyal to riders. In return he expects commitment and improvement. Also said commitment cost us the title last season when Tarasenko offered his services to Poole but he stuck with his 1-7 as no rider at the time deserved to be dropped. He said In hindsight a mistake as it handed Glasgow the title.

How old is Vinnie? 17? A young lad who is fearless, aggressive, but lacks the skillset currently to match his ambition. Certainly one for the future and Poole need to hang onto him for next season if possible.

Just got back from a fantastic final. If you didn’t like that you don’t like speedway. Huge crowd, fantastic atmosphere wound up to eleven, top aggressive riding and knocked the Belle Vue / Leicester PO final into a cocked hat. First of all commiserations to Oxford who battled well in the final and had a deserved advantage coming into the second leg. 12 points is a hell of a lead with no tactical allowed. But it seemed there was trouble afoot in the Oxford camp before tapes up. Boughen had upset the management and rumours said he was packed and in his van by heat 13 of the first leg. Then his failure to show in the u19 final the following day. Hearsay today is that he wants to go to Glasgow. Be interesting how this plays out. Killeen was meant to be a serious threat at reserve but before the meeting it was very quiet on his fitness after taking a heavy fall in the U19’s at Cowley. Given a hard time in heat 2, and rightly excluded, he then fell on his own which ended his evening. Paid 14 last time, zero tonight. Every race was tough. Every rider giving beyond their comfort zone, shown straight away in heat one. Richard Lawson said he thought he was through on Masters going into the third bend but Masters started leaning, and leaning, then slid off. Lawson thought it was a tactical fall but those are the margins. Heat two and although Killeen gated, both Pirates were through on him going down the back straight. Killeen tried to get a place back but clipped Vinnie Ford and down he went. The right call and gifted Pirates a 5-1. Special mention to Tobias Thomsen with a brilliant paid 12 from 5. He started the season well, faded after an injury, but was man of the match for me. Vinnie is brilliant. Only 17 but what a battler. Never gives up. Yes he makes mistakes but I would have him signed for next year already. Going to be a bit of a star imo. Our top 4 all did their job tonight. Brennan said afterwards the reason Poole had to work hard tonight was his fault as he’s employed as a heat leader but rode very poorly in the first leg and wanted to make it up. Certainly did. Both Cooks did their job though afterwards Ben was far from happy running a last. For Oxford Masters was solid but faded, Nicholls had a bit of a stinker. Gilkes was a good guest, Heeps did what Heeps does, Boughen gated in one race, Killeen was injured and Scott out of his depth. This is what our sport is about. Tonight had everything. Hard racing, drama, crashes, a huge noisy crowd and Pirates crowned Champions. What’s not to like? Hope the Oxford fans had a safe journey home and the good news is we do it all over again next week in the KO Cup Final. Will Oxford get their revenge or will it be a clean sweep for Pirates?

What you going for Neil? 48,52,53 and 54 gone

Just caught up with this meeting this morning and as expected an awful meeting. The season was decided before a wheel was turned and the final was completely predictable. While sides are built so lop sided in Poland you can see who is going to win straight away. Utterly boring. While it could be applauded that no guests are used, once injuries occur, it’s the end of that sides season. Gusts etc is just not going to cut it. If it’s the same with certain teams head and shoulders above the opposition it won’t be worth watching.

The problem is even if Masters misses the start he leads into the first bend. And Nicholls loves the Poole track and usually charges through. Not many capable of beating Lawson from the back but Nicholls does.

As long as it’s not deluge rain all day tomorrow it should be good to go.