Steve Shovlar

No booing whatsoever. Poole fans clapped the opposition at the beginning and Scott Nicholls got a cheer from the Poole fans as he is held in high esteem. Didn’t hear a single boo all night.

World of difference between the two sides. Other than Masters and Nicholls, the rest of the Oxford team were cannon fodder. I got there at 6.10 and the queues were huge. Really the gates should have been open 30 minutes earlier and the start was delayed by 20 minutes as lines of people wound out of the stadium and onto Wimborne Road. The grandstand was almost full fifteen minutes after the gates opened. Racing wise it was one way traffic except for a tactical and heat 11. As expected Poole’s reserves steamrollered the opposition’s 6 and 7. The winner of strength in depth v top heavy is clear to see. Oxford really need a quick rethink or their season will be over as soon as it started.

Meeting delayed till 7.45 parade. Still huge queues outside.

Seriously large crowd building at Poole tonight. Grandstand full 15 mins after the gates opened.

Should be a good one in front of predicted large crowd. Nicholls is a track expert and Masters is capable of going through the card. Kerr is no slouch either so expect some good racing. Can’t see the other 4 doing much though. 51-39ish?

I never said Poole will be top. I said at the top end. The small pocket numbered over 100 and there were plenty more scattered around the rest of the stadium. Certainly a lot were kept away but as always with Poole there’s a good away following

It was pretty much business as usual for Pirates who were far from firing on all cylinders. Worrall and Lawson were below par. The Cooks continued on from last season and will only get better. Rowe unsurprisingly had a poor first ride from gate two in heat one but did his job. Kyle was excellent and will get lots of rides while at reserve until the first GS. Roynon was on a 5-1 in heat two but slid off when we’ll clear of the Oxford reserves. For Oxford, Masters looked untouchable until it started to rain and then didn’t want to know. Nicholls was brilliant all night. Heeps did his usual start the season well meeting. Jenkins was woeful but is better than that. Killeen was unlucky when on a 5-1 having an ef then in another ride sliding off when challenging Steve Worrall. Pirates will be at the top end of the league, there’s little doubt. A good crowd last night, and when you consider the forecast and many crying off what it could have been. Think Oxford are in for another successful season crowd wise. Yes there were a lot of Poole fans there swelling it, but good anyway.

First of all well done to the Oxford promotion on getting this meeting on. With the very bad forecast it would not have been a surprise for this to have been called off this morning. Travelling up in intermittent rain and with the rain radar showing it due to hit just after the meeting started, racing got away at 7.30 prompt and was run through at a good pace with very little delay. All finished and away well before 9pm. Rain did arrive by heat 8 but wasn’t heavy and only once was there any track work done as race times became 3 seconds slower than the opening heat. Pirates really always had the upper hand and it showed that strength in depth is better than a very top heavy team relying on their top 4-5 banging in good scores. Poole scored throughout, even with a couple of the riders having far from great performances. Onto Friday and have to say I fancy our chances of another win and aggregate point.

They are not going to hang about. Parade at 7.15. Tapes up and go for it at 7.30. They are currently watering the track. Perhaps not wise?

Looking at the latest, it’s only very light rain/drizzle due to clear. This meeting could well survive.

If there looks little hope they should call it before 4pm to save the travelling fans a wasted evening. fingers crossed it stays dry and goes ahead though!

Rather have an early call than last minute. What a pain and real shame. March was very poor weather, now in April it’s hit and miss. Friday for the return is looking fine though!

Forecast not looking great now with rain crossing the country and due early evening. A pain as all the travelling fans have either arrived or are on their way. Let’s hope the rain arrives early to avoid travel or late so the meeting can be run at a quick pace.

Got our tickets. Weather is set fair no risk of rain so it’s going to be a big crowd with loads travelling up from Dorset. Really looking forward to it after a long winter.

No point listing best ever Swindon riders. Got to just be a competitive lineup.

Excellent fixture. Just imagine if this was the Swindon team in their prime. Place would be heaving. Doyle Batchelor Gjedde Morris Nilsson Karger Ashby But whatever team represents Swindon I am sure it will be a very competitive fixture.

Anyway I am sure when this meeting is rerun it’s going to be a sellout and very enjoyable for both sets of fans, whether Oxford or Swindon. It’s a travesty that Swindon are not currently running and have the fan base to easily be run at a profit. The MP for Swindon Tomlinson was next to useless and offered no more than thoughts and prayers. Swindon Council should step up to the plate and allocate a slice of land. What the point of living in a conurbation with 200,000 others if all they have is restaurant chains, a few multiplexes and STFC (who I support). The citizens of Swindon deserve a speedway team.

So with both meetings rained off tonight, next Wednesday brings about the first meeting of the season for both sides. Oxford clearly have a huge advantage having had a practice on their track, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the meeting came down to the final couple of heats. Clearly Oxford have a big advantage in heat 15, but if Pirates can go into the ladt heat 2 points up, it’s all to play for. A meeting not to be missed. Going to be an absolute classic. Don’t miss out.

It takes about 8 mins to walk from the Unipart car park to the stadium. To be honest it’s not worth the shuttle bus unless you are weak and feeble. Easy walk both ways. For some unfathomable reason the old car park right next to the stadium is sealed off and not used.

Likely to get a bigger crowd on that date.

Is this meeting being streamed? Wouldn’t mind watching it.

A shame but the right call. There are free days in the summer.

Never parked in the stadium car park. Plenty of side street parking available if you get there early enough. £22 inc prog at Poole. But they do have concessions. £16 for OAPs and benefits, £10 for students, u16 £6, u11, free.

Interesting that it’s almost the exact opposite to Poole where the promotion like cash on the gate. You can buy advance tickets at Poole or pay by card at one entrance. (you couldn’t for years) I believe one of the main issues promotions had is the ageing crowds who were not the sharpest when it came to buying tickets online. But those days have gone and Online ticketing is expected in everything from concerts to any sporting event. Struggling to think where I would pay cash on the gate in any other sport. But I can’t fathom out why Oxford would want to charge an extra £2 for buying an online ticket on the day of the meeting itself. Sure, they want to get money into the coffers as early as possible but £20 is more expensive than every other club and the extra £2 plus program boosts it up to £25. For the gains of getting the money in early, they lose by likely customers balking at the increase.

Parked there on two sellout meetings and never once asked to produce a parking ticket.