Steve Shovlar

And that was a terrible call as Fricke locked up causing Ellis to lay it down.

It’s a forum and people have different opinions. If Wright had been excluded it would have been very unfair as it wasn’t a fair pass from Nicholls. He was desperate and basically threw the bike in front of Wright, but not fully in control. Others will have a different opinion.

Thought the ref called it spot on. Nicholls charged under Wright, fairly at first, but locked up causing Wright to hit him and fall. I thought instantly it was Nicholls fault because of the lockup. Was a good final up until that point. Glad Danny King turned his night around after a poor start. Got dialled right in.

Thank god the ref got that right. Well done Redcar. Deserved. Nicholls locked up.

Well done to Oxford and a special well done to Luke Killeen who had the meeting of his career. Only dropped one point all night and was the real match winner. In comparison the Poole reserves failed to score other than the point gifted. The writing was on the wall last week with a poor performance at Scunthorpe which showed our current vulnerabilities. We are carrying three riders and to expect the remaining 4 to be on peak form to salvage results is a step too far. With Oxford the one team to have two heat leaders capable of beating our top boys, it didn’t take much extra for the result to swing in Oxfords favour. The rain had made the track heavy for the first few heats but once settled down Oxford were far quicker out of the starts. Killeen, who has improved quite rapidly this season revelled in the conditions. We had nothing to offer at reserve with Thomsen a shadow of the rider he had been earlier this season before his falls. It looks like he has come back far too early and has lost confidence. Hook was next to useless, his only point in a three rider race. Hagon was poor again and all those exciting races are a thing of the past currently and his u21 championship a distant memory. Interesting that his form dipped when he joined Leicester. Cook was a shining beacon and would have had a paid 18 max but for a rerun, which gave=ve Masters a second bite of the cherry. Lawson didn’t have a great night and was beaten fair and square in some tough racing. And Brennan although riding well looks to be riding every day. Sunday Poland, Monday Brum, Tuesday Sweden, Wednesday Poole, Thursday Brum, Friday Cardiff practice, Saturday Cardiff, Sunday Poland and repeat… Don’t think this was a wake up call. I think we are quite weak at the moment with no reserve and number two punch lacking to challenge. it is what it is. Well done Oxford.

Who nowdays has much cash on them? I haven’t been to a cash machine in about 4 years. Have some loose change but today nearly everything is phone or card. Even buy the coffee at John Davis shack on the first bend at Poole with my phone.

Just as I thought we would come up short tonight. Too many passengers. Hagon terribly off form, Tobias not recovered from his injury and never been to Scunthorpe, and a guest who was pretty useless. But we took it to a last heat decider so over two legs no fear from Scunny. Scunthorpe unbeaten on their track for a reason. They trap like no tomorrow and we were left for dead on more than one occasion. Well done to Scunthorpe. We had to lose sooner than later and it was expected.

I am not a fan of Jack Holder after he and Kurtz let down Poole in the playoffs a few seasons back when they went on a bender the night before riding at Ipswich. I am indifferent to him, unlike his old bruv who I think is a great rider and decent bloke. But I completely disagree with those that said Jack Holder had a go at Emil while he was laying prone on the deck. Watching last night Jack turned on the track, parked his bike quickly by the gate, then ran over to see how Emil was. He then organised the track staff to form a cordon around Emil to block the view. No way did I see Jack Holder have a go at Emil. Quite the opposite.

Not listening to advice from others. Not getting stuck in. Not knowing which of his 9 engines to use. Causing lack of confidence

Jack certainly showed concern after the crash and went straight over to Emil. https://x.com/steveshovlar/status/1821640253033345229?s=61

I put a short clip of the crash up on Twitter. If it breaks BSN copyright I will remove it straight away.

Emil conscious. Poor Chris Harris had no chance to avoid. A very nasty crash. Meeting called 46-44 but irrelevant. Was a brilliant race until the last bend.

What a terrible way to end a meeting. Hope all riders are OK with result not important.

Scunthorpe are very solid at home and Poole are currently carrying Sam Hagon and Tobias Thomsen who has never been there. Plus no Vinnie Foord and a guest to cover. We are certainly vunerable tomorrow and we could well come up a bit short. I shall buy the stream and enjoy the meeting regardless of score.

Terribly sad news. Not old at all. Rest in peace and commiserations to his family and friends.

Think we will need it. Sam Hagon is completely off the boil. Tobias looks like he is nervous when close to pass after his couple of spills, and no Vinnie Foord.

Hearing Vinnie Foord could be out for quite some time as he has to have an operation after his crash at Leicester. Get well soon Vinnie. Hope it’s not the end of your season.

Probably. He is now looking like a very novice reserve for Poole. Next to useless in his first race but not charging around the outside like he did earlier this season. Tailed off at times. Foord now looking the more reliable reserve. Considering Foord was brought in to pickup the odd point, it’s now gone completely the other way. Hopefully Sam will capture the form that won him the U21 title.

Good meeting to watch.. Poole boys in good form. Thought Brum were the better team all night but the dive from Riss when turning left on Brennan who was through won it for Oxford. Lindgren should have done better in 15 though. Didn’t think the crowd was big. Normally more when Poole visit.

Fingers crossed it’s on. Storms now passing.

Huge thunderstorms in the area.

There is nowhere near the same amount of passing there was at the start of the season. Not sure it is that there’s not enough clay in the shale, or the home riders are now too good for the opposition, or a combination of the two. What riders can come to Poole and see off Lawson, Cook and Brennan? Backed up by Zack and decent reserves? If our boys make the gate it is almost impossible to pass them. Same with any track who have a powerful heat leader trio.

Won’t get journeymen at Poole. Personally would have kept Rowe. Could see the potential and he is showing it now. Going to be a good rider. Kemp cooked his goose with a tantrum at the playoff final at Kings Lynn against Leicester. Pi55ed off Danny Ford and that was that. Kemp is certainly showing his improvement and always has a point to prove at Poole. Would have been a far better guest than Barker. Just needs consistency.

Well that was one sided as we expected. Big crowd tonight on a very warm evening. Huge queues at the bars. As for the meeting, shame Glasgow are so weak really. No competition for the rampant Pirates. Harris battled and Ivacic gave some backup, but the rest were poor. A surprise 5-1 over the Cooks in heat 3 the highlight for them. But take a bow Vinnie Foord. Coming on leaps and bounds with 8 points tonight, backing up his fine efforts at Glasgow and Workington. He thanked his new sponsors who have helped no end. This has to be countered with Sam Hagon going the other way and struggling to find points, after they came easy earlier this season. Tobias came back a week too early and wasn’t on any real form though picked up paid 5. He starts at reserve with Ford next week with Hagon going to two. Sam might end up with three rides unless he picks it up. Richard Lawson was sublime. Full 15 point max and only led by Ivacic in one heat. Cook started slow but improved and topped off his performance with a last to second, passing Harris and Ivacic off the 4th bend in heat 15. Tom Brennan continued his great form dropping only 1 point. Glasgow perhaps did better than many expected. Harris loves the Poole track and it showed again tonight. But he found it too hot against Pirates top guys. Ivacic the best of the rest. Garrad way out of his depth, expected more from Pearson and Flint. Smith is a reserve and Barker is nowhere near the rider he was. On to Scunthorpe next week and a break from the league I believe with the first leg of the K O Cup.

Big crowd in already. Very, very warm evening.