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| Matt Mildon and Arron Morgan with their Gold and Silver medals |
June 2008
Well done to Matthew Mildon and Arron Morgan for their brilliant performances to take the winners and runner-up
awards respectively in the British Under 13 Championship at Newport. Matthew has progressed superbly from his national Under
10 success and his dedication to racing over the last 3 seasons without a "home" track, travelling up from Weymouth once and
sometimes twice a week has paid dividends. By contrast Arron has only been riding a few months and is the latest success story
from the Tuesday clubnights and has taken the sport by storm at this age category. Both riders have also benefitted in no
small measure from 100% support of their parents.....so a big pat on the back there too.
Congratulations to Jake Williams, Sam Hearn and Aidan Hedgecock for making it through to the national U.16
rounds of the Wosskow Brown BYJL after finishing in the top six of the regional competition.
The mid-season rider registration target of 50 was passed in May and by the beginning of June the total
was up to the 60 mark so congratulations to all concerned. Nice to see the familiar face of Sky TV personality
Dave Lanning at the Harbourside track recently where he was full of praise for the standard of racing and quality of presentation
of the Ade Gale "Laurels". It seems likely that a former team mate of Ade from a few years ago could be moving
back to Poole to live in 2009 and he has already "reserved" a place in the Premier League squad and he wants good 'riding
chum' to get back on a bike to join him.... so watch this space! On the subject of moving, two times Laurels winner Marcin
Szymanski will be moving back to his home town of Wroclaw at the end of the 2008 season but he is keen to race in the prestigious
event at Poole in 2009 where he hopes to make it three wins in a row.
May 2008
ADE GALE LAURELS UPDATE - Reigning World Champion Marcin Szymanski and 2007 British Champion
Lee Aris head a highly competitive field of riders in the 2008 Ade Gale Laurels on Whit Sunday - dedicated to the memory of
one of the all time greats of the Poole club. Former British Champion Gavin Wheeler will also be in the line-up along with
Chris Roberts and Aaron Lowey, his premier League team mates. Former Poole riders making a welcome return include Adam Peck
and Craig Marchant with tapes up for this senior meeting at 3pm
This event will be preceded by an equally talented 16 rider field for the Young Laurels trophy with the
cream of Britains youth and junior talent on display including the best of the South-West, Thomas Reed, Tom Colling and Dominic
McCrae, Sheffield starlets James Brown and Ryan Holand and top East Anglian Josh Brooke. Ben Mould flies the Filton flag while
the highly talented Wednesfield duo of Dale Peace and Tom Haddock are sure to figure highly. The event will also provide
an opportunity to measure the rapidly improving young local riders including Luke Armes, Jake Williams, Aiden Hedgecock and
Sam Hearn.
Tough luck on Andre Cross last week who has suffered a broken ankle while riding for Sittingbourne speedway
at Weymouth in the Conference League. Although he has yet to race a team match for Poole in 2008, he was being lined up for
a few fixtures in the near future. Those plans are obviously now on hold. Best wishes for a speedy recovery from everyone
at Poole, Andre.
U.16 British Team 4's at Norwich: Semi-final 1 Hethersett 50, Gt.Blakenham 42, Poole 42, Sheffield
24. Scorers - Jake Williams 14, Sam Hearn 11, Matt Elston 7, Aiden Hedgecock 5, Leighton Glover 5. In the run off for
a place in the final, GT.Blakenham won the toss and Dan Osborne took gate 2. Jake Williams passed him from the back and promptly
fell off leaving the team disappointed.....moreso taking account of some very poor refereeing earlier in the event but for
which the run-off would not have been necessary.
April 2008
LATEST....Junior Clubnight was cancelled on April 29th due to a waterlogged track and will be re-staged
on Thursday evening, May 1st when the senior squad will be travelling to Winchester Road for a return challenge match against
Southampton. Congratulations to Artur Poprawski who notched up a full maximum score in his Polish League fixture for Rawicz
at Czestochowa last weekend.
Southampton visited Baiter Park on Thursday 24th April for a training match against the Poole senior squad...result
Poole won 92-87. (Chris Roberts 20, Aaron Lowey 18, Ben Donohue 15+1, Sam Hearn 15, Luke Armes 9, Aiden Hedgecock 7, Alex
McLeod 5, Leyton Glover 3). Jessie Lamb and Kev Lowman rode at reserve positions for the visitors and scored 12+1 and
9 respectively. Meanwhile Junior clubnight sessions on Tuesday evenings have gone from strength to strength with the
track and facilities now running at almost full capacity, such has been the response. Hats off to coaches
Ben Donohue and Kev Lowman for their efforts.
Andre Cross was involved in a four man run-off for the minor placings in the Hethersett Charity Cup on 19th
April. Despite the handicap of a grid 4 draw, he took second in the race and third place overall in the meeting. For full
details and photographs have a look at Spokesman on-line.
Team manager Colin Sutton faced a last minute battle to assemble a competitive team for key trip to Premier
League favourites Leicester on April 13th. Already without the holidaying Thomas Reed and London Marathon bound Tom Colling,
the absence of captain Chris Roberts comes as a further blow and the loss of their points scoring potential will be impossible
to cover despite the size of the riding squad for the competition.
Chris Shylock and Richard Clanfield were back in training on April 15th but both reckoned they were several
weeks away from match fitness. Lack of a fully fit senior quartet has unfortunately ruled out a late entry into the Euro club
championships at Leicester.
NEW SIGNINGS.....The April 1st signing-on deadline saw a last minute flurry of activity with the addition
of several new names to the Premier League riding squad...and one or two familiar faces too. Boosted by the outstanding form
already shown by Thomas Reed in his opening PL matches against Horspath and Gt.Blakenham, the club has signed fellow Exeter
star Dominic McCrae on a secondary licence. Dominic was only headed home once in his recent visit to Baiter Park for SWL action
and looks to be another gilt edged prospect.
Another name added to the squad is that of East London rider Stephen Jarvis who also joins Poole on secondary
terms. He is another huge junior talent and will be aiming to match his great rival Thomas Reed within the next 12 months.
Steve's father, Martin Jarvis is a long term friend of the Poole CSC management team and was delighted at the news of this
latest family "association". Steve could be a trump card at places like Norwich and Great Blakenham where he races regularly
for East London.
One familiar face added to the 2008 list is that of Pawel Cegielski with his transfer from Filton completed
with just hours to spare before the deadline - and special thanks to Mike Burgess for his cooperation in speeding the paperwork
through. Pawel, who made many friends during his 2007 spell in SeaView colours, currently has a 3 month spell in the army
to complete but promises to be back in action later in the season. He could be joined by another old friend Marcin Puk who
raced for Poole back in the 1990's along with Pawel Kozlowski now a regular in the powerhouse Sheffield team. Marcin
who competes for the Gniezno club in Poland, is keen to renew his association with the club with some top level racing in
the build up to the 2009 World Championships.
APOLOGIES; Red faces all round after the discovery (too late) that Poole were due to race at Newport in
the SW Conference on April 20th at noon prior to the quick trip across town to race the Eastenders. The problem was that the
S.West did not submit the region's final draft of fixtures to British Cycling in time for the copy deadline hence the fixture
did not appear in the Handbook - which is the bible as far as organisers are concerned. True the revised fixture update came
out on a separate sheet of A4 but not really good enough. Now the club is faced with a separate trip (at what cost) in September
for the U.18's to race a match which they cannot win....as the league have already awarded the points to Newport. That's
how to encourage young riders!
CIRCUIT UPGRADE.....Club members and visitors alike will be relieved to say goodbye to the infamous "Baiter
puddle" as the car park gets a complete makeover as part of the ongoing upgrade work. Colin Stanley and his team were busy
resufacing the area on April 9th and the finished job which includes a new gulley devised by Dave Dominey should ensure that
the flooding problem suffered over many years is now very much a thing of the past! Next job please...
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| Boys from the black stuff - Colin Stanley and team hard at it! |
March 2008
LATEST....The long delayed delivery of shale was successfully laid on the Harbourside Park track on Easter
Saturday with the dedicated track gang working in bitterly cold conditions with snow showers a constant threat.
28 tons of new material was tipped and levelled in just two hours and the rest of the day was spent grading
and rolling in an effort to get the track in good shape for the opening home Premier League fixture against Great Blakenham
on March 30th.
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| Great team performance from the Poole track gang - 28 tons of shale laid in 2 hours! |
CHAMPION SIGNINGS FOR SEAVIEW
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| Gavin Wheeler and Tom Colling sign on for Poole witnessed by Colin Sutton and Jessie Lamb |
Poole/Sea View Coaches have received a major boost on the eve of the new season with the capture of former
British Champion Gavin Wheeler and fellow Southampton star Tom Colling who will race Premier League matches for the club in
2008. Together with Thomas Reed, the latest signings will add considerable firepower to the PL squad as the club
aims to improve upon their third place in last season's table.
The loss of ex World Champion Dan Pudney left us with a huge gap in the squad remarked club coach Colin
Sutton, but Gavin is just the rider to spearhead the campaign with the complete range of skills to compete in top flight
team competition. Tom and Thomas were both unlucky not to finish on the rostrum in last years World junior final at Poole
and they both have bags of potential at this level.
Artur Poprawski vows he will be back in regular action mid-season on completion of his studies while Pavel
Cegielski hopes to do likewise after a spell in the army. The experienced duo of Dave Murphy and Andre Cross will once again
be squad members along with all the Poole based regulars who finished the season in 2007.
The season will start on Sunday March 9th with a SWL match against league newcomers Exeter, giving local
supporters an early opportunity to see Thomas Reed in action along with some of his new Premier League team-mates. NOTE -
starting time 11.00am
After a wait of around 2 months, the club has been advised that shale for the planned re-surfacing will
be arriving on Tuesday 11th March with wet conditions at the Edinburgh quarry blamed for the hold up. With the next home match
at Harbourside Park not due until March 30th, this stage of the upgrade programme will take place on 22nd.
Update: Artur Poprawski and his racing pal Marcin Paradzinski (Torun), were in Poole over the weekend of
March 15/16 to set up arrangements for their vacation visit when they will be living and working locally. Artur was a big
hit with riders and supporters alike in 2007 and says he is looking forward to his return after college closes down for the
summer. Marcin, who was unlucky not to finish on the rostrum in the 2007 Worlds, will be a more than capable replacement for
clubmate Pavel Cegielski who has the little matter of 3 months army service before he can don the Sea View shirt once again.
Artur and Marcin took the opportunity for some early practise laps on the Harbourside circuit before joining their future
team mates for the trip to Horspath - see results page for news of their racing.
February 2008
Training sessions are now in full swing under the lights on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Harbourside
Park in preparation for the new season with the South West curtain raiser against Exeter scheduled for March 9th. Added significance
will be provided to this match with the appearance for the Devon club of their outstanding junior star Thomas Reed who is
set to race in the Premier League in Poole colours in 2008 - see picture gallery update.
With a string of titles to his credit as an outstanding junior rider, he was the top British performer in
the World Junior Championship last season and only a whisker away from a rostrum place. Welcoming him to the PL squad, team
manager Colin Sutton rates the young Devonian as a future British Senior Champion while proud father Mark hopes that 15 year
old Thomas can develop his team riding skills at this higher level.
After the loss of 5 key 2007 PL squad members Dan Pudney and Brad Hoppo who have returned to Australia,
Adam Peck who has also returned home to race for PL newcomers Gt.Blakenham and Polish duo Lukasz Jozwiak and Pavel Cegielski,
Poole are seeking to bolster their riding strength further and hope to announce news of additional signings shortly.
Work on the Borough of Poole funded £30,000 circuit up-grade is nearing completion but
has been hampered by a delay in the supply of shale from Scotland with scheduled re-surfacing already 5 weeks adrift
of the target date.
Dave Murphy looks to be something of a trendsetter following his recent marriage to Ewa with Kev Lowey set
to follow suit shortly when he ties the knot with Sharon while later in the season, Chris Roberts and Emma will also be setting
off the wedding bells. On the coaching front, Kev Lowman and Ben Donohue have embarked on their British Cycling qualification
while finally its congratulations to Mike Legge on his elevation to refereeing's top tier as a grade A official.
..............................................................................................................................
SEASON 2007
August 2007
Jessie Lamb is the new British Ladies Champion after scoring a faultless 20 point maximum at a rain soaked
Horspath circuit. With a mixture of skillful passing and powerhouse starts, Jess outclassed the opposition and reaped the
reward for months of hard training at Baiter.
August 2007
Congratulations to Dave Murphy on his third place in the World Vets Championship in Czestochowa, Poland
after a run-off against Wednesfield rider Kevin Marson. Dave handed over the title to Leicester's Norman Venson who passed
Dave Frith of Coventry in a run-off for the trophy.
July 2007
Chris Roberts will be competing in the World senior championships in Poland this weekend along with reigning
champion Daniel Pudney and Brad Hoppo. With a very strong home country representation including Poole assets Pavel Ciegelski
and Artur Poprawski, Poland are threatening to overun the competition this year and provide all the rostrum places. They have
already signalled their intentions by winning todays World Best Pairs with a 7-3 win in every heat...except that against Aussies
Brad and Dan!
July 2007
Its just a week until the World Junior Championships are staged at Poole and there is no let up in
the racing schedule as the Harbourside Park track will see a double header of team racing this weekend. On Sunday afternoon
at 2pm, the visitors will be the Hellingly Lions from Eastbourne who come in search of South-West League points and this will
be followed by a Premier League challenge match against Coventry who include a couple of their top Polish riders in the line-up.
With the Senior World Championships in Poland just a couple of weeks away, a number of the Poole seniors will be in action.
June 2007
The Poole team was just a point away from 3rd place in the British Women's Team Championship at Exeter yesterday
- a great performance considering that apart from Jessie, the other 3 girls had never ridden in any sort of race before whereas
all the other riders were regular competitors. Jessie Lamb raced to 4 impressive wins and will be one of the pre-match favourites
for the Individual event in a few weeks time at Horspath. Other scorers - Henny Olofsson 8, Jo Poore 7, Jess Fredrickson 6.
In the U.19 competition, Luke and the two Jakes all battled gamely but failed to make the cut for the final
in a high class semi line-up.
In the next round of the British Team Championship on July 8th Poole have been drawn away to local rivals
Southampton in a repeat of last year's round 2 match giving the team the opportunity to avenge the highly controversial defeat
12 months back.
June 2007
A busy weekend with plenty of travel is in prospect with Poole competing in the British Ladies Team Championship
for the first time as they make the trip to Devon with Jessie Lamb hoping to lead the team to victory at Exeter. Fellow Oakmeadian Ladies rugby players Jessica Fredriksen, Joanna Poore and Henny Olofsson have all been busy adapting
to the intricacies of cycle speedway and are looking forward to the event. Before anyone asks...all the girls qualify for
British nationality! Also on the way to Exeter on Saturday, are Luke Armes, Jake Williams and Jake Burns who compete in the
British U.19 Individual championships. On Sunday, the Sea View team riders trek up to Yorkshire for a Premier League match
against newcomers Sheffield. Spirits are high after last week's stunning victory against Horspath but there will be no
room for complacency in Sunday's match as the opposition have strengthened their squad with a sprinkling of Polish and
Aussie riders. Sound familiar?
May 2007
Artur Poprwski joined his Polish clubmate Karol Wlodarczyk in Poole today where he will spend the rest of
the 2007 racing for the Sea View Coaches team. The highly rated 19 year old P.E. student from Poniec in western Poland was
one of the shining stars in the 2006 European Junior Championships and is currently a prolific scorer in the Polish League.
He could make his first team debut as early as next Sunday in the difficult away fixture at Oxford against reigning Premier
League champions, Horspath if Ben Donohue fails to recover from a hand injury picked up last week.
May 2007
The Whit weekend sees a busy schedule at Harbourside Park with two days of top international action starting
on Saturday afternoon (3pm) with the first of this year's 3 matches between England and Poland. Our own Chris Roberts
and Adam Peck have been called up for the England team which also includes ex British Champion Phil Howells (Leicester) and
the current British Champion Lee Aris (Wednesfield). Matches between these two nations always produce an abundance of incident
and excitement and an extra edge this year following a 2 - 1 series win to the Poles in 2006.
This Sunday afternoon (noon), we stage the Ade Gale Laurels in memory of one of our greatest ever riders
and what a field we have put together for the occasion including the top Aussie and reigning World Champion, Daniel Pudney,
top Brit Lee Aris and arguably the top Pole...perhaps even the most in-form rider on the world scene Marcin Symanski. Add
2006 trophy holder Shaun Woodhouse for good measure along with twenty more quality riders and it all adds up to the best senior
event of the season. With a Junior Laurels and Young Guns to complete the picture, it is sure to be great day's racing.
May 2007
Sunday's home match against Leicester provides the toughest home track test of the season
for Poole after relatively comfortable victories against Norwich and A&T. With only Premier League pacesetters Wednesfield
and reigning champions Horspath sitting on a 100% record, it is important for Poole to grab the league points to keep their
title aspirations on track. The East Midlanders pack in the experience from 1 to 8 and will be equally hungry for the points.
Expect a tough match in the Division 2 encounter also as Leicester have a wealth of young riding talent to call on.
April 2007
Congratulations to Brad Hoppo and partner Lee on the birth of Emily Zoe who was born in Poole Hospital this
morning at 8.24am, weighing in at 8lbs 4ozs. Brad was duly given the day off from racing!! Best wishes go from everyone at
Poole CSC.
April 2007
Premier League racing returns to Harbourside Park this Sunday (2pm) with the first ever appearance at Poole
of Manchester based PL newcomers Astley & Tyldesley. The Poole team will be selected from the same line-up that went down
by a sizeable margin at league leaders Wednesfield last weekend plus Lukasz Jozwiak who returns to England today and Karol
Wlodarczyk who is steadily returning to match fitness after several seasons out of the saddle. Captain Brad Hoppo could well
be a non-starter as partner Lee is currently in Poole Maternity Hospital awaiting the birth of their first child.
April 2007
Poole Cycle Speedway Club was saddened to learn of the death of Derek Knight after a long battle with cancer.
A founder member of the club Derek proudly carried club colours from 1975 into the 1980's and captained the first British
Team Championship winning Poole team in 1982. Derek was a fine sportsman and held in high esteem throughout cycle speedway.
Our thoughts are with wife Tina and family at this time. The match day programme for April 22nd will contain a short obituary.
April 2007
The finishing touches are being applied to the Harbourside Park circuit this week as the countdown begins
to the opening fixture on Easter Sunday (2pm) when Poole/Sea View Coaches take on Norwich in a Premier League match. With
the track completed, most of the attention is currently focussed on the clubroom upgrade which is expected to be finished
in June and will feature a dedicated first aid room, secure bike store and hospitality room.
The senior squad for Sunday's curtain raiser will include Richard Clanfield, Aaron Lowey and recently arrived
Karol Wlodarcyzk who is back in Poole colours this year 7 seasons on from his last spell with the club. Chris Roberts is well
on the road to recovery and may also feature.
March 2007
The focus of activity swings from the circuit refurbishment to racing this weekend as the season gets under
way at Coventry with a tough Premier League fixture. The ranks of senior riders have been swelled by the addition of two highly
accomplished riders Lucasz Jozwiak and Pawel Cegieski who join us on secondary registrations from Filton. A warm welcome is
extended these two Polish stars and also welcome back to World Champion Dan Pudney who flew in from Adelaide this week to
start his second season at Poole.
There was further good news for the club this week with the news that Sea View Coaches have extended their
sponsorship for a further season making it one of the longest continuous contracts in the sport. Poole Leisure & Recreation
department have approved an additional grant of £10k to complete phase 2 of the refurbishment project and to round off an
excellent week, an "Awards for All" Lottery fund grant of £6,000 has been received to assist the club with other current
projects including "GoRide" accreditation expenses.
March 2007
With most of the senior riders and quite a few juniors having taken the opportunity to put in some practise
laps this week, the general opinion on the new track has been very favourable as the springlike weather created near perfect
conditions. Meanwhile the countdown to the first home match of the season against Norwich on Easter Sunday sees the re-furb
work force quickening their pace as they tackle the miriad of jobs still remaining. Yesterday the final 10 metres of terracing
was completed while in the clubroom attention is currently focussed on the new first aid room.
March 2007
With just three weeks remaining till the start of the season, two new floodlights have been installed at
Baiter Park which will double the lighting power at the circuit - just in time for mid-week training - Tuesdays & Thursdays
at 7.30, weather permitting. Much of the current refurb work is now targeted on the clubroom building which is being comprehensively
upgraded. Best wishes for a speedy recovery go to Chris Roberts following an operation to rectify a troublesome ankle
injury. Frustrated at missing the start of the season, Chris should be back in training within a few weeks.
February 2007
The first practice session on the newly relaid circuit is now just six days away as club members get stuck
into all the smaller jobs which will complete the refurb job. Although the diggers and dumpers have gone, there is still much
hard work to do and the volunteer workforce continues to respond magnificently as it has done every weekend since October
7th last year.....beat that for dedication! At the lighter end of the tasking scale, vets Rob Haywood and Dave Murphy
have been busying themselves with paint brushes (see pic), no doubt hatching a plan for their assault on the BCC 40+
4's event especially now that Andre Cross - another recent work force recruit - is in the squad. A successful track
grade took place today and the first practise will be on March 4th at 2pm - weather permitting.
February 2007
A new track record was set at the weekend as 30 tons of new top surface was laid in under 4 hours thanks
to some great team-work from the 12 man volunteer force. Project leader Kev Lowey pronounced the job a success although it
was touch and go towards the end of the session as to whether there would be enough material to finish! The weather cooperated
with a dry morning on Saturday 10th but just as the final levelling and rolling was completed, the heavens opened
again providing a tough test for the new track drainage. Needless to say it performed perfectly. Attention will now turn to
a long list of smaller jobs - inside and out. Fence welding, additional floodlighting, landscaping are on the list plus a
host of inside jobs associated with the clubroom upgrade. As for the track....the weather will do the rest.
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| The gang's all here! |
February 2007
Refurb update.......The new track surface arrived on Feb 5th in readiness for laying next weekend. The remainder
of the safety fence is 95% complete and work is well advanced on laying the new centre green.
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| Terracing work nearing completion. |
January 2007
After a mammoth effort by club volunteers in the past week, the spectator terrace work is now 95% complete.
On 15th January, three more full loads of ready-mixed concrete were poured into position and the weather proved to be fine for
the "big pour". Extensive alterations within the clubroom are also under way with a new high security bike store, admin office,
welfare/first-aid room and hospitality lounge set for completion in good time for the World Championship events in July. Weather
permitting, construction of the safety fence can now proceed along with final levelling of the new track base and laying the
top surface. There is still a great deal of work to do before the start of the season but progress has been swift thanks to
the efforts of members.
January 2007
Into the new year and with the resumption of racing only weeks away, riders are stepping up their training
activities in readiness for a busy season while work continues apace to progress the refurb at the Baiter Park track. Wet
weather over the festive period has put back part 2 of the terracing work by one week but fingers crossed for January 13th
when another 3 loads of ready-mixed concrete will be tipped into place around the new bends 1 & 2.
This is the most challenging and time consuming part of the project but will transform the circuit and allow
for up to 500 spectators to enjoy the racing.
The next update is expected to carry news of another significant boost for the club so watch this space.
December 2006
As the year heads towards its close, the hard working volunteer force continues to make good progress with
the club's biggest project for over 25 years. Over 50% of the Poole Council grant has already been spent on plant and
materials. After restoring the track banking and laying new drainage, most of the recent effort has concentrated on the
reconstruction of the terracing which will once again accomodate 500 spectators.
Many of the regular home supporters have traditionally chosen to watch the action from the 3rd/4th bend
terrace but they will have a new perspective in 2007....first bend action! The starting grid is to
be repositioned on the old back straight giving the crowd a great close up of the all important action from the gate. "There
were pros and cons about the changeover" remarked project leader Kev Lowey, "but on balance, the majority of members were
in favour of the switch".
Work will be continuing over the Christmas and New Year period to prepare for the second big ready-mix concrete
day scheduled for January 6th. After that date, attention will switch back from the terracing to the track with new surface
and safety fence and a miriad of associated tasks to be completed as the countdown begins towards the 2007 season.
On the riding front, all the 2006 squad have signalled their availability including Aaron Lowey who is hoping
to line up for more Premier League matches after his restricted availability this year. If track access at Baiter Park is
limited by works in progress, Colin Wheeler has very kindly agreed to stand by to provide training facilities at Winchester
Road in March. With a tough looking PL start at Coventry on March 25th, that offer might come in handy! All PL and national
fixtures are now to hand and those for the SWL are expected later this week. Watch this site for full details.
One rider who wont be troubled by early season training in freezing weather of course is the current
World Champion Daniel Pudney who has regularly been providing Brad Hoppo and team mates with temperature updates from down-under!
His training programme steps up a gear or two in the new year as he sets his sights on a successful defence of his title in
Poland in July. He is due to fly back to Britain around March 20th.
Flying in the opposite direction on December 6th were Eddie Wilkins and family who have emigrated to Perth.
Son James was a successful Junior league regular at Poole and Eddie himself was a lively vets and combination team member.
Good luck in your new lives from all at Baiter Park.
December 2006
After 9 weekends of hard graft, the track upgrade project is moving forward at a good pace despite the best
efforts of the weather which has been exceptionally wet and windy of late - hardly the best conditions to attract volunteers
away from the fireside.
Nevertheless, the messiest job on the list - new track drainage - has been completed and the track base
has now been levelled and rolled in. Before any more work can be carried out on the track itself, major works to the
terracing must be completed since this will involve heavy ready-mix concrete vehicles driving round the circuit to gain
access. Three deliveries will take place this coming weekend which will complete 90% of the back straight seating area and
the new perimeter path.
Attention will then switch to the old 3rd/4th bend terracing which will be re-aligned with the back straight
and brought fully up to the same standard. There is still much to do and lookout for the next update for details of one other
significant change which will add to spectator enjoyment of the racing at Poole in 2007.
November 2006
Congratulations to Daniel Pudney who wasted no time in getting back to winning ways in Adelaide by succesfully
defending his Australian title on the Le Fevre track where he scorched to a 20 point maximum. Looks like that full season
here at Poole did him no harm at all and his thoughts are already turning to the defence of his World
crown in Poland in July 2007.
Meanwhile back at Baiter Park after another glorious weekend's weather, most of the new track base is in
position and the tedious task of levelling and compacting is under way. Blockwork on the spectator stand has been completed
by Rich Clanfield and Pete Ross has prepared the shuttering formers. One of the muckiest jobs is the new drainage work which
Kev Lowey and his team have almost completed.
Next Sunday evening, club members will retire to the New Inn at Oakdale after track work to raise a glass
in memory of Ade Gale who died 2 years ago. A commemorative plaque will be unveiled in the clubroom when the circuit refurbishment
is completed in 2007, and the project will be dedicated to his memory.
October 2006
With 4 weekends work under their belts and only one session affected by weather, progress with the track
refurb is very much on schedule thanks to a superb effort from club members with healthy numbers attending each work
session. Re-alignment of the outside line is complete and 100 tons of stone infill already laid to restore
the correct contour with around 25 tons more still required. A completely new track drainage system is currently being laid
with bends 1 & 2 now in position. Rich Clanfield and his team have laid over 750 blocks on the grandstand reconstruction
with another weeks work before preparations for the re-inforced concrete get under way. Kevin Lowey is planning to take
delivery of 30tons of shale top surface in late November.
While Daniel Pudney starts to enjoy the comfortable temperatures of his native Australia.....shortly to
be joined by club secretary Pete Barnes, Brad Hoppo found himself in the middle of hectic track action this weekend but with
a shovel rather than the customary bike. Aaron Lowey enjoyed a spot of home leave from the army by joining in the weekend
action with early starts both days straight after reveille. Unfortunately a rather nasty football injury ruled out Chris Roberts
from the track team this week....sounds familiar! Another missing face was Dave Murphy's and as if living in Yorkshire
wasnt a poor enough excuse......he was actually racing at East London in the London (Old) Masters event. Congratulations
are in order to Smurf for a magnificent win despite strong competition from other top vets including Ian & Lee Lawrence,
Dave Frith and Norm.
October 14th 2006
A full two day sesssion at the track on week 2 saw installation of new drainage chambers, re-instatement
of outside line edging which had sunk by up to 15" in places and required 20 tons of stone infill to achieve the correct contour.
Track banking on the back straight and into turn 3 will be significantly enhanced as a result. A productive start with
the spectator terracing job was made but blockwork is likely to take two or three more weekends. Once again Kev Lowey and
Richard Clanfield were directing operations and it was good to see Premier League stars Chris Roberts and Mark Everingham
amongst the volunteer force along with the "regulars".
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| There's a long way to go! |
October 2006
Work started this weekend on the track refurbishment programme and under the supervision of Kev Lowey,
club volunteers have already removed much of the back straight and 3rd bend track and outside perimeter materials together
with the remaining sections of original safety fence. The spectator terracing on the back straight has also been demolished
and infilled in readiness for the next stage which will be the time consuming construction of a solid concrete replacement.
October 2006
Reigning World Champion Daniel Pudney flew off to Australia via holiday visits to America and New Zealand
today with the promise that he will be back and fighting fit in time for the 2007 season in Poole colours. Dan along with
Aussie colleague Brad Hoppo, has been instrumental in boosting the Premier League performance of the team from wooden spoonists
in 2005 to a top three placing this term. While Brad is over-wintering in Poole in preparation for his forthcoming "family
responsibilities", Dan is spending time back home in warmer conditions with the emphasis on training in readiness for the
defence of his title in Poland.
September 2006
After a year of planning and preparation Poole Cycle Speedway Club is pleased to announce that a complete
refurbishment of the Baiter Park Circuit has been given the green light thanks to financial support from Poole Borough Council.
Twenty five years of intensive use had begun to take its toll and with the World Junior Championships scheduled for July 2007,
the news could not have been more perfectly timed.
Immediately following the Poole v Sandwell premier league match on October 1st, plant, equipment and materials
will be moved on-site in an effort to complete as much of the heavy work before the worst of the winter weather. Parts of
the old safety fence were replaced last winter and the remainder will be demolished and the old track surface removed.
Much of Baiter Park was reclaimed from Poole Harbour in the late 1950's and ground subsidence will necessitate
rebuilding of the outside track perimeter back up to its original level to restore the full banking contour of the track.
Significant new drainage works will also be undertaken.
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