LORAM'S LAP OF HONOUR

Wimborne Road has enjoyed more than it's fair share of laps of honours over the years, but arguably none have ever been more fervently heralded than the one that preceded the Pirates home fixture against King's Lynn on 29th September 2000.

Six days earlier Britain hailed it's fifth different world champion and the Pirates were celebrating a world title winner for the first time in their 52 year history. Hundreds of airhorns had been distributed to the huge crowd, all breaking into a crescendo as Maltese-born Mark Loram, a second season Pirate was given a homecoming that he, and many of those present,  would ever forget

Even ten years on, as he was preparing for his track farewell meeting, Loram confessed "That night is something I will never forget,  it was as big as the night when I actually won the trophy. People just packed into the stadium, it was an amazing sight and the reception was incredible."

It was a deafening lap of honour in front of a packed stadium, most of who stood in total admiration for one of Britain's finest racers, one that earned a reputation for his immense ability to chase down from the back.

The euphoria on the evening was however, somewhat short-lived, for the Pirates were beaten 49-41 by the Stars, Lars Gunnestad top scoring for the home side with 12, both Loram and Scott Nicholls banked 9 points each, Emil Lindqvist 5+1 and both Gary Havelock and Alun Rossiter netting 3+2 each.

Moreover, the Poole faithful were rapidly running out of opportunities to see Loram in Poole colours, with just five meetings remaining after that big night in the 2000 calendar amidst much speculation that the club would be looking for a new number one the following season.