REACTION: PIRATES TEAM EFFORT SECURES TREBLE AMIDST SKIPPER SHOCK

Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates produced a workmanlike second leg performance to seal the destiny of the SGB Cab Direct Championship Knockout Cup with seven heats to spare, before eventually replicating the score from the first leg, a 57-33 victory over the 'Monarch' Oxford Cheetahs, to secure the treble and then receive the news from Captain Ben Cook that he will be 'moving on' in 2025.

Providing the first eight race winners Poole showed no benevolence to their arch-rivals who were fielding just two of their regular septet, injuries having ravaged the Cheetahs who were also without Cameron Heeps due to the imminent birth of his expected child.

Responsible for actually clinching the third piece of silverware of an unbelievable season fell to Sam Hagon and Vinnie Foord, a delight for both of them as they have both been going through tough times of late. Hagon has been struggling to find the early season form that led him to winning the British U21 title and Foord the subject of some vitriolic abuse following the Championship Play-off Grand Final, which could easily have affected a lesser man.

Teenager Foord admitted afterwards that "I'm good. I haven't taken much notice of all the stuff that has been said I just concentrated on getting some points. But what a season is it has been. It was a massive shock for me to get the call from Poole in the first place, I had just dropped to reserve in the National League at the time, but what more could you ask for. I know that I need to continue working on my starts but I feel that I have improved all round as a rider"

It was starts that Hagon also focused on when asked about his night as he referred to his final ride when initially on a 5-1 with Richard Lawson at the time the race was stopped due to a fall by Dan Gilkes. "I thought I made a good start first time around in that one but it seems to happen that you miss the second one. I was close to getting there but it just wasn't meant to be, I guess. I've managed a few medals in what has been an up and down season. Tonight felt a bit better for me but my starts have been dreadful and I know its an area that I really need to work on."
Having lifted aloft the third trophy of the 2024 season, skipper Ben Cook then revealed that there were other opportunities in the sport that he felt he needed to explore to continue the immense progress he has made in the sport since joining Poole four years ago. "I have these opportunities that perhaps I never really dreamed off and I feel now is the time to go for them. It has not been an easy decision for me for this is where it all began really for me and I love this place and think I always will. It was a great honour to be made captain this year and we accomplished all our goals with this fabulous treble and great team."

The team were also praised by Tom Brennan who explained that "It's been a pretty incredible season for myself and obviously to be part of the Pirates has shown me like a new way in speedway. I think that's the only way I can put it. People just don’t understand what it's like to come and be a part of it. But even when you're part of it, you don't actually really know what makes it so special. But there's kind of something about this club that will obviously stick with me forever and yeah, like I said it has definitely show me a new way in speedway. So no, it's an absolute honour to kind of represent the Pirates this year and it's everything the club deserves and I am just so grateful that obviously we could win it all for you, the fans. Everything seems to click here at Poole and Danny and Matt, create a really good environment here and everybody works as a team, which is obviously what makes a winning team and a real pleasure to represent you guys and I hope I've kind of done my job this year, which was my aim and yeah, I am so very, very grateful. Finally, I would just say take a proud look at your side. I mean, Sammy has found it a little bit tough this year, but like, remember, he is the under under 21 British champion, but he is phenomenal and Vinnie too. He kind of started the year and none of us knew what he could really do, but Vinnie has done really well to come along with the way he did and I am sure they will both be able to make progress."

POOLE 57 (114) ,Tobias Thomsen 8+3 (3,2',1',2') ,Vinnie Foord 6+2 (1,2',2',1) ,Zach Cook 5+1 (1,0,1',3) ,Sam Hagon 5+1 (0,1,3,1') ,Richard Lawson 12+1 (3,3,2,3,1') ,Tom Brennan 8 (3,3,2,0) ,Ben Cook 13 (3,3,2,3,2)
OXFORD 33 ( 66) ,Simon Lambert 3+2 (1',1',1,0) ,Sam Masters 11+1 (2,2,3,1',3) ,Connor Coles 0 (0,RS,0,RS,0,RS) ,Ben Trigger 4 (2,0,RS,0,RS,2,0) ,Jason Edwards 8 (1,2,3,2,0) ,Dan Gilkes 4 (2,1,FD,1) ,Ashton Boughen 3 (0,0,3,0)
 

Photo Taylor Lanning