END OF A COOK ERA

With Poole Speedway honouring Zach Cook's wish to further his career beyond Championship racing, 2027 will be the first year this decade without one of the brilliant Cook brothers being part of the Pirates' set-up.

Brothers Ben and Zach have become stalwarts at the club, especially in an era when riders tend to switch clubs with great frequency, but the two Cowran boys have become talismans for the Pirates.

Ben joined Poole first, officially taking his place in the 2021 Pirates' side, although he had been included in the declaration for the 2020 campaign, which was cancelled. He was joined by his brother in the end-of-season play-offs, as Zach stepped in as a guest replacement for the injured Stefan Nielsen.

It was no surprise when Zach became a confirmed starter for the 2022 season – the first time Poole had a set of brothers in the same declared side since Jonas and Daniel Davidsson represented the Pirates in 2006.

For the next two campaigns, Ben and Zach became the engine room of the Poole sides, before Ben moved on to focus on his Premiership career with King's Lynn, also becoming a solid contributor in Poland. Zach remained at Wimborne Road and, in successive seasons, captained Poole to doubles – the league and cup in 2025 and the league and BSN Series in 2026.

Both those league successes were secured with Zach featuring in tense Super Heats. Throughout his Poole career, Zach has won trophies every season and seen his starting average of 4.25 steadily rise to a closing figure of 8.54, which made him the Pirates' number one for the final month of 2026.

Life at Poole is going to feel really strange without a Cook to cheer on in 2027, but there can be no doubt that, although Australian by birth, both Ben and Zach are Pirates by heart.

Photo credit Taylor Lanning