Cycle Speedway Teams Down the Ages
Dorset: Poole Comets
About the team
Club officially formed at a general meeting on 15th November 1974.
Track was in Stanley Green Park, Wimborne Road, Fleetsbridge, Poole.
Track Dimensions: 82yards x 6yards, limestone dust surface.
Club Colours: Red/Black/White.
Many stories preside of the building of the track, with diggers and bulldozers stuck in the mud. Roger Nicholson, Martin Ricketts and Colin Sanders spent much of their time working on the track in the rain.
The track was officially opened at Easter 1975, and the curtain raiser was an English League derby match against Southampton, which Poole narrowly won in the last heat 89 - 88.
On land owned by Whitelocks(builders).
Club President: Mr John Whitelock.
Vice President: Andrew Bright.
Club Secretary: Colin Sutton.
Club Treasurer: Rob Haywood
General Manager: Graham Sutton(1978).
Team Manager: Colin Sutton(1978).
Club Secretary: D. Slater, 5 Apsley Crescent, Poole(1978).
Further Positions: Andy Bright(P.R.O); Colin Sanders(track manager); Roger Nicholson(coach).
In 1979 plans were being made to move the club from Wimborne Road to a new track near Harbour Shore, Baiter(now known as Harbourside Park).
In April 1981 Cycle Speedway's first Regional Centre was officially opened by the town's Mayor, Alderman Fred Harris, who was accompanied by Graham Sutton. The grand opening was followed by a match between the Poole club and the British Lions, who were the eventual victors by 97 points to 81 points. Newly crowned World Master Phil Pilbrow set a track record when he won heat twelve in 40.13 seconds.
Individual Honours.
1975 Derek Knight(18) won the English League Riders Senior Final at Bristol, runner up Roger Ellis(18), 3rd Colin Wheeler(16).
1977 Derek Knight won the English League Riders Senior Final.
Team Honours.
1976 Runners up in English League Division One.
1976 Won the English League Division Two.
1977 Won the Corona British National Junior Team Final at Edmonton, beating Denton by 107 - 72 points.
1978 Won the Corona British National Junior Team final at Southampton, beating Bristol by 107 - 69 points.
Riders
- John Bryant
- Dave Butcher
- Mike Cake
- Andy Carry
- John Carry
- Bob Cartridge
- Adrian Gale
- Martin Gale
- Dave "Freddy" Garrett
- Dave Gravell
- Ray Hall
- Steve Hardy
- Rob Heywood(capt)
- Ian Kiddle
- Ian Kitcher
- Derek Knight
- Arthur Lawrence
- Don McQuade
- Simon Merritt
- Ian Middleton
- Tony Nation
- Martin Ricketts
- Pete Ross
- Colin Sanders
- Ian Scovell
- Graham Stoakes
- Colin Sutton(capt)
- Graham Sutton
- Leigh Town
- Ken Wiffen
- Pete Woodford
Poole 1975 Annual Review. Cover depicts ...
Comets 1976. Back L/R: Ian Kiddle-Martin...
1976 Laurels. L/R: Derek Knight-Alan Har...
1976 Programme Cover.
1976 Programme Cover.
1976 Five-A-Side Programme Cover.
Press cutting.
1977 Junior Team Final. Denton Stars rid...
1977 Junior Team Final. Denton Stars rid...
1977 Programme Cover.
1977 Action. Derek Knight at rear. Other...
1978 Programme Cover.
1978 Two Poole Comets chase Alan Miller(...
1978 Poole Laurels Programme Cover.
1978 Derek Knight(leading) battles it ou...
1979 Programme Cover.
1980 Programme Cover
1980 British Senior Final at New Mills. ...
1982 National Finals Front Programme Cov...
1982 National Finals Back Programme Cove...
1983 Programme Cover, showing Ade Gale l...
Poole 'Comets' Julian Hardy and Newport ...