Poole Stadium is a speedway and former greyhound racing venue located in the town centre of Poole, Dorset in England.[1] The stadium is owned by the Borough of Poole.[2] It was built in the early 1930s in an attempt to provide a source of entertainment to the residents of Poole during the Great Depression. It is also often referred to as Wimborne Road, which is a road that runs adjacent to the stadium. During weekdays, the stadium's large car park is used to provide parking for Poole Hospital's park and ride scheme.[3] On 22 September 2020 the permanent closure of greyhound racing at the site was announced.[4]

Poole Stadium
The stadium's glass fronted grandstand and speedway track
Map
LocationWimborne Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 2BP
Coordinates50°43′22″N 1°58′55″W / 50.722905°N 1.982010°W / 50.722905; -1.982010
Tenants
Poole Pirates
Website
poolegreyhounds.com

Football

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In 1933 local semi-professional football team Poole Town moved to Poole Stadium where they began to play their home games in the Western Football League. In the 1946/47 season they had a run in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup which took them through to a first round match against Queens Park Rangers. Poole drew 2–2 at Loftus Road but lost 6–0 in the replay in front of a then record attendance of 10,224. They again reached the first round in the 1962/63 season and held Watford to a 2–2 draw at Vicarage Road, but lost the replay at Poole Stadium in front of an 11,155 crowd.[5]

Poole Town were based at the stadium for 61 years until Poole Council forced them to leave in 1994, citing low attendances.[6] During their stay at the stadium, the club had financed improvements to the stadium such as a 1,100 seater grandstand on the east side of the football pitch built in 1960, and covered terracing on the west side.

Speedway

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The east grandstand

The stadium has been home to speedway team the Poole Pirates since the club was created in 1948 and speedway has taken place at the stadium every year since.[7] Prior to 1948, a cycle track had surrounded the football pitch until it was replaced with the larger speedway track.[7] Poole Stadium was chosen to host the 2004 Speedway World Cup final by organiser Benfield Sports International (BSI).[8] Poole hosted the qualifying race-off and the final which took place on 7 August with Sweden becoming the 2004 World Champions.[9] Temporary stands were erected around the corners of the track to provide 2,200 extra seats.[10] The official attendance figure at the stadium for the final was 7,131.[9]

Poole Speedway is officially 299.1m long and the track record is 56.91 set by Sweden's Antonio Lindback on 14 June 2006.[11]

Sidecar Speedway

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A number of top Sidecar meeting have been held at Wimborne Road. The British Championship was held in 2002 and 2003 and two Super Cup rounds were held in 2001. Gary Jackson and Carl Pugh won by British Championships. Craig Cheetham & Clive Reynolds won both rounds in the Super Cup.

Greyhound racing

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Facilities included a modern glass fronted grandstand which incorporated a 312-seat restaurant, two bars, full Tote betting facilities and multiple viewing screens.[12] Race nights used to take place on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

History

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Greyhound racing was introduced to the stadium in 1960 after the Southampton Greyhound Stadium owners Charlie Knott Sr. & Charlie Knott Jr. initiated plans to construct a track around the football pitch and speedway track. Charlie Jr. The venue underwent considerable change with a grandstand and terracing being introduced on both sides of the stadium.[13]

On 8 May 1961 the opening meeting took place with the Mayor of Poole Alderman Bill Cole conducting the opening ceremony. There was an eight race card featuring five dogs in each race set up around a 380-yard circuit. The first ever winner was 'Count on Chippelgaun' a 5-1 shot in a time of 29.7 secs. The Racing Manager was aptly named D.J Poole before T.H.Pickett took over the hot seat.[14]

 
A 1970s' meeting at the stadium

The Knotts remained involved in Poole until 1980 when they sold their interest in the stadium. The leading trainers were Rita Randall and Pat Clarke and Ernie Walsh became the new Racing Manager. Following the sale the greyhound operation ran into difficulties and on 1 January 1985 closed down before the racing was brought back by TGV Ltd headed by Terry Bentham on 5 April that year. Simon Cross took over as Racing Manager from Ernie Walsh and TGV Ltd took the opportunity to conduct some renovations. Cross was soon to be replaced by Geoff Lee. Scurlogue Champ appeared on 12 July 1986 and broke the track record.[15]

Facilities included a restaurant for 100 covers, a car park for 800 vehicles and two bars with all-sand circuit and an "Outside Sumner" hare. Racing continued on Thursday and Saturday nights until the ownership changed again to a company called Playbell Ltd who then removed the greyhound track to accommodate a larger football pitch on 30 June 1990.[7][16]

In February 1992 hopes were revived that greyhound racing could return to Poole after plans were announced by the Derek Block owned Poole Stadium Development Corporation that they were looking to emulate a track such as Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium and Romford Greyhound Stadium. This sparked interest from the BS Group and they had discussions with the local authorities regarding the re-opening of Wimborne Road. Even the Greyhound Racing Association made it clear that they were monitoring the situation. The BS Group won the race and secured a long time lease from the Poole Borough Council in 1994 and racing finally returned with the football ceasing.[17] The owners constructed a modern glass fronted grandstand on the east side of the stadium in 1997 which incorporated a 312-seat restaurant, two bars, full Tote betting facilities and multiple viewing screens.[12]

The Golden Crest, which had been hosted by the track since 2000, had become the principal event surpassing the significance of the tracks previous main feature competition "The Wessex Vase". A major boost for arrived in 2012 when the track was awarded a BAGS contract for the first time.

In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with ARC to race every Tuesday and Sunday evening.[18] In 2020, the stadium was closed due to COVID-19 pandemic, following the easing of restrictions of the lockdown, Poole Stadium Ltd (under parent company Gaming International) decided not to re-open and later, on 5 August, announced it was under a consultation period with the staff with the possibility of redundancies and the end of the greyhound racing at the venue.[19][20]

On 22 September 2020 the permanent closure of greyhound racing at the site was announced leaving Gaming International with one remaining site at Swindon Stadium.[4]

Competitions

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Track records

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Current

Distance
metres
Greyhound Time Date Notes
250 Only One Leemac [21] 14.74 22.04.2017
450 Daddy Knowsbest [22] 26.20 13.07.2013 Golden Crest final
640 Clares Kyletaun [23] 38.56 14.04.2018
840 Blonde Pearl [24] 52.06 16.02.2007

Former [25]

Distance Greyhound Time Date Notes
230m Office Whisper 14.39 1989
230m Annekas Gold 14.38 1989
232m Seamans Hope 14.41 25.04.1985
250m Official Figure 14.98 10.04.1998
250m Louisville 14.96 07.02.2004
250m Kews Noble 14.88 31.07.2007
250m Marinas Malouda 14.78 06.05.2011
445m Railroad Tracker 27.43 1989
450m August Twenty 26.70 01.11.1997
450m Rosmon Major 26.45 10.02.2007 Golden Crest Semi-finals
450m Glynnscross Mal 26.45 17.03.2009
450m Miss Crispys 26.44 08.06.2010
450m Buzz Doc 26.37 26.04.2011 Golden Crest heats
450m Fifis Rocket 26.30 30.04.2011 Golden Crest Semi-finals
450m Lode Henry 26.25 02.07.2013
455m Golden Sand 27.34 30.08.1983
630m Chiltern Sarah 39.92 1989
632m Westmead Call 1986
632m Farm Hill Jill 40.00 25.09.1986
640m El Onda 38.96 09.05.1998
640m Manners Slaney 38.74 13.10.2007
640m Wise Totty 38.68 26.04.2011
840 Musical Treat 52.45 15.11.1997
840 Gift of Gold 52.21 09.05.2000
845m Carker Coal 55.48 1989
855m Scurlogue Champ 54.86 12.07.1986
445m H Grove Whistler 28.90 1989

References

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  1. ^ "Track Search". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Stadium Sale Denied". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Newsquest. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Park And Ride Sites in Poole". Borough of Poole. 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Poole Stadium Closure confirmed". Greyhound Star.
  5. ^ "Poole Town Football Club History". Poole Town Football Club. 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2008.
  6. ^ "Stadium Boost for Dolphins". The Bournemouth Daily Echo. Newsquest. 10 March 2000.
  7. ^ a b c Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  8. ^ "World Cup Coup". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Newsquest. 21 January 2004. Retrieved 31 March 2008.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ a b "Sweden Win World Cup". SpeedwayWorld.Tv. 6 August 2004. Archived from the original on 1 September 2005. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
  10. ^ "Stands ruled out due to cost". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Newsquest. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  11. ^ http://www.poolepirates.co/contact.htm[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ a b "Stadium sale denied". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Newsquest. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  13. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 64. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  14. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 118. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  15. ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, page 52. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  16. ^ "Closures and openings over the past 10 years, July 1993, page 18". Greyhound Star. 1993.
  17. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2002). Greyhound Annual 2003, page 133. Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-07-3.
  18. ^ "Arc Schedule Released". Greyhound Star.
  19. ^ "Poole Closure, Gaming International Statement". Greyhound Star.
  20. ^ "FORD PLEADS FOR FANS TO STAY CALM AMIDST STADIUM SPECULATION". Poole Speedway.
  21. ^ "2017 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  22. ^ "2013 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  23. ^ "2018 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  24. ^ "2007 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  25. ^ "Track records". Greyhound Data.