2022

The Championship fixture between The Gladiators and The Glasgow Tigers, scheduled for tomorrow (27th September) has been postponed due to adverse weather. The rescheduled date is Tuesday October 11.

The Poole Pirates progressed through to the Play-Off Semi-finals with a a 40-50 victory over the Westcolour Gladiators, taking the two leg tie 70-110 on aggregate,

Guest Scott Nichills scored with 14, whilst reserve Lee Complin top scored with 15.

Full report to follow.

Plymouth Gladiators = 40 (70)

1. Scott Nicholls (Guest) – 1, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2 = 14

2. Ben Morley – 0, 0, 0, (LC – 3, (LC – 1) = 0

3. R/R for Ben Baker – (BM – 0, SN – 3, AR – 1′, AS – 1 = 5+1)

4. Aaron Summers (Guest) – 2, 0, 2, 1, 1′, 0 = 6+1

5. Adam Roynon (Guest) – 1, 1′, 1′, 0, 0 = 3+2

6. Lee Complin – 3, 3, 2, 3, 1, 1, 2 = 15

7. Connor Coles – 2′, (LC – 3), F/X, 0 = 2+1

8. Ben Trigger –

Poole Pirates = 50 (110)

1. Danny King – 3, 2, 3, 1′ = 9+1

2. Ben Cook – 2′, 1′, 2, 2′ = 7+3

3. Steve Worrall – 3, 3, 2, 3, 1 = 12

4. Drew Kemp – 1, 0, 0, 3 = 4

5. Richard Lawson – 2, 3, 3, 2, 3 = 13

6. Zach Cook – 1, 1, 0, 2′ = 4+1

7. Nathan Ablitt – 0, 0, 1′, 0 = 1+1

Weather: Dry and Sunny

SCB Referee: Chris Gay

Gates: Poole win toss and take gates 1 + 3 in Heat 1.

Heat Results

Heat 01: King, B.Cook, Nicholls, Morley 1-5 (Agg: 31-65)

Heat 02: Complin, Coles, Z.Cook, Ablitt 5-1 (6-6) (Agg: 36-66)

Heat 03: Worrall, Summers, Kemp, Morley 2-4 (8-10) (Agg: 38-70) 52.1

Heat 04: Complin, Lawson, Roynon, Ablitt 4-2 (12-12) (Agg: 42-72) 51.6

Heat 05: Nicholls, King, B.Cook, Summers 3-3 (15-15) (Agg: 45-75)]

Heat 06: Lawson, Nicholls, Z.Cook, Morley 2-4 (17-19) (Agg: 47-79)

Heat 07: Worrall, Complin, Roynon, Kemp 3-3 (20-22) (Agg: 50-82)

Heat 08: Complin, B.Cook, Ablitt, Coles – Fell / Excluded) 3-3 (23-25) (Agg: 53-85)

Heat 09: Lawson, Summers, Roynon, Z.Cook 3-3 (26-28) (Agg: 56-88)

Heat 10: Re-Run: Nicholls, Worrall, Complin, Kemp 4-2 (30-30) (Agg: 60-90)

Heat 11: King, B.Cook, Complin, Roynon 1-5 (31-35) (Agg: 61-95)

Heat 12: Worrall, Z.Cook, Summers, Coles 1-5 (32-40) (Agg: 62-100)

Heat 13: Nicholls, Lawson, King, Roynon 3-3 (35-43) (Agg: 65-103)

Heat 14: Kemp, Summers, Complin, Ablitt 3-3 (38-46) (Agg: 68-106)

Heat 15: Lawson, Nicholls, Worrall, Summers 2-4 (40-50) (Agg: 70-110)

Credit Speedway Updates

Image Credit: Daniel-Westlake

Team news update:

Hans Andersen is a very late call off due to aggravating a shoulder injury.

Adam Roynan comes in as Guest. 

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators will make a third attempt to stage their Championship Play Off Quarter Final tie against the Poole Pirates at The Coliseum on Tuesday evening, tapes up at 7.00pm.

Having seen heavy rain destroy any hopes of staging the fixture on the 6th and 13th September, the Westcolour Gladiators are extremely confident that the sustained spell of drier weather in the past 5 days will ensure a perfect track surface and ideal early Autumn conditions and hope for a big crowd to enjoy possibly the biggest fixture in the clubs recent past.

With Poole holding a substantial 60-30 points advantage from their home leg last week, the Westcolour Gladiators will hope to engage their  “never say die, mission impossible spirit” that has been a huge part of their injury ravaged season and seen them win a deserved place in the Playoffs against all the odds.

Club Promoter Mark Phillips has issued a rallying call to all of the clubs core and occasional supporters and to speedway fans across the wider South West, to come along and give the Westcolour Gladiators as much support and noise and to create an atmosphere that his gallant Gladiators can work off.

He said:

“Nothing is impossible in sport and in speedway if you have belief. Who would have believed we could get this far with all of the problems we have had on and off the track with injuries, suspensions, weather delays and an arson attack on the stadium, all of which have cost us tens of thousands of pounds in lost revenue and unexpected costs. 

Who would have believed that in the midst of all of this we could already have thrashed the runaway league leaders, the Leicester Lions by 60 points to 30 points at home in April, destroyed the Pirate ship by 53 points to 37 at home in May, travelled to Poole and got a 45-45 draw in June amidst some highly debatable decisions on the night and the loss of one of our top riders under questionable tactics, and fought on through July and August with our talisman suspended after taking, excessive amounts in the eyes of the Sports authorities, of legitimate prescription medication following some extremely painful injuries. 

We cannot deny that we have a huge mountain to climb, but we will not be throwing in the towel until it is mathematically impossible, and if we can feed off the passionate home support and exploit a little bit of complacency that I detect from Dorset way, then why can’t we surprise the speedway world and give one of the divisions top Clubs another hot Devon welcome and another good thrashing on the night?

We really do need the South West’s speedway supporters to come out and back and support us. It’s a night to ignore the option of watching on TV and to get as many of you down to The Coliseum as possible, to create a wall of noise and atmosphere that will resonate for a long time in the history of our club. 

We appreciate that times are hard for us all, like all speedway and sports clubs we’ll have to take a long hard look over the winter to see what we can and can’t afford to do in 2023, but it would be fantastic to be making those decisions backed and buoyed by our biggest crowd of the season and indeed the biggest since we came to The Coliseum and rescued the sport in Devon. 

Do we feel that everything has conspired against us this season? Yes we probably do, have we sat and sulked or moaned about it? No we haven’t and will we try to use all of that pain and anger in a positive way to generate something spectacular? You can bet your last pound that we will.”

The Westcolour Gladiators will bring in multi times British Champion Scott Nicholls and the experienced and one of the leading Championship point scoring riders in Aaron Summers from the Oxford Cheetahs as guests for the injured Edward Kennett and Michael Palm Toft, and will operate the R/R Rider Replacement facility for the suspended Ben Barker and will line up:

Scott Nicholls

Ben Morley

R/R Ben Barker

Aaron Summers

Hans Andersen

Lee Complin

Connor Coles 

No 8 – Ben Trigger

The Club would like to confirm that SEASON TICKETS are VALID for this fixture to replace the League Fixture that was lost when Newcastle pulled out of the sport in early summer. Season Tickets should be shown at the turnstiles as usual. The Club have contacted ALL Season Ticket Holders to confirm this.

There will be the time-honoured Moment of Reflection for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II prior to the Match following her sad death, which we were not able to have last week and which we are sure that ALL Supporters will welcome and respect. 

Tickets are available ONLINE now via our Online Ticketing Portal here:

Those holding pre-booked ONLINE Match Tickets from the cancelled Fixtures on the 6th and 13th September or the earlier cancelled Fixture v Glasgow, can use them for this Fixture. Please bring proof of Purchase (paper or electronic copy along with you. Those who paid on the Night v Glasgow who hold Re-Admission Tickets can also use them to enter this Fixture but you must ensure that you have the Ticket Stub with you. 

Tickets are also available via Cash + Card on the night, but the best way to secure a Seat in the NHS STAND (Home Straight) is to book early ONLINE. The First Bend VIP Stand is already SOLD OUT.

We should also point out that DISABLED Carer Free Tickets are no longer unfortunately available ONLINE. A small but not insignificant number have been abusing this FREE Entry privilege in sufficient numbers to be detrimental financially to the Club. The FREE CARER Offer is still available but via Cash Payment on the Turnstiles for ONE Free Carer where the Disabled person will require Proof of Disability in the form of authorised documentation from either a qualified NHS Doctor / Consultant or the relevant DWP paperwork. We are sorry if genuinely Disabled persons are impacted by this but unfortunately a number who do not have the Clubs interests at heart have resulted in this regrettable procedural change. It is also not fair on the vast majority who invested their hard earned cash in the Club via Season and Match Tickets honestly each week. 

——–

PLEASE NOTE – Access by Card payment at the Stadium is by accessing the Clubs Online Ticket portal on a suitable mobile / android device. There are no specific Card readers. If you do not have a suitable device to allow your secure Card payment to be collected on the Gate, or before you enter from the comfort of your Car in the Park + Ride Car Park (using this link ); there is a secure CASHPOINT at McDonalds Restaurant which you pass when turning in to Coypool Road

A POLITE REQUEST has been made by The Club Management and Turnstile / Entry Staff. It would be appreciated if you could please have EXACT CHANGE for Admission and Programme available if at all possible to avoid delays, especially at peak time between 6.15 and 7.00pm. It would also be very much appreciated, that if you are Entering by Car with multiple occupants, if one person in the vehicle; could collect the Money for Admission and any Programmes and the Car Park Fee to hand over to Gate Staff, as to process one overall transfer of Money will be a lot speedier than 2,3,4 or even 5 separate transactions. Your cooperation in this matter to help speed access for all and to avoid queues and to improve the Customer experience for all. THANK YOU

We’ve asked all season that you become the vital 8th man and the lads would very much welcome your vociferous and enthusiastic support once again for one MASSIVE final effort, so please bring along a friend and help us to show everyone what a wonderful night of entertainment we get every Tuesday at 7 pm at The Coliseum.  The past few months have been tremendously difficult for us all with injuries, some controversial decisions going against us and some utterly mindless vandalism that will cost many thousands of pounds to replace let alone the stress it causes Mark and all of the wonderful support Team. 

PLEASE rally around the Club and The Team, bring a friend and spread the word .Your support is always worth extra points and together we can beat all the odds and celebrate success together at the end of the season. These are tough times and in tough times the tough get going and there’s no one tougher than your Promoter, Team Manager and Team…. let’s all join in and beat the odds together. #GladiatorsREADY

Gates Open 5.30pm

Pre-Match Rider Parade 6.50pm

Tapes Up 7.00pm

There are numerous Food and Drink (Alcoholic and Non Alcoholic) outlets around the Stadium serving locally produced products.

Numerous Toilets / Disabled Toilets and Washing Facilities 

Our new for 2022 Track Shop is doing a roaring trade with NEW lines every week and well worth a visit.

Car Parking onsite £2.00

36 page Colour Programme £3.00

Image Credit: Jon Sproad

The Poole Pirates delivered a dominant home performance in the first leg of the Play Off Quarter finals, with a comprehensive 60-30 victory over the Westcolour Gladiators.

Hans Andersen top scored for the Gladiators with 10, backed by guest Aaron Summers with 8+1

Full report to follow.

Poole Pirates = 60

1. Danny King – 2′, 3, 3, 2′ = 10+2

2. Ben Cook – 3, 1, 3, 2′ = 9+1

3. Steve Worrall – 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15

4. Drew Kemp – 1, 0, 1, 1′ = 3+1

5. Richard Lawson – 3, 3, 3, 3, 2′ = 14+1

6. Zach Cook – 3, 0, 1, 1, 2 = 7

7. Nathan Ablitt – 0, 0, 2′ = 2+1

Plymouth Gladiators = 30

1. R/R for Edward Kennett – (BM – 0, AS – 2, HA – 2, LF – R, = 4)

2. Leon Flint (G) – 1, 1′, 2, R, R = 4+1

3. Ben Morley – 0, 0, 2, 1, 1 = 4

4. Aaron Summers (G) – 2, 2, 1′, 0, 3, 0 = 8+1

5. Hans Andersen – 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1 = 10

6. Lee Complin – 2, 1′, 0, 0, 0 = 3+1

7. Connor Coles – 1′, 0, 0 = 1+1

8. Ben Trigger – DNR

Plymouth win the toss and take gates 1 & 3 in heat 1. Period of Silence held for her majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Heat Results

Heat 01: B.Cook, King, Flint, Morley 5-1 

Heat 02: Z.Cook, Complin, Coles, Ablitt 3-3 (8-4)

Heat 03: Worrall, Summers, Kemp, Morley 4-2 (12-6)

Heat 04: Lawson, Andersen, Complin, Ablitt 3-3 (15-9)

Heat 05: Worrall, Summers, Flint, Kemp 3-3 (18-12)

Heat 06: King, Andersen, B.Cook, Coles 4-2 (22-14)

Heat 07: Lawson, Morley, Summers, Z.Cook 3-3 (25-17)

Heat 08: B.Cook, Flint, Z.Cook, Complin 4-2 (29-19)

Heat 09: Worrall, Andersen, Kemp, Complin 4-2 (33-21)

Heat 10: King, B.Cook, Morley, Summers 5-1 (38-22)

Heat 11: Lawson, Andersen, Z.Cook, Flint (R) 4-2 (42-24)

Heat 12: Worrall, Ablitt, Morley, Complin 5-1 (47-25)

Heat 13: Lawson, King, Andersen, Flint (R) 5-1 (52-26)

Heat 14: Summers, Z.Cook. Kemp, Coles 3-3 (55-29)

Heat 15: Worrall, Lawson, Andersen, Summers 5-1 (60-30)

Courtesy of Speedway Updates

Image Credit Jon Sproad

The Westcolour Gladiators are due to travel to Poole this evening for the rearranged Championship Play Off Quarter final.

Following a very late cancellation of the fixture last week, with many supporters having already travelled, the Gladiators fans will be hoping that lightning literally doesn’t strike twice and that the improving weather forecast for the area following early rain is accurate.

The Westcolour Gladiators will line up as follows:

1 Leon Flint (Guest for Edward Kennett)

2 Ben Morley

3 R/R (for Ben Barker)

4 Aaron Summers (Guest for Michael Palm Toft)

5 Hans Andersen

6 Lee Complin

7 Connor Coles

Having soundly beaten the Pirates by 53 points to 37 in the Home League fixture in May and produced a 45-45 point draw in a highly controversial return fixture at Poole in June, which saw Michael Palm Toft badly injured in a crash caused by what the referee deemed to be dangerous riding by excluding a Poole rider, and which effectively ended his season despite a couple of valiant comeback attempts, the Westcolour Gladiators will ride with the belief that a semi-final place is definitely up for grabs.

The return fixture, again washed out last night after another 36 hours of often heavy rain, has been rescheduled for Tuesday 20th September at The Coliseum.

Online tickets are available here and a reminder that all ONLINE TICKETS purchased for the original staging dates on Tuesday 6th and Tuesday 13th September that were postponed ARE VALID for the Match on the 20th September.

Season Ticket holders should note too that their Season Tickets are now VALID for the Home Leg on 20th September.

Image Credit: jon Sproad

MEETING OFF. The clash between the Gladiators and The Pirates has been postponed due to adverse Weather Forecast.

The RE-STAGING date is Tuesday 20th September at 7.00pm.

UPDATE:

MEETING OFF. The clash between the Gladiators and The Pirates has been postponed due to adverse Weather Forecast.

The RE-STAGING date is Tuesday 20th September at 7.00pm.

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators are hopeful of staging their rearranged Play Off Quarter Final against the Poole Pirates at The Coliseum this evening – Tapes Up 7.00pm

The original fixture was called off early last week, following 3 days of heavy rain in Devon which flooded the track and caused disruption around the Ocean City. 

The reverse fixture at Poole on the following night was also called off, albeit at very short notice following a thunderstorm in the vicinity of the Poole track.

Both sides will be eager to complete the two legged tie over the next two days and the Plymouth Promoters have taken every possible measure to get the fixture on by installing covers on parts of the track most susceptible to flooding by rain. 

There can also be an issue with high tides at this time of year from the adjacent tidal River Plym, but the Club are confident that they have done all they can and the track was “bone dry and in excellent condition” according to reports from Promoter Mark Phillips on Monday afternoon.

The Westcolour Gladiators will bring in guest riders to replace the injured Edward Kennett and Michael Palm Toft and with Ben Barker suspended until the end of march 2023, they will operate the Rider Replacement facility to cover his rides, meaning any rider in the side can take a ride each to cover for his absence. 

Multi British Champion and ex-Speedway GP star Scott Nicholls guests in place of Kennett and the in-form Australian Justin Sedgman comes in to replace Palm Toft. Hans Andersen returns from injury, with the postponements last week having the silver lining of giving him an extra week to recover from his shoulder injuries.

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators line up-:

Scott Nicholls (Guest)

Ben Morley

R/R (for Ben Barker)

Justin Sedgman (Guest)

Hans Andersen

Lee Complin

Connor Coles

——-

The Club would like to confirm that contrary to initial suggestions, that SEASON TICKETS are VALID for this fixture to replace the League Fixture that was lost when Newcastle pulled out of the Sport in early summer. SEASON TICKETS should be shown at the turnstiles as usual. The Club will contact ALL Season Ticket Holders to confirm this today.

There will be the time-honoured Moment of Reflection for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II prior to the Match following her sad death last week, which we are sure that all Supporters will welcome and respect. 

———

Tickets are available ONLINE now via our Online Ticketing Portal here:

Those holding pre-booked ONLINE Match Tickets from last week’s cancelled Fixture or the earlier cancelled Fixture v Glasgow, can use them for this Fixture. Please bring proof of Purchase (paper or electronic copy along with you. Those who paid on the Night v Glasgow who hold Re-Admission Tickets can also use them to enter this Fixture but you must ensure that you have the Ticket Stub with you. 

Tickets are also available via Cash + Card on the night, but the best way to secure a Seat in the NHS STAND (Home Straight) is to book early ONLINE. The First Bend VIP Stand is already SOLD OUT.

We should also point out that DISABLED Carer Free Tickets are no longer unfortunately available ONLINE. A small but not insignificant number have been abusing this FREE Entry privilege in sufficient numbers to be detrimental financially to the Club. The FREE CARER Offer is still available but via Cash Payment on the Turnstiles for ONE Free Carer where the Disabled person will require Proof of Disability in the form of authorised documentation from either a qualified NHS Doctor / Consultant or the relevant DWP paperwork. We are sorry if genuinely Disabled persons are impacted by this but unfortunately a number who do not have the Clubs interests at heart have resulted in this regrettable procedural change. It is also not fair on the vast majority who invested their hard earned cash in the Club via Season and Match Tickets honestly each week. 

——–

PLEASE NOTE – Access by Card payment at the Stadium is by accessing the Clubs Online Ticket portal on a suitable mobile / android device. There are no specific Card readers. If you do not have a suitable device to allow your secure Card payment to be collected on the Gate, or before you enter from the comfort of your Car in the Park + Ride Car Park (using this link ) there is a secure CASHPOINT at McDonalds Restaurant which you pass when turning in to Coypool Road

A POLITE REQUEST has been made by The Club Management and Turnstile / Entry Staff. It would be appreciated if you could please have EXACT CHANGE for Admission and Programme available if at all possible to avoid delays, especially at peak time between 6.15 and 7.00pm. It would also be very much appreciated, that if you are Entering by Car with multiple occupants, if one person in the vehicle; could collect the Money for Admission and any Programmes and the Car Park Fee to hand over to Gate Staff, as to process one overall transfer of Money will be a lot speedier than 2,3,4 or even 5 separate transactions. Your cooperation in this matter to help speed access for all and to avoid queues and to improve the Customer experience for all. THANK YOU

As always you can be the vital 8th man and the lads would very much welcome your vociferous and enthusiastic support once again, so please bring along a friend and help us to show everyone what a wonderful night of entertainment we get every Tuesday at 7 pm at The Coliseum.  The past few weeks have been tremendously difficult for us all with injuries, some controversial decisions going against us and some utterly mindless vandalism that will cost many thousands of pounds to replace let alone the stress it causes Mark and all of the wonderful support Team.

PLEASE rally around the Club and The Team, bring a friend and spread the word .Your support is always worth extra points and together we can beat all the odds and celebrate success together at the end of the season. These are tough times and in tough times the tough get going and there’s no one tougher than your Promoter, Team Manager and Team…. lets all join in and beat the odds together. #GladiatorsREADY

Gates Open 5.30pm

Pre-Match Rider Parade 6.50pm

Tapes Up 7.00pm

There are numerous Food and Drink (Alcoholic and Non Alcoholic) outlets around the Stadium serving locally produced products.

Numerous Toilets / Disabled Toilets and Washing Facilities 

Our new for 2022 Track Shop is doing a roaring trade with NEW lines every week and well worth a visit.

Car Parking onsite £2.00

36 page Colour Programme £3.00

Main image Credit: Daniel Westlake

The BSPL have confirmed a resumption of Speedway racing in the UK after the interlude over the weekend, as a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8th September. 

The Plymouth Westcolour Gladiators will face the Poole Pirates over 2 legs of the Play-Off Quarter finals, with the Home fixture tomorrow night (Tuesday 13th September at 7.00pm) at The Coliseum now the first leg as originally scheduled. 

The return will be at Poole on the following evening, Wednesday 14th September 7.30pm.

We will have a full preview tomorrow morning.

We can confirm the Plymouth Westcolour Teams for both legs:

Home (Tuesday)

Scott Nicholls (Guest for Edward Kennett)

Ben Morley

R/R (Ben Barker)

Justin Sedgeman (Guest for Michael Palm-Toft)

Hans Andersen

Lee Complin

Connor Coles

Away (Wednesday)

Leon Flint (Guest Edward Kennett)

Ben Morley

R/R (Ben Barker)

Aaron Summers (Guest Michael Palm – Toft)

Hans Andersen

Lee Complin

Connor Coles

Online tickets for the fixture at The Coliseum are available here.  Entry is available on the Night via Cash + Card payment (Card Payment is via the Trybooking App on any suitable Android device)

Image Credit: Jon Sproad

18:40 Update. A torrential rain storm at just after 6pm this evening has forced the quarter final play-off meeting against Plymouth to be postponed. The re-staging date is Wednesday 14th September.

Update: With the meeting at Birmingham this evening now cancelled, James Wright comes into the Gladiators team, with Ben Trigger moving to number 8.

The injury ravaged Westcolour Gladiators take on a full strength Poole Pirates team tonight in the Championship Play-off Quarter Final first leg at Wimborne Road.

The Gladiators line up with Ben Trigger, Anders Rowe and Dillon Ruml as guests for Ben Barker, Michael Palm Toft and Hans Andersen, with rider replacement in operation for Edward Kennett.

Poole: Danny King, Ben Cook, Steve Worrall, Drew Kemp, Richard Lawson, Zach Cook, Nathan Ablitt.

Plymouth: Edward Kennett r/r, Ben Morley (C), James Wright, Anders Rowe, Dillon Ruml, Lee Complin, Connor Coles. Ben Trigger (no 8)

Image credit: Jon Sproad

Due to the Plymouth track being submerged in water today, the current thunderstorms in the area and the expected 100% chance of heavy rain throughout Tuesday evening, the Gladiators promotion have no choice but to postpone the Championship Play-off Quarter Final against the Poole Pirates, scheduled for tomorrow the 6th of September.  

The rescheduled date is now the following Tuesday, the 13th of September.

Although disappointing for the fans, we do aim to provide a safe surface to race on. The  promotion would like to point out that although the team are struggling with injuries, no rider has been seriously injured at the Coliseum this year with the exception of Edward Kennett aggravating an old injury.