POOLE are out of the Premiership KO Cup…before a wheel has even turned on the 2025 season.
The reigning Championship treble winners were a surprise inclusion in the top flight competition for next season.
But the Pirates have now declined the opportunity citing “financial challenges”.
A club statement revealed: “While the invitation was both unexpected and exciting, several logistical and financial challenges have made it unviable at this time.
“A key consideration was the significant cost of bringing top riders to the UK for a standalone competition. “Additionally, competing in the Premiership KO Cup would require us to start our fixtures much earlier than planned, which isn’t ideal for our overall schedule.
“We have also reached out to potential new sponsors, and while there has been some interest in supporting the Pirates for a potential Premiership return, the uptake has not been sufficient to make participation in this competition feasible for 2025.”
Meanwhile the Pirates season will begin how it concluded in 2024, with huge clashes with Oxford.
They will take on the Cheetahs in the BSN Series on April 16 before the return at Wimborne Road on April 18.
Promoter Dan Ford said: “I can't think of a better way to spend Good Friday than hosting Oxford. They’ll be eager to make a statement after our thrilling battles last year, and we’re hoping for a bumper holiday crowd to kick off the season in true derby style.”
In addition to these domestic fixtures, the Pirates are preparing for two major northern tours—one in mid-May to Edinburgh and Berwick, and another in June with visits to Glasgow and Workington. Poole’s defence of the MAXiCab Championship Knockout Cup begins with a first-leg trip to Plymouth on May 24th, followed by the second leg at home on May 28th.
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.