POOLE boss Neil Middleditch admitted that it was an “unbelievable achievement” to wrap up a Cab Direct Championship treble.
The Wessex Marine Pirates completed a comfortable KO Cup final win over Oxford with another 57-33 victory at Wimborne Road on Wednesday night.
It meant the Pirates added a third major trophy this season to go alongside their league and BSN Series successes, emulating their top-flight team of 2003 who completed a clean sweep in the Elite League, KO Cup and British League Cup.
Middleditch said: “Oxford have been unlucky in both finals but it’s an unbelievable achievement to win the treble. This team has really peaked at the very right time.
“It’s amazing. The team have been great and we’ve been very fortunate, we’ve had practically the same one to seven all season, so that’s been good.
“Peter (Schroeck) was up against it with having to get guests in at this time of year which is really tough, but they shouldn’t be too down about it because they’ve had a great season.
“He’s a good mate, but my job is to win and that’s what I like to do!”
Schroeck was in a reflective mood after his depleted side lost out in a second successive final.
An injury crisis along with impending fatherhood for Cameron Heeps left the Cheetahs down to just two of their regular riders for the second leg at Wimborne Road, with the tie having effectively been settled in a heavy home defeat last week.
But they did manage four race wins in Dorset and can reflect on a strong campaign in which they made two major Finals and also finished second in the regular league standings.
Schroeck said: “As everybody knows we were on the back foot before we got here to give them a challenge – but the boys we got in gave it their all.
“It’s always tough and Poole are riding on a high, it’s their third trophy now this year so fair play to Middlo (Neil Middleditch) and his boys.
“We’re just going to regroup, start again next year and give these boys another push, and see if we can push them over the edge next time!”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.