BRITISH duo Edward Kennett and Chris Harris both admitted they would be ready to don Poole kevlars in 2017 after the best of British dominated a multi-national Blue Riband tonight.

Pirates brought down the curtain on their 2016 season with an epic individual, won by Kennett when he beat fellow former Poole favourite Scott Nicholls in a run-off after they tied on 13 points.

Harris saw off Pirates’ 2015 title hero Kacper Gomolski in a run-off for third after they finished level on 11.

On a night when club owner Matt Ford cast his net far and wide for his stars of 2017, he may have found them closer to home than he imagined.

Lakeside and Rye House racer Kennett is a popular Pirates guest and enjoyed stints with the club in 2005 and 2007. He admits racing in the skull and crossbones kevlars lifts his scoring to another level.

He said: “I do love my time here. Every time I put on the Poole jacket as a guest, it’s great. I give 110 percent for every club I ride for, but there is something special about this club that always gives me a little push. I think that’s what I need.”

Kennett was only drafted into the Blue Riband as a late replacement for injured Danish racer Hans Andersen.

“Matt did ask me the first time, but I had to see a specialist about a knee injury,” Kennett explained. “I was told there was a wait to get the treatment done so I just carried on riding.

“Matt text me and asked me again and I said I could do the meeting if anyone dropped out, which someone did.

“It was a brilliant result to finish my speedway season and I can’t thank everyone who has helped me this year enough.

“Fair play to Scott in that run-off. He was hard and fair. We’re both going away in one piece and it was a good meeting.”

Harris was only denied a shot at victory by a ceased engine in his fourth outing.

He’s on the lookout for a new team after putting in a transfer request at Coventry, where his three Elite League title wins and never-say-die style have made him a club legend.

Despite the huge and often bitter rivalry between Bees and Pirates, he insists he’d be ready to cross enemy lines and make the move to Dorset.

He said: “I know there’s a rivalry and I would probably be shot if I did come and ride here.

“But I have to look at what is best for me.

“I haven’t spoken to Matt or any other Elite League club at the minute. I think everyone is probably waiting until the AGM in November. We’ll see.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to come down here and do some laps around here. I enjoy Poole. I put a good show on and wanted to show I’m still keen to go out there and win races.”