PIRATES will kick off their summer of speedway with Bjarne Pedersen’s farewell meeting in 2022– as the Dorset club confirmed their full fixture list.

Dane Pedersen is a three-time Elite League winner with Poole and is the second-highest points scorer in club history.

He was also part of Peterborough’s SGB Premiership winning team last season, with their wealth of experience seeing them known as ‘Dad’s Army’ on the way to title glory.

As a team, Pirates begin their campaign on Tuesday, April 5, with an away meeting at Plymouth, as they begin the defence of their Championship Knockout Cup.

They will then host the Gladiators in the second leg a night later, in the first team home meeting of 2022.

Pirates, who also won the SGB Championship last season, are set to begin the defence of their league crown at the Birmingham Brummies on Wednesday, April 13.

Poole’s first home league meeting of the season will be against reborn Oxford. Jason Crump’s Cheetahs will visit Wimborne Road on Friday, April 15.

There is also set to be the Championship Summer Series competition, with Pirates’ group opener at Plymouth on July 19.

The Dorset club are also featured in a group with Birmingham and Oxford, with the winners progressing to a three-team final.

Pirates have also been selected to host the Championship League Riders Competition on Saturday, July 2.

Speaking about the structure of the campaign for 2022, promoter Danny Ford told the Daily Echo: “This year I think everyone is in for a real treat in the Championship.

"We have the league, in which we are defending champions, as well as the cup.

“They are the big two tournaments where we will be looking to hold on to those trophies.

“But we also have a new summer tournament which is a really exciting format.”

FIXTURES IN FULL

MARCH

Weds March 30 - Bjarne Pedersen Farewell Meeting (IND)

APRIL

Tues April 5 - Plymouth v Poole (CUP)

Weds April 6 - Poole v Plymouth (CUP)

Weds April 13 - Birmingham v Poole

Fri April 15 - Poole v Oxford

Sat April 16 - Leicester v Poole

Weds April 20 - Oxford v Poole

Weds April 27 - Poole v Birmingham

MAY

Tues May 3 - Plymouth v Poole

Weds May 11 - Poole v Newcastle

Fri May 13 - Redcar v Poole

Weds May 18 - Poole v Berwick

Fri May 20 - Glasgow v Poole

JUNE

Weds June 1 - Poole v Edinburgh

Weds June 8 - Poole v Leicester

Fri June 17 - Scunthorpe v Poole

Weds June 22 - Poole v Plymouth

Sun June 26 - Newcastle v Poole

JULY

Sat July 2 - Championship League Riders (IND)

Fri July 8 - Edinburgh v Poole

Sat July 9 - Berwick v Poole

Weds July 13 - Poole v Glasgow

Tues July 19 - Plymouth v Poole (SUM)

Weds July 20 - Poole v Scunthorpe

Weds July 21 - Birmingham v Poole (SUM)

Fri July 29 - Poole v Birmingham (SUM)

AUGUST

Tues August 2 - Oxford v Poole (SUM)

Weds August 3 - Poole v Oxford (SUM)

Wed August 10 - Poole v Plymouth (SUM)

Weds August 17 - Poole v Redcar