CHRIS Holder admits he’s sick of people reminding him Pirates missed out on Elite League title glory last year.

So the Aussie ace has vowed to do everything he can to wipe away the painful memory of play-off final defeat and make sure the crown ends up at Wimborne Road come October.

Poole Castle Cover finished runaway top-flight leaders in 2010.

But they saw the crown slip away when fourth-placed Coventry, who’d squeezed into the play-offs a mighty 26 points adrift of the Dorset club, outgunned them 101-79 in the two-legged final.

Asked whether the pain of defeat had withered away more than five months after Bees’ riders had lifted the trophy in front of Poole’s silenced fans, Holder said: “No, it’s still as strong as ever.

“To be honest, we’re sick of hearing about the fact we lost the final.

“Everyone keeps talking about it to me, Darcy (Ward) and Davey (Watt). It’s mentioned all the time.

“We were so strong all last year and dipped towards the end when Coventry came on strong.

“It was a big disappointment, but we’re looking to go one better this year.

“We want to do what we did last year, but make sure we finish the job this time.”

Holder, Ward and Watt survive from Poole’s 2010 team who viewed Knockout Cup success as little compensation for missing out on the league.

They were joined in official press and practice at Wimborne Road by new team-mates Dennis Andersson, Rafal Dobrucki, Renat Gafurov and Christian Hefenbrock.

Kyle Newman, who shares the doubling-up berth with Germany’s Hefenbrock, was taking part in a press and practice session for his Premier League outfit Newcastle.

Bookmakers Bet365 have installed Poole as 11-8 title favourites, followed by Wolves (7-2), Eastbourne (15-2), Lakeside (9-1) and Swindon (12-1).

Holder said: “We have three riders who know what’s going on and four new riders who are all professionals and will adapt quickly to British tracks.

“The favourites tag just means people think we have a good team.

“But when you go out on track, you don’t think about people labelling you favourites. You just concentrate on your own racing, and that’s what we’ll do.

“I think our team looks good, but you can’t say too much until we start racing. We just have to put it together on the track.

“You can have the best top five in the world and have average reserves and lose out.

“(Poole promoter) Matt Ford said our mid-team strength of Renat, Rafal and Dennis will be crucial if we are to win trophies, and I agree.

“We have a solid look throughout but we’ve all got to do our jobs if we are to win trophies.”