DAVEY Watt has labelled the qualifying rules for the Elite League Riders' Championship as "stupid" after only being called up late to represent Pirates because of injury.

Poole Castle Cover captain Bjarne Pedersen was originally due to line up for the club alongside Chris Holder at Birmingham last night.

But Pedersen sustained a nasty knock in a crash in Sweden on Tuesday and was forced to pull out of the event, although Pirates say he hopes to be fit for their trip to Eastbourne on Saturday.

So Watt, who is third in Poole's averages, got the nod, and made the journey to Birmingham, only to see last night's event washed out 35 minutes before scheduled tapes-up at Perry Barr Stadium.

The Aussie, talking to the Echo shortly after the postponement while the rain tipped down in the second city, said: "It's a shame the meeting is off because last year I got fourth at King's Lynn which was a great achievement for me."

Watt, who had pushed champion Nicki Pedersen, runner-up Chris Harris and Leigh Adams hard for a podium place, added: "With the averages being pretty close between me (8.04), Chris Holder (8.31) and Bjarne (8.84), it was those two that went through to this year's final.

"It is a bit frustrating when I'm currently 12th in the league averages and I'm not allowed in the meeting because there are already two Poole riders in it.

"I think that is a bit stupid, but that's the way they (the organisers) do it.

"Unfortunately, Bjarne had a fall on Tuesday and I took his place which was fortunate for me. I was really looking forward to it, but it wasn't to be. The bad weather got the better of us."

There are nine Elite League teams and, under the usual rules, six of them would have been able to have a maximum of two club representatives on show last night.

But Watt, who had represented Eastbourne in last year's final, said: "I think they should put the top 16 riders with the highest averages in the meeting.

"That would be the best 16 riders in the league regardless of what team they are riding for.

"I just think it's silly I'm penalised because I'm riding in a great team.

"It's unfair because my average is a bit higher than some of the other guys in the meeting.

"Just because I have two team-mates in the meeting already, I think it's wrong I'm the one who misses out because I'm in a good team."

Referee Ronnie Allan called off last night's event at 6.55pm after heavy rain had saturated the track and made racing impossible, sadly with a big crowd already inside the stadium.

No re-staging date has been set and Watt will only qualify if his average is above Pedersen's or Holder's at the cut off deadline.

Spectators who had already paid should retain their admission ticket and present it to gain admittance to the re-run.

It was the 10th meeting rained-off at the Birmingham stadium this season.