VETERAN Brit Paul Fry might still be the toast of Wimborne Road more than a week after his remarkable heat 14 heroics for Pirates in their 45-45 home draw against Lakeside.

But the 44-year-old, who enjoyed a “Fry-Up in Dorset” according to Sky commentator Nigel Pearson on his way to seven points, is not the oldest rider to line up for Poole.

That accolade goes to Poole-born Jimmy Squibb, who starred for his hometown club as they rose from the old National League Division Two to the top-flight from 1952 to 1956.

Squibb also wore the skull and crossbones race jacket in 1959, before making a surprise |return for one match only 14 years later in 1973 at the grand old age of 51!

By then riding in the lower league with Eastbourne, Squibb doubled up with Poole and despite being only 14 years away from receiving his pension scored one from three rides in a 42-36 British League defeat at Oxford.

Two other riders have been older than Fry when riding for Pirates – Tony Lewis and Colin Gooddy were both 45 when they represented Poole in 1968 and 1978, respectively.

Fry, who impressed again when he notched four in Pirates’ 54-38 defeat at Wolves on Monday, scored two paid three at home to Belle Vue in the Elite League Knockout Cup quarter-final last night.

Fry – the second oldest rider in British speedway behind Weymouth’s Mark Burrows, who was 45 on June 6 – got out in front but was passed twice by Davidsson before triumphing in heat 14 against Lakeside last week.

Pirates team manager Neil Middleditch said: “Paul’s heat 14 ride was awesome.

“I said to him before the race ‘it’s time to be a hero’. He’s 44 and that was his seventh ride, but a ride like that is what everyone dreams about.

“It was a brilliant ride, a gutsy ride, certainly the best race I have seen at Poole this season.

“For a 44-year-old to produce something special like that was truly amazing and I was really pleased for Paul.”