TONY Rickardsson joined an elite band of riders on the Blue Riband role of honour when he came from behind to win the final at Wimborne Road last night.

The likes of Barry Briggs, Ole Olsen, Anders Michanek, Bruce Penhall and Erik Gundersen have all carried off the laurels in Poole's prestigious individual meeting since it was first staged in 1970.

And Rickardsson, a three-time World champion going for his fourth title this year, added his name to that distinguished list in commanding style.

Beaten only by Ipswich's Scott Nicholls in his first qualifying ride, the Swede reeled off four heat wins to reach the final.

Then, after topping the qualifying chart before a Grand Prix-style one-off final, Rickardsson scorched past his Gas Appliance Superstore Pirates team-mate Gary Havelock on the third bend of the first lap to go on and triumph in style.

Havelock had caught Rickardsson out on the first bend by switching inside to dive under the Swede on the second bend and forcing himself into the lead down the back straight.

But Rickardsson, who had been first out of the gate, stormed under Havelock on the third bend and roared on to success while Poole's captain pegged another Pirate, Grzegorz Walasek, back into third in a terrific battle for runners-up spot.

Nicholls, the only rider to defeat Rickardsson, he beat him in heat two of the qualifiers, trailed in last in the final after being squeezed out on the first bend.

Rickardsson told the crowd: "I am really pleased because it is the first time I have won this meeting.

"The competition was really hard, especially with the track conditions. It was a bit difficult at the beginning but the track came good later on and there was some good racing."

Havelock said: "I really wanted to win this meeting and I got in front on the first bend in the final.

"The trouble was I just didn't have any speed down the back straight and Tony was able to get past me on the third corner.

"My only consolation is I have just been beaten by the best rider in the world."

Chris Slabon (stuck in Germany with van trouble), Matej Ferjan (who had to ride at King's Lynn in a pairs meeting for Slovenia) and Chris Louis (injured) all pulled out late.

David Norris, Andy Smith and Brent Werner took their places, respectively, on a night when 3,000 made their way to the Wimborne Road venue on a night when the racing was slightly less exciting than is usual in a league meeting.

Pirates visit Ipswich in the Sky Sports Elite League tonight (7.30pm).

Poole are at full strength but Ipswich have a major doubt over Louis.

Ipswich: 1 C Louis (or guest), 2 J Hampel, 3 C Boyce, 4 J Doncaster, 5 S Nicholls, 6 J Bunyan, 7 S Clouting.

Pirates: 1 G Havelock, 2 L Gunnestad, 3 K Cegielski, 4 M Zetterstrom, 5 T Rickardsson, 6 G Walasek, 7 C Watson.