BJARNE Pedersen today admitted it would be an "amazing feat" if Pirates could become the first club to complete back-to-back top-flight league and cup doubles in 44 years.

Poole RIAS go into their mouth-watering BSPA Knockout Cup final, second leg, home clash against Ipswich tomorrow (October 31, 2pm) aiming to emulate Wimbledon, who won the old National League Division One and National Trophy in 1959 and 1960.

That is the last time a club completed a double 'double' in successive seasons.

But Pirates, who won the league and cup last season and have already triumphed in the league this year, face a tough task to equal the legendary Dons' achievement.

First they need to claw back Ipswich's 48-42 lead from the first leg at Foxhall before going on to secure victory on aggregate.

Pedersen, who has just been named the Daily Echo's Pirates rider-of-the-year, said: "It would be an amazing feat if we could match what Wimbledon done all those years ago.

"Forty four years is a long time in speedway.

"There have been a lot of changes to the rules, to how you can build a team each year, so it is probably more difficult to win the league and cup two years in a row now than then.

"Full credit to the Poole speedway promotion of Matt Ford, Mike Golding and Neil Middleditch for putting us in this position.

"They have done so well to get us to this stage. Now we the riders have to try and finish the job off.

"If we can win the cup tomorrow everyone at the club will be thrilled.

"To equal the achievement of Wimbledon from 44 years ago would be a really great feat for the whole club.

"I'm just happy to be part of a club like Poole who are at the top of the sport at the moment."

Pedersen followed in the tyre treads of Mark Loram, Krzysztof Cegielski, Tony Rickardsson and 2003 winner Leigh Adams by becoming the Echo's fifth annual Pirates rider-of-the-year.

Scores of Echo readers voted for Pedersen, who gained 47 per cent of the vote.

Antonio Lindback was runner-up with 40 per cent in a two-horse race.

Magnus Zetterstrom, Matej Ferjan, Ryan Sullivan and Daniel Davidsson also polled votes.

Pedersen received our award from Echo readers Stan and Val Vatcher, of Deneve Avenue, during Poole's dinner, dance and presentation evening at the Bournemouth International Centre last night.

The Dane said: "It is always nice to win an award that is voted for by the fans because it is really important for me to have the home crowd behind me when I am riding.

"It is also really great to follow in the footsteps of riders like Mark Loram, one of the best British riders of all time, and Tony Rickardsson, who is a speedway legend.

"It's fantastic to have won an award they have walked off with in the past, along with the likes of Leigh Adams and Krzysztof Cegielski.

"I feel I have made great strides with Poole this year and I'm very pleased to have won this award. I'd also like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for me.

"From my first meeting of the season until now everything has gone really well for me. I just hope I can keep it going against Ipswich and that we can win the cup."