Ok , now , chub used to sell a set of 3 bivvy brace bars which do exactly the same job only they are a lot more solid .
Trouble is THEY are now discontinued as well BUT i recently picked up a set on fleabay for a bit over the odds so they are still about .
I heard that trakker do something similar but i'm not sure and taking a look at the jrc contact bivvy , that middle pole looks similar to the chub bars so maybe jrc do them now for their own bivvies ?
Either way the geezer who flogged you that defender has had you over because the bivvy is useless without that middle pole and he would have known that too .
On a more cheerful note , your better off getting the metal brace bars anyway cos the pole supplied with your bivvy is more trouble than its worth mate , a real pain to thread through !
I was told about the chub bars by ian (welder) who posts on here .
Eventually he will be along to give you his tuppence worth but he's at the social at the mo so probably as drunk as a sack