Around the Premier League Tracks 2009

[Merlin]

Sunday, 15 March



Premier Trophy: Rye House v. Birmingham
Prince of Wales Trophy: Newport
Ozchem Classic: Sheffield Legends v. Rest of the World



Premier Trophy: Rye House 57 (3 points), Birmingham 39 (0 points).


Team changes: Both sides were at full strength.

Rye House quickly tore into their visitors by producing the first four heat winners opening a ten point gap in the process. The Brummies replied by producing the first TR of the season when Jason Lyons came from behind to pass both Linus Sundstrom and Robert Mear for the full six points. This resulted in a 3-6 cutting the gap to seven points but three more 5-1s in the next four heats found Birmingham 17 points behind with only a Tomasz Piszcz win in heat 7 to console them. The score at this stage read 37-20 so the visitors called on Piszcz to take their second TR in heat 10.

Again this produced the full six points as Piszcz ended Chris Neath’s winning run. With no support from Robert Ksiezak another 3-6 went the Brummies’ way reducing the gap to 14 points. Jason Lyons kept it that way by winning heat 11 but the visitors were effectively a two man team. Indeed Rye House won the last four heats by 14-10 dropping points to only Lyons and Piszcz who scored nine of the 10 for the Brummies.


Scorers: Rye House – Robert Mear 11+1 (5), Chris Neath 10+1 (5), Luke Bowen 10 (4), Linus Sundstrom 7+1 (4), Joe Haines 7+2 (4), Tommy Allen 7+1 (4), Andrew Silver 5+2 (4).

Birmingham – Tomasz Piszcz 17 (5) (with 6 point TR), Jason Lyons 14 (5) (with 6 point TR), Marek Mroz 4 (5), Robert Ksiezak 2 (4), Ludvig Lindgren 1 (4), Ben Taylor 1 (4), Richard Sweetman 0 (4).


Prince of Wales Trophy at Newport.


Winner - Kevin Doolan… Second -David Howe… Third - Ben Barker [/size]

The format for this individual meeting was scheduled to be a full 16 rider, 20 heat event with a grand final for the top four scorers. However due to a number of delays resulting in riders having to be taken to hospital the meeting was curtailed to 16 heats and a final after each rider had had four scheduled rides.

The final was contested by Kevin Doolan, David Howe, Ben Barker and Mark Lemon with Doolan coming out on top. Casualties during the 16 qualifying heats were Craig Watson, Jason Doyle and Ty Proctor. Craig Watson and Jason Doyle were taken to hospital, Doyle having suffered a shoulder injury while Proctor hurt his leg. It was later announced that Craig Watson had suffered a broken leg in his crash.


The meeting was raced on a fine sunny afternoon in front of a large crowd but the track was very slick with a blue groove developing early in the proceedings.

Scorers: Kevin Doolan 10, David Howe 10, Mark Lemon 9, Ben Barker 9, Craig Watson 9, Chris Kerr 7, James Holder 6, Nicolai Klindt 6, Jason Doyle 5, Ty Proctor 5 (3), Brent Werner 4, Nick Simmons 3, Mads Korneliussen (2) 3, Emil Kramer 3, Jordan Frampton 2, Karl Mason (Res) 2 (3), Jay Pickard 2 (2), Kyle Newman 0.


Ozchem Classic at Sheffield.


Premier Trophy: Sheffield Legends 35, Rest of the World 43.


Teams: The Sheffield Legends side lined up with Steve Johnson and Ricky Ashworth at 1 and 2; Carl Stonehewer and Andre Compton at 3 and 4; Rory Schlein at 5 with Tai Woffinden and Josh Auty at reserve.

The Rest of the World side had Greg Hancock and Travis McGowan at 1 and 2; Seb Ulamek and Karol Zabik at 3 and 4; Jason Crump at number 5 with William Lawson and Ricky Wells at reserve.

In front of a packed stadium this meeting was raced over a 13 heat formula which meant that, with heat 14 missing, both number 4s and two of the four reserves had only three scheduled rides.

There were some excellent races particularly heats 3 and 13 in the former of which Jason Crump had a titanic struggle with Andre Compton before Crump prevailed while Compton suffered a puncture and Rory Schlein passed Karol Zabic; then in the latter Rory Schlein and Greg Hancock passed and repassed each other until Schlein eventually won through.

The Rest of the World side had too much top end strength for the Sheffield Legends with Crump and Hancock dropping only one point between them. 4-2s were swopped in the first five heats with the Rest of the World taking them 3 to 2 for a two point lead at 14-16. A spate of five drawn races were followed by 1-5s in heats 11 and 12 to the ‘away’ side although Schlein brought the house down with a thrilling battle with Hancock for a Sheffield 4-2 in the final race.


Scorers: Sheffield Legends – Rory Schlein 10 (4), Tai Woffinden 10 (5), Steve Johnson 5 (4), Josh Auty 4 (3), Ricky Ashworth 3+3 (4), Carl Stonehewer 3+1 (4), Andre Compton 0 (3).

Rest of the World – Jason Crump 12 (4) (full maximum), Greg Hancock 11, Seb Ulamek 8+2 (4), Travis McGowan 7+1 (4), William Lawson 4 (3), Karol Zabik 1 (4), Ricky Wells 0 (3).

In an old 1960s style ’Rider of the Night’ raced over three heats and a final, with the three race winners and fastest second qualifying for the final, the three race winners were Greg Hancock, Jason Crump and Tai Woffinden and Rory Schlein was the fastest second.

In the running of the final Tai Woffinden rounded the field on the first and second bends but Jason Crump passed him on the third bend. Woffinden moved in front again passing Crump on the first bend of the second lap but Crump was back in front with an outside swoop on the next bend to win from Woffinden. Greg Hancock was third.

[Merlin]

Wednesday, 18 March




Alan Hunt Memorial Trophy: at Birmingham


Winner: Sebastian Ulamek.......; Second: Shane Parker.......; Third: Jason Lyons



Birmingham got their 2009 season under way by staging the annual Memorial Trophy in memory of one of their former riders, Alan Hunt, who tragically lost his life over 50 years ago racing speedway. The event took the form of the classic 16 rider individual raced over 20 heats.

The field consisted of the seven riders signed for the Brummies this season plus nine others from the Premier and Elite Leagues including the reigning holder David Howe (Scunthorpe) and Andre Compton (Workington) who won the trophy two years ago.

The first four races were all from the gate with wins for Tomasz Piszcz, Jason Lyons, Claus Vissing, who headed home James Wright and David Howe, and Sebastian Ulamek. Jason Lyons was the only rider to win two on the trot from his opening two rides by taking heat 5 but wins for James Wright, Shane Parker and Andre Compton put them in the chasing group along with Sebastian Ulamek with Wright and Parker on 5 points and the others on four.

Last year's winner, David Howe, couldn't make fast starts and dropped another point in heat 9 losing to Lundvig Lindgren after passing Ben Taylor and Robert Ksiezak but Jason Lyons had no trouble in seeing off two of the main contenders by winning from Vissing and Parker in heat 10 to remain unbeaten on 9 points and Sebastian Ulamek won for the second time in heat 11 from Piszcz. Heat 12 produced another win for Ulamek ahead of the challenging Ben Barker to leave Compton and Ulamek on 7 and Parker on 6 as Jason Lyons' main challengers.

The fourth set of rides saw Ulamek consolidating his challenge by winning heat 13 while a win from Josef Franc ahead of David Howe in heat 14 all but ended Howe's challenge. Jason Lyons' winning run then came to an end in heat 15 when he was beaten into third place by James Wright and Tomasz Piszcz. With the field now closing in Shane Parker took full advantage by beating Andre Compton with a fast start in heat 16. This left Jason Lyons and Sebastian Ulamek leading the field on 10 points each with Andre Compton and Shane Parker on 9. James Wright was still in the hunt on 8 points but, with just one ride each left for each rider, David Howe's 7 points left him struggling to make the rostrum.

Parker and Wright met in heat 17 and it was the Glasgow man who made the gate to beat Wright and lead the field on 12 points. Heats 18 and 19 featured eight of the 'also rans' with the first going to Josef Franc and the second to Ben Barker. The programme compiler had obviously done his homework well producing a line up in the deciding heat 20 which featured the leaders Lyons and Ulamek plus Andre Compton and David Howe for good measure! Sebastian Ulamek won this crunch heat with Jason Lyons never far behind and David Howe third. This meant that Ulamek had won the meeting but a run-off for second place was needed to separate Jason Lyons and Shane Parker both of whom finished joint second on 12 points. Parker won the run-off to finish runner up.


Scorers: Sebastian Ulamek 13, Jason Lyons 12, Shane Parker 12, James Wright 10, Andre Compton 9, Claus Vissing 9, David Howe 8, Josef Franc 8, Tomasz Piszcz 8, Phil Morris 7, Ludvig Lindgren 6, Ben Barker 6, Richard Sweetman 5, Robert Ksiezak 4, Marek Mroz 2, Ben Taylor 1.

[Merlin]

Friday, March 20



Challenge Match: Scunthorpe v. Sheffield
Tom P Madsen Testimonial: at King's Lynn



Challenge Match: Scunthorpe 60 ,Sheffield 32 .


Team changes: both teams were at full strength.


This was the first leg of a home and away challenge match between these teams. For Scunthorpe it was an early season opportunity to wipe out the memory of six consecutive defeats home and away by Sheffield last season. There was never much prospect of it becoming seven in a row for the Tigers during this match!

With 12 of the 15 race winners, each of the Scorpions had at least one win or paid win. Jerran Hart scored a reserves paid maximum while Magnus Karlsson and Viktor Bergstrom dropped only a point each, both to former Scorpion, Richard Hall, by far the Tigers' top man. It was not until heat 6 that the visitors recorded their first heat advantage by which time they trailed 21-9. It took a tactical ride by Hall to produce a 3-5 in a heat won by David Howe who led all the way. The teams then exchanged 5-1s in heats 7 and 8, heat 7 going to Magnus Karlsson and Jerran Hart and heat 8 to Joel Parsons and Josh Auty.

The score then stood at 30-20 but consecutive 5-1s for the Scorpions in heats 10 and 11had Sheffield struggling badly. Heat 11 was a particularly bad result for them since they had given Joel Parsons their second tactical ride only for him to run a last behind the high scoring Karlsson-Hart pairing. Now leading by 18 points the Scorpions stretched their first leg lead to 28 points with heat advantages in each of the last four races.

Not a good start for Sheffield but Scunthorpe will be delighted to have beaten their bogey team in such emphatic fashion.


Scorers: Scunthorpe – Magnus Karlsson 14 (5), Jerran Hart 10+2 (4) (paid maximum), Carl Wilkinson 10 (5), Viktor Bergstrom 8+3 (4), David Howe 8 (4), Simon Lambert 6+1 (4), Byron Bekker 4+2 (4).

Sheffield – Richard Hall 12 (5) (incl 4 point TR), Joel Parsons 7 (5), Chris Mills 3+1 (4), Josh Auty 3+1 (4), Ricky Ashworth 3 (4), Paul Cooper 2 (4), Ritchie Hawkins 2 (4).


Tom P Madsen Testimonial: at King's Lynn.


Format: The meeting took the form of a four team tournament over 16 heats, the teams named as Team Shaun Hagen Motor Services represented by Niels Kristian Iversen, Travis McGowan, Tomas Topinka and Emiliano Sanchez; Team Industrial Links represented by Hans Andersen, Ulrich Ostergaard, Jesper Kristiansen and Chris Schramm; Team P. K. Fencing represented by Scott Nicholls, Adam Allott (replacing Davey Watt), Mark Lemon and Jan Graversen; and Team Hayley East Anglia represented by Kenneth Bjerre, Simon Stead, Kevin Doolan, and Tom P Madsen.

Although signed to ride for Stoke this year, Tom P Madsen's testimonial, celebrating ten years in British Speedway, was held at King's Lynn, the club for which he rode between 2000 and 2004. Tom P Madsen (the 'P' stands for 'Paarup') was born in 1977 in Esbjerg, Denmark and, during his career, in addition to King's Lynn and Stoke (his 2009 side), he has ridden for Berwick, Ipswich, Oxford, Belle Vue, Mildenhall and, last season, Reading.

It was a high quality field with so many Elite League and former Elite League riders in action. Hans Andersen went through the card for a four ride maximum while Ulrich Ostergaard and Kevin Doolan both recorded two race wins for 10 point scores. The full results were as follows:


Scorers: Shaun Hagen Motor Services – Tomas Topinka 7, Niels Kristian Iversen 6, Emiliano Sanchez 6 – Total 24

Industrial Links – Hans Andersen 12 (full maximum), Ulrich Ostergaard 10, Chris Schramm 5, Jesper Kristiansen 2 – Total 29

P. K. Fencing – Scott Nicholls 9, Mark Lemon 2, Jan Graversen 1, Adam Allott 0 – Total 12

Hayley East Anglia – Kevin Doolan 10, Kenneth Bjerre 9, Simon Stead 9, Tom P Madsen 3 – Total 31

[Merlin]

Saturday, 21 March



Premier Trophy: Rye House v. Newport
Tyne Tweed Trophy (first Leg): Berwick v. Newcastle
M6 Trophy (first Leg): Home v. Away



Premier Trophy: Rye House 52 (3 points), Newport 40 (0 points).


Team changes: Rye House were missing Chris Neath who had a leg infection following his crash in heat 15 last week. They used Rider Replacement at number 1.
Newport were without Craig Watson as a result of his horrific accident last Sunday when he broke his femur. They covered his absence by using Rider Replacement at number 3.

Rye House have stolen a march on the other Premier League sides in their Premier Trophy group by having raced two Premier Trophy matches already, both at home, picking up the full available six points under the new scoring system winning by more than six points in each match. Having disposed of Birmingham last week it was Newport's turn to face the Hoddesdon music.

The Rockets opened up a ten point lead in the first three heats with two 5-1s and a 4-2 but Newport rallied and were still only six points adrift after heat 10. Rye House had heat advantages in three of the last five heats though to make sure they took all the booty.

The Wasps' fight back from the opening first three heat blitz came in heat 4 with a 2-3 after Tommy Allen had fallen and been excluded from the rerun and James Holder had also been excluded for a defective silencer. Mark Lemon won heat 5 for a shared race then Robert Mear, the star of the show, won from Brent Werner for a 4-2 increasing the home side's lead to 11 points. A winning tactical ride by Werner from Tommy Allen and third place for Chris Kerr produced a 2-7 which cut the gap between the teams to six points but, after a shared heat won by Jordan Frampton, Robert Mear and Linus Sundstrom combined for a 5-1 which stretched the Rye House lead to 10 points again at 33-23.

Newport hit back with a 1-5 from Jordan Frampton and Chris Kerr in heat 10 to get within six points of their hosts and a possible league point but Andrew Silver and Tommy Allen responded with a maximum of their own to restore the ten point lead which the Rockets finally increased to 12 points over the last three heats.

Rye scored heavily all throughout the team and ran only two last places coupled to two exclusions for falling by Tommy Allen. Newport's top four should have done enough to return home with some reward but their reserves didn't manage a genuine point between them in eight rides which must be a bit of a worry for them.


Scorers: Rye House – Robert Mear 16 (6), Linus Sundstrom 9+3 (6), Luke Bowen 7+1 (4), Tommy Allen 7+1 (5), Joe Haines 7 (5), Andrew Silver 6+2 (4).

Newport – Brent Werner 13 (6) (incl 6 point TR), Mark Lemon 12 (6), Chris Kerr 8+1 (5), Jordan Frampton 6 (5), Nick Simmons 1 (4), James Holder 0 (4).


Tyne Tweed Trophy: Berwick 48, Newcastle 42 .


Team changes: Berwick had Sean Stoddart as a guest at number 6 to replace Guglielmo Franchetti who was doing something or other in Italy[/color][/b]. Newcastle, however, were at full strength.

Both teams kick-started their 2009 seasons with this annual challenge match for the Tyne Tees Trophy won last year by Newcastle by just one point over the two legs. For Berwick it was the start of life under the new promotion and for Newcastle it was the start of their 80th anniversary season.

A cold but pleasant night at Berwick saw the Bandits eke out a six point lead in front of a very big speedway-starved crowd including yours truly (watching my first match of the season). It was an entertaining match for a season opener with some very good races and never more than eight points between the sides. The pendulum swung Newcastle's way after they had gone eight down following heat 9. They pulled six points back over the next three heats thanks to former Glasgow rider, Trent Leverington, who won two of them and to former Edinburgh rider, Derek Sneddon, who ended Michal Makovsky's maximum hopes by comfortably beating Berwick's top man in heat 11.

Berwick recovered to add another four points to their lead by taking 4-2s in heats 13 and 15 to set up a finely balanced second leg. The Bandits blew hot and cold throughout the match but threatened to open a sizeable gap on a couple of occasions especially with Steve Boxall struggling badly on dodgy-looking machinery. However they had to contend with the sparkling form of Leverington and Sneddon who, with three wins each, produced all six of the Diamonds' race winners. The Bandits never managed to subdue them. William Lawson had two unbeaten rides for the home side but, surprisingly, only managed a single point thereafter. Paul Clews was exciting to watch after his usual indifferent gating while Makovsky and Josef Franc led the side well. For Newcastle Craig Branney produced two stunning last bend overtakes while Kenni Larsen improved as the meeting progressed.

Scorers: Berwick – Michal Makovsky 14 (5), Josef Franc 10+1 (5), Paul Clews 7 (4), William Lawson 6+1 (4), Danny Warwick 5 (5), Tero Aarnio 4+1 (4), Sean Stoddart 2+1 (3).

Newcastle – Trent Leverington 12+1 (5), Derek Sneddon 11 (5), Kenni Larsen 7+1 (4), Jason King 6 (4), Craig Branney 5+2 (4), Casper Wortmann 1 (4), Steve Boxall 0 (4).


M6 Trophy: Stoke 54, Birmingham 41 .


Team changes: Stoke were at full strength but Birmingham had Ben Hopwood guesting for Ben Taylor at number 6.

Stoke opened their season tonight with a home and away challenge match for the M6 Trophy. Having completed the double over the Brummies last season they were looking for a big aggregate lead with their much changed team containing four débutantes to the Potters' ranks – Jason Bunyan, Tom P Madsen, Glen Phillips and Phil Morris. Birmingham on the other hand were looking for a much more competitive performance than the one they turned in at Rye House last week. They got it from perhaps a surprising source – Marek Mroz at reserve.

The visitors got off to a poor start trailing by ten points after heat 4 and still looking for a race winner. They didn't get one in heat 5 either but they did gain a heat advantage as Jason Lyons took a tactical ride only to finish second to Jason Bunyan who won the race despite having to start from 15 metres back after touching the tapes. With Tom P Madsen suffering an engine failure, Richard Sweetman gained the third place point for a 3-5. The Potters got a real jolt though in heat 6 when the Birmingham pair of Robert Ksiezak and Marek Mroz gated for a 1-5 ahead of Glen Phillips and Lee Complin. However a 5-1 and two 4-2s saw the Potters stretch the lead to 34-22 by heat 9.

Now twelve points in arrears the Brummies were able to give Tomasz Piszcz the second tactical ride and he duly obliged with the full six points for a 3-6 cutting the gap to nine points. That was as close as Birmingham got though for, although they shared the next two races, Stoke added a 4-2 and 5-1 to increase their lead to 15 points before Lyons and Piszcz scored a last heat 2-4 to leave the Brummies with 13 points to pull back in the second leg.

Every Stoke rider managed a race win so the Potters scored well all down the line. Jason Lyons was unusually subdued for Birmingham only managing a single heat win but paid 12 from six rides by Marek Mroz and that after shedding a chain in heat 2 and scoring a zero made up for it and for the uninspiring scores from the lower order riders.

Scorers: Stoke – Phil Morris 11+2 (5), Jason Bunyan 11+1 (5), Jesper Kristiansen 9+2 (4), Klaus Jacobsen 7 (4), Glen Phillips 6+1 (4), Lee Complin 6 (4), Tom P Madsen 4 (4).

Birmingham – Jason Lyons 11 (5) (incl 4 point TR), Marek Mroz 10+2 (6), Tomasz Piszcz 10 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Robert Ksiezak 4 (4), Ludvig Lindgren 3+1 (4), Ben Hopwood 2 (3), Richard Sweetman 1+1 (3).

[Merlin]

Sunday, 22 March



Inter-league Challenge (first leg): Glasgow v. Belle Vue
Tyne Tweed Trophy (second leg): Newcastle v. Berwick
Severn Bridge Trophy (first leg): Newport v. Somerset
Challenge Match (second leg): Sheffield v. Scunthorpe




Inter-league Challenge Match: Glasgow 47, Belle Vue 48 .


Team changes: Glasgow supplemented their side for this match by including Kevin Doolan at number 1 with Shane Parker moving to number 3. Anders Andersen and Mitchell Davey shared the number 6 reserve berth. Belle Vue had Henning Bager at number 4 replacing Billy Forsberg who broke his wrist in a training crash. They also tracked Glasgow junior James McBain at number 6 since both sharing reserves, Steve Boxall and Thomas H Jonasson were unavailable.

Glasgow got off to a dreadful start conceding two 1-5s in the opening four races to trail 8-16. James Wright and Krzysztof Kasprzak began proceedings with a maximum ahead of Kevin Doolan but the next two races won by Patrick Hougaard and Shane Parker respectively were shared. Another 1-5 went the Aces' way in heat 4 after Hougaard had made a lightning start and Ulrich Ostergaard and James Grieves had passed and repassed each other with Ostergaard prevailing.

Josh Grajczonek was the unlikely winner of heat 5 although the points were shared when Kasprzak and Wright relegated Parker to the back and there was no change in heat 6 won by Ostergaard for another 3-3 nor in heat 7 when Charlie Gjedde passed James Grieves for another shared race. The Aces stretched their lead to 10 points in heat 8 when James Wright passed Peter Juul with Mitchell Davey falling for a Belle Vue 2-4. This arrived at the right time for Shane Parker to emerge for heat 9 wearing the black and white helmet cover for a tactical ride. Ulrich Ostergaard took Parker wide on the second bend to head off for the win and, although Parker passed James McBain and Grajczonek for second, a 5-3 result was not what Glasgow had in mind. Nonetheless the lead had been cut to 8 points at 24-32.

Matters then took another turn for the worse for the Tigers when they conceded a third 1-5 in heat 10. Charlie Gjedde made the gate from Kevin Doolan but Henning Bager passed Doolan in forceful style which clearly did not impress Glasgow's guest. Now 12 points in arrears, Glasgow were able to use the second tactical ride and this time James Grieves wore the black and white helmet cover in heat 11. This time they were successful as Grieves won the race from a pressing James Wright while Anders Andersen took the third place point from Kasprzak for a 7-2 which cut the Tigers' deficit to
seven points as the rain became heavy enough to suspend the action.

There then followed discussion between the referee and the two captains and team managers following which it was announced that the track, which was now looking greasy, would be graded and some more dirt would be laid on it. Eventually after a half hour delay the match restarted with the track in a terrible condition. Ross Brady and Shane Parker cashed in by heading Gjedde home for a 5-1 in heat 12 to cut the gap to just three points at 37-40. The Glasgow recovery continued with a 4-2 in heat 13. James Grieves won from Kasprzak with Doolan taking third from the previously unbeaten Ostergaard. There was now only a single point between the teams at 41-42 with two races left.

Josh Grajczonek won heat 14 but the heat was shared leaving Glasgow needing a heat advantage from the last race to win the match. The fairytale ending didn't materialise though for the Tigers as Charlie Gjedde beat James Grieves and Josh Grajczonek for the shared heat which gave the Aces a one point victory.


Scorers: Glasgow – James Grieves 14 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Shane Parker 9+1 (4) (incl 4 point TR), Josh Grajczonek 8+2 (5), Ross Brady 4+1 (3), Kevin Doolan 4+1 (4), Peter Juul 4 (4), Anders Andersen 2+1 (3), Mitchell Davey 2 (2).

Belle Vue – Charlie Gjedde 12 (5), James Wright 9+1 (5), Patrick Hougaard 9 (4), Ulrich Ostergaard 8+1 (4), Krzysztof Kasprzak 6+1 (4), Henning Bager 4+3 (4), James McBain 0 (4).


Tyne Tweed Trophy: Newcastle 50, Berwick 42. Newcastle won on aggregate by 92-90.


Team changes: Newcastle were at full strength Berwick again had Sean Stoddart as a guest at number 6 in place of Guglielmo Franchetti.

The Diamonds had six points to pull back from the first leg at Shielfield Park last night and it didn't take them long to do so. Steve Boxall and Derek Sneddon gated in the opening heat to register an easy 5-1 then, after a shared reserves race won by Craig Branney, another Diamonds 5-1, this time from Kenni Larsen and Trent Leverington who gated ahead of Josef Franc, not only wiped out the arrears for Newcastle but saw them into the lead on aggregate by two points. Michal Makovsky steadied the sinking Berwick ship by winning heat 4 for a share of the spoils and taking the score to
16-8 but things looked bleak for the Bandits' hopes of wresting the trophy back from Newcastle.

William Lawson began to make amends for his opening heat blob by winning heat 5 from Leverington and Clews for a 2-4 which levelled the scores on aggregate but Derek Sneddon passed Michal Makovsky to win heat 6 supported in third by Steve Boxall for a 4-2 which restored the Diamonds eight point lead. Berwick fought back again with a 2-4 from Josef Franc and Tero Aarnio with Jason King the meat in the sandwich so the Diamonds were only six points to the good again and level on aggregate. Finally Newcastle put some daylight between themselves and Berwick when Derek Sneddon kept his unbeaten run intact by winning heat 8. He was supported by Craig Branney who finished second and the 5-1 stretched the Diamonds' lead to 29-19, four ahead overall.

Ten points behind signalled a tactical ride for Michal Makovsky who was conveniently programmed to appear in heat 9. However it was Kenni Larsen who rocketed from the gate to win in the fastest time of the match. Makovsky took second but Trent Leverington was third ahead of a disappointing Stoddart so the race was shared 4-4.

Berwick weren't about to surrender though and were thrown a lifeline when Derek Sneddon fell in heat 10 leaving Tero Aarnio and Josef Franc to rattle home a 1-5 ahead of Steve Boxall. This cut the Diamonds' lead to six points and once again tied the scores on aggregate. Heat 11 produced a bit of a sensation when Casper Wortmann, without a point to his name, gated with Jason King to produce a 5-1 ahead of Lawson and Clews. This restored Newcastle's aggregate lead to four points but Berwick were still not prepared to roll over. In heat 12 Tero Aarnio won again from Craig Branney and, with Trent Leverington passing Sean Stoddart for third, the points were shared and the score stood at 42-32 (84-80).

Michal Makovsky won heat 13 from King and Boxall but, with no support from William Lawson, Berwick still had those four aggregate points to pull back with just two races left. Newcastle finally ended Berwick's hopes by winning heat 14 by 4-2 to stretch their lead on the night to 12 points and on aggregate to 6. Kenni Larsen won the race from Josef Franc while Wortmann added the vital third place for the home side. Kenni Larsen touched the tapes and had to go from 15 metres back in heat 15. Newcastle had cause to be grateful for their heat 14 success because in the rerun of heat 15 Michal Makovsky and Josef Franc banged home a 1-5 to give the Berwick fans some consolation. Having won on aggregate by one point last year, the Diamonds' two point aggregate victory this year shows some progress!

Scorers: Newcastle – Kenni Larsen 10 (5), Craig Branney 8+2 (5), Derek Sneddon 8+1 (4), Jason King 8+1 (4), Trent Leverington 6+2 (4), Steve Boxall 6+1 (4), Casper Wortmann 4 (4).

Berwick – Michal Makovsky 15 (incl 4 point TR), Josef Franc 10+2 (5), Tero Aarnio 7 (4), William Lawson 4 (4), Paul Clews 3 (4), Danny Warwick 2 (4), Sean Stoddart 1+1 (4).


Severn Bridge Trophy: Newport 44, Somerset 46 .


Team changes: Newport again used Rider Replacement for Craig Watson at number 3. Somerset used Rider Replacement at number 3 for Simon Walker who was ill and had Brendan Johnson at number 5 for their new signing Justin Sedgmen who has still to arrive in Britain having been delayed by Visa difficulties in Australia.

What a cracking start for the Rebels who charged into a 1-5 lead in the opening heat when Steve Johnston and Cory Gathercole headed Mark Lemon home. It stayed that way with a shared reserves race after Nick Simmons had fallen but Somerset increased their lead in heat 3 with a 2-4 won by Emil Kramer for a six point lead. Jay Herne then won heat 4 to keep the Rebels six up at 6-12.

Newport got two points back in heat heat 5 when Steve Johnston could only split Mark Lemon and Chris Kerr but it was all square again when Lemon and Jordan Frampton took a 5-1 from heat 6. Emil Kramer kept the scores tied by winning heat 7 then Somerset went back in front with a 2-4 in heat 8 won by Gathercole from Frampton making the score 23-25.

The Rebels' lead didn't last as long this time though as Chris Kerr and James Holder added another Wasps 5-1 in heat 9 which put the home side in front by two points. Emil Kramer kept his maximum hopes going by winning heat 10 but it was only good enough for a share of the points. However one race later the Rebels were back in front yet again. This time it was Cory Gathercole and Steve Johnston who did the damage by team riding to keep Brent Werner at the back. The 1-5 took the score to 32-34 but it was all square again after Chis Kerr had won heat 12 and Nick Simmons had been awarded third for a 4-2 after Jay Herne had fallen and been excluded. Back came Newport again with a 4-2 after Mark Lemon had beaten Steve Johnston to take a two point lead again. Emil Kramer completed his four ride maximum by winning heat 14 for a shared race resulting in a last heat decider. There was just no stopping Kramer and he duly won heat 15 too. Unfortunately for the Wasps he was followed home by Steve Johnston giving the Rebels victory by two points. It was surprising to see the two Rebels' reserves outscoring last season's Somerset stalwarts Jordan Frampton and Brent Werner. It must have given the Rebels a lot of optimism for the long season ahead.


Scorers: Newport – Mark Lemon 13 (6), Chris Kerr 11 (6), James Holder 8+2 (5), Jordan Frampton 5+2 (5), Brent Werner 5+1 (4), Nick Simmons 2+1 (4).

Somerset – Emil Kramer 15 (5) (full maximum), Steve Johnston 11+2 (5), Cory Gathercole 9+1 (5), Jay Herne 6 (7), Tom Brown 5+1 (5), Brendan Johnson 0 (3).


Challenge Match: Sheffield 50, Scunthorpe 40 – Scunthorpe won on aggregate by 100-82 .


Team changes: Both teams were again at full strength.


Sheffield carried forward a whopping 28 point deficit from the first leg of this challenge match on Friday night and there was never really much prospect of them pulling that deficit back. They started brightly enough with an opening heat 5-1 from Ricky Ashworth and Joel Parsons and followed it up with a 4-2 in the reserves race won by Josh Auty but then lost ground again as Scunthorpe hit them with a 2-4 from Carl Wilkinson and Viktor Bergstrom. A heat four 5-1 courtesy of Richard Hall and Chris Mills put the Tigers 16-8 ahead so at this stage at least Sheffield were still in the hunt for overall victory.

Heats 5 to 8 saw the sides exchange 4-2s, two each, to keep the difference between the teams at eight points and a shared heat 9 kept the status quo. An exciting rerun heat 10 resulted in Carl Wilkinson passing both Joel Parsons then Ricky Ashworth for a fine win while Viktor Bergstrom also got past Parsons to provide the Scorpions with a 2-4 cutting the gap on the night to six points. The Tigers responded with another 4-2 after Josh Auty had passed David Howe to win the race with Richard Hall following this pair for third. Back came the Scorpions again in heat 12 with a fine win for their reserve, Jerran Hart, from Ritchie Hawkins. Carl Wilkinson's third place gave the visitors a 2-4 which was matched by Sheffield in heat 13 when Ricky Ashworth beat David Howe for the second time and was followed home in third place by Richard Hall for an 8 point Sheffield lead.

Bergstrom won heat 14 from Auty and Cooper for a shared race in heat 14 then Ricky Ashworth wrapped up proceedings by winning the last race from Viktor Bergstrom and Ritchie Hawkins to give Sheffield a ten point win on the night but a long way from what was needed for aggregate success.


Scorers: Sheffield – Ricky Ashworth 14 (5), Ritchie Hawkins 10 (5), Josh Auty 9 (4), Richard Hall 8 (4), Joel Parsons 5+1 (4), Chris Mills 3+1 (4) Paul Cooper 1+1 (4).

Scunthorpe – Jerran Hart 9+1 (6), Viktor Bergstrom 9 (5), David Howe 8 (4), Carl Wilkinson 7 (4), Magnus Karlsson 4 (4), Simon Lambert 2 (4), Byron Bekker 1 (3).

[Merlin]

Wednesday, 25 March



Premier Trophy: Birmingham v. Rye House
Challenge Match: King's Lynn v. Edinburgh



Premier Trophy: Birmingham 50 (3 points), Rye House 40 (0 points).


Team changes: Birmingham were at full strength but Rye House , still missing Chris Neath, had one of their favourite past riders, Stuart Robson, as a guest at number 1.

Birmingham were looking for their first win of the season following away defeats at Rye House and Stoke while Rye House were hoping to build on their two home wins in the Premier Trophy against the Brummies and Newport. Although each of the Rockets, bar Andrew Silver, had at least a win or paid win, they didn't get any points this time towards their Premier Trophy campaign after squandering a 6 point lead gained from the opening five races. It was Birmingham who captured all three points this time.

The opening heat, won by Jason Lyons, was shared but the Brummies must have had that sinking feeling again when they lost a 2-4 in the reserves race, won by Luke Bowen, then a 1-5 to Linus Sundstrom and Robert Mear with Tomasz Piszcz left trundling home in their wake. Wins from Tommy Allen in heat 4 then Stuart Robson in heat 5 resulted in shared races and the Brummies, having produced only one race winner, were left staring at a 12-18 scoreline.

Jason Lyons and Richard Sweetman turned the tide however with a 5-1 in heat 6 after Sweetman had finally found a way past Tommy Allen and Birmingham cashed in with two more maximum race wins over the next three heats to turn their six point arrears to a six point lead. Robert Ksiezak and Marek Mroz produced the first then, after Joe Haines had won heat 8 for a 3-3, Tomasz Piszcz and Ludvig Lindgren banged home another after Tommy Allen had fallen. The score now stood at 30-24 and with the imperious Lyons still having three races to come the Brummies prospects looked bright.

Lyons duly came from third to win and share the points in heat 10 but Rye House were unfortunate when Joe Haines suffered an engine failure in heat 11 while leading. Stuart Robson won the race for a 3-3 but the Rockets had lost a chance to get back on the Brummies heels. An excellent heat 12 saw Ludvig Lindgren score his first win for the Brummies and, with Ben Taylor winning the battle of the reserves from Andrew Silver, the home side extended their lead to eight points. Jason Lyons and Tomasz Piszcz kept them eight in front by winning heats 13 and 14 respectively for shared races before Lyons completed his five ride maximum by winning heat 15 from Robert Mear to deny Rye House any chance of getting the deficit back to six points for a league point. Tomasz Piszcz picked up the third place point for a 4-2 to put some added gloss to the result.

Scorers: Birmingham – Jason Lyons 15 (5) (full maximum), Tomasz Piszcz 9+1 (5), Ludvig Lindgren 7+1 (4), Robert Ksiezak 7 (4), Ben Taylor 5+2 (5), Richard Sweetman 4+1 (4), Marek Mroz 3+2 (3).

Rye House – Stuart Robson 9+1 (5), Robert Mear 8+2 (5), Linus Sundstrom 7 (4), Luke Bowen 5+2 (5), Joe Haines 5 (4), Tommy Allen 4 (3), Andrew Silver 2 (4).



Challenge Match: King's Lynn 58, Edinburgh 44 (including a 10 point starting advantage).


Team changes: King's Lynn used Rider Replacement for Kozza Smith following the injuries he suffered last week at Ipswich while Edinburgh were at full strength.

This Challenge Match, billed as the 'Premiership', by King's Lynn was held over the one leg at Saddlebow Road. To compensate for the Stars' home advantage the Monarchs started with a 10 point lead. They could have been given double that and still lost! Although the King's Lynn side tracked only one rider from last year's team, they were keen to beat the Champions who had knocked them out of the play-offs towards the end of last season and drawn at Saddlebow Road in an early season League match.

Although there were a good number of entertaining races on this bitterly cold evening, the Monarchs were never in the hunt which is hardly surprising since they could only provide one finisher in five of the opening six races! By that time they had lost four 5-1s with one gained to trail 24-22 with their start. The opening race looked like it might be shared when Chris Schramm led from the start with the two Monarchs following him. However Ryan Fisher has an engine failure on the third lap and Aaron Summers couldn't hold off Topinka so the Stars started with a 5-1. They scored another in the reserves race when Sean Stoddart never left the tapes leaving Darcy Ward and Jan Graversen to head home Michal Rajkowski. However Edinburgh hit back in heat 3. Thomas H Jonasson and Andrew Tully were heading for a 1-5 when Graversen and Christian Henry came to grief on the third bend. Graversen was excluded and, although Thomas H Jonasson was soon off in front again in the rerun, Christian Henry made a better gate to slot into second. The charging Andrew Tully was not about to be denied his paid win, however, and chased down Henry passing him for a Monarchs 5-1 and taking the score to 11-17. It was to be heat 11 before Edinburgh were to enjoy another heat advantage!

Things looked bright again for Edinburgh when Matthew Wethers led heat 3 but an engine failure on the third lap turned a 3-3 into a 5-1 for the Stars as Ward and Sanchez cashed in. Aaron Summers never left the tapes in heat 5 but Ryan Fisher won from Ward and Henry to share the points. He had to look lively on the run in to the line however as Ward made up a huge amount of ground to end on Fisher's tail. Sean Stoddart then failed to start in heat 6 as the tapes rose and this time Schramm and Topinka took an easy 5-1 to put the Stars into an aggregate lead again at 24-22. Edinburgh had two finishers in heat 7 (!) but still lost a 4-2 when Emiliano Sanchez gated to see off Jonasson with Tully's efforts to catch Graversen being unsuccessful. Michal Rajkowski perked up the Monarchs fans by leading heat 8 until he ground to a halt with an engine failure on the third bend leaving Schramm and Ward to bang home another 5-1 which took the overall score to 33-25.

Tomas H Jonasson chased the lightning starting Chris Schramm hard in heat 10 but, trying a bit too hard on the last bend, he went too wide and Topinka slipped through for second and yet another King's Lynn 5-1. Then Edinburgh pulled back eight points over the next two races! Now over ten points in arrears overall they gave Ryan Fisher a tactical ride in heat 11. Fisher duly won for the full six points but Aaron Summers failed to start again at the gate. Emiliano Sanchez fell on the last bend of the second lap so the Monarchs took a 2-6. Lo and behold, they added a 1-5 in heat 12 but only after Darcy Ward had fallen on the second lap trying to chase down Jonasson. Michal Rajkowski who had been on a 1-5 with Jonasson earlier in the race moved back into second again and the score narrowed to 44-40.

Any hopes of a dramatic Monarchs comeback ended when Topinka and Sanchez headed home Ryan Fisher in heat 13 for another maximum advantage. Sanchez also appeared in heat 14 as rider replacement and duly won that too from Andrew Tully for a 4-2 before Topinka and Schramm completed their paid maximums in heat 15 with the Stars' eighth 5-1 of the match. Ryan Fisher looked set to end Schramm's maximum when lying comfortably second but the King's Lynn man got the bit between his teeth and found some extra speed to pass Fisher on the last bend to complete an excellent opening night for the home side.

Scorers: King's Lynn – Chris Schramm 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Tomas Topinka 12+3 (5) (paid maximum), Emiliano Sanchez 10+2 (5), Darcy Ward 10+1 (6), Christian Henry 6+1 (4), Jan Graversen 6+1 (4).

Edinburgh – Ryan Fisher 11 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Thomas H Jonasson 9 (5), Michal Rajkowski 6+1 (5), Andrew Tully 4+1 (4), Aaron Summers 2 (4), Matthew Wethers 1+1 (4), Sean Stoddart 1 (4).

[Merlin]

Thursday, 26 March



Challenge Match (first leg): Redcar v. Newcastle


Challenge Match: Redcar 51, Newcastle 40 .


Team changes: Redcar were at full strength but Newcastle were missing their top rider, Steve Boxall, who had been allowed to ride for Belle Vue as one of their doubling up reserves. In his place they recruited Josef Franc, no stranger to the Diamonds race jacket, to ride at number 1. As it turned out they needn't have bothered since the match at Ipswich where Belle Vue were due to provide the opposition was called off due to a waterlogged track before a wheel was turned.

Redcar opened their season with this local derby against their nearest and dearest – Newcastle. Although it was the Bears' first meeting, Newcastle had already ridden home and away matches against Berwick. The match began with fortunes swinging first one way then the other. Redcar got off to the best possible start with a 5-1 from Robbie Kessler and Gary Havelock after Derek Sneddon had fallen and been excluded but their joy was short lived as Newcastle replied in kind. Craig Branney and Casper Wortmann hit a maximum against the Bears' reserve pair of Benji Compton and Arlo Bugeja. However it was 5-1 time to the Bears again in heat 3 after Kenni Larsen had touched the tapes and elected to start off the 15 metre handicap. He then fell on the third lap and remounted as Carl Stonehewer and Ben Wilson took a maximum with Trent Leverington third. Back came the Diamonds with a win from Jason King despite a strong challenge from Ty Proctor. Craig Branney finished third so the visitors scored a 2-4 bringing the score after an eventful first four races to 13-11.

Redcar began to pull away with a 5-1 from Stonehewer and Wilson, who team rode to keep Josef Franc in third place, then added a 4-2 when Jason King could only split the Kessler-Havelock pairing. This extended Redcar's lead to eight points and although heat 7, won by Proctor, was shared, another 5-1 from Kessler and Bugeja from Derek Sneddon gave the home side a 12 point lead after heat eight at 30-18.

The pendulum then began to swing the other way! Newcastle gave Jason King a tactical ride in heat 9 and pulled three points back when Casper Wortmann won the race from Ben Wilson. Jason King finished third while Carl Stonehewer fell and remounted. This gave the Diamonds a 2-5 cutting their arrears to nine point and they pulled another two points back in heat 10 with a 2-4 when Kenni Larsen won comfortably from Gary Havelock while Trent Leverington took third as Robbie Kessler retired ending his unbeaten run. Redcar's lead had now been cut to seven points. Ty Proctor kept it that way by winning heat 11 as Benji Compton fell but the Diamonds' recovery continued in heat 12 as Kenni Larsen won from Stonehewer with Casper Wortmann third for a 2-4 which left them now just five points adrift at 39-34.

Redcar stemmed the tide at this point and, when Josef Franc could only split Proctor and Havelock in heat 13, they stretched their lead out to seven again then extended it further to 11 with a 5-1 from Ben Wilson and Benji Compton who finally got off the mark leaving Leverington and Branney to bring up the rear. Kenni Larsen made sure Redcar didn't add further to that lead by completing a highly successful night by winning the final race from Robbie Kessler and Ty Proctor for a shared heat. All of the Bears had at least a paid win with Robbie Kessler and Ben Wilson providing strong backup to Ty Proctor. Newcastle must have been delighted with another excellent performance at reserve by Casper Wortmann while Kenni Larsen finished with three straight wins to top score for them.


Scorers: Redcar – Ty Proctor 12+1 (5), Robbie Kessler 11 (5), Ben Wilson 9+2 (4), Carl Stonehewer 8 (4), Gary Havelock 6+1 (4), Arlo Bugeja 3+1 (4), Benji Compton 2+1 (4).

Newcastle – Kenni Larsen 11 (5), Jason King 7 (5) (incl 2 point TR), Casper Wortmann 6+1 (4), Josef Franc 6 (4), Trent Leverington 4+1 (4), Craig Branney 4, Derek Sneddon 2+1 (4).

[Merlin]

Friday, 27 March



Premier Trophy: Scun.thorpe v. Stoke
Spring Trophy (first leg): Edinburgh v. Glasgow
Severn Bridge Trophy (second leg): Somerset v. Newport



Premier Trophy: Scun.thorpe 57 (3 points), Stoke 37 (0 points).


Team changes: Both teams were at full strength.

This was the first Premier Trophy match for the two sides after they had tasted success in their opening matches. Scunthorpe had already won their early season Challenge match over two legs against Sheffield while Stoke had beaten Birmingham in their season opener last Saturday night.

Stoke kept this match close in the early stages but back to back 5-1s for the Scorpions mid-match followed by two ineffective tactical rides by the Potters ended the visitors hopes as the Scorpions ran out comfortable winners. After an opening shared race won by Lee Complin the home side took the lead with a reserves race 5-1. Stoke hit back with a 2-4 when Jason Bunyan beat Carl Wilkinson with Tom P Madsen third and heat 4, won by Magnus Karlsson, was shared taking the score to 13-11.

A Bergstrom-Wilkinson 5-1 in heat 5 increased Scun.thorpe's lead to six points, then, after a 3-3 courtesy of a David Howe win, Stoke pulled two points back in heat 7 when Jason Bunyan inflicted the only defeat Magnus Karlsson suffered all night with Madsen picking up third after Jerran Hart had fallen on the third bend. Although the gap had been cut to four points, this was to be the Potters' last heat advantage all night.

The Scorpions took 5-1s from heats 8 and 9 to rocket into a 12 point lead at 33-21 so the visitors gave Jason Bunyan a tactical ride in heat 10. He made a poor start however but chased down and passed Simon Lambert to move into second. However he couldn't quite reel in David Howe so the race was shared 4-4. Still 12 points in arrears the Potters then gave Lee Complin their second tactical ride in heat 11 but the result was the same as Magnus Karlsson won the race. This second 4-4 took the score to 41-29 and, having weathered Stoke's tactical moves, the Scorpions pulled away by taking heat advantages from the next three heats. Carl Wilkinson headed Madsen home in heat 12 for a 4-2. Then Karlsson and Howe added a 5-1 in a rerun heat 13 after Phil Morris had fallen after running into Howe.

Viktor Bergstrom won heat 14 from Jason Bunyan to add two more points to the home side's lead with another 4-2 before Magnus Karlsson wound things up by beating Bunyan and Complin for a shared last heat and a 20 point win for the Scorpions which gave them all three available points.




Scorers: Scun.thorpe – Magnus Karlsson 14 (5), Carl Wilkinson 10+1 (4), David Howe 9+2 (5), Viktor Bergstrom 8+1 (4), Simon Lambert 6 (4), Byron Bekker 5+2 (4), Jerran Hart 5 (4).

Stoke – Jason Bunyan 14 (5) (incl 4 point TR), Lee Complin 10+1 (5) (incl 4 point TR), Phil Morris 4+1 (4), Tom P Madsen 4 (4), Klaus Jakobsen 3 (4), Jesper Kristiansen 1+1 (4), Glen Phillips 1 (4).



Spring Trophy (first leg): Edinburgh 55, Glasgow 39 .


Team changes: Both teams were at full strength.

Both sides had ridden an early season Challenge Match, Edinburgh at King's Lynn and Glasgow at home to Belle Vue with Glasgow producing the more encouraging result for the new season.

You could tell it was the opening match of the season at Armadale as a cold wind blew across the rain sodden stadium in the gathering gloom. The two Scottish sides faced each other for the first of eight times (at least) this season, on this occasion all for a trophy which consists of a giant spring stuck in a lump of wood called, appropriately enough, the Spring Trophy (nothing to do with Spring – the season). The outcome was a comfortable 16 point victory for the Monarchs which they take through to Ashfield on Sunday for the second leg. While Glasgow, predictably enough, relied heavily on the scoring power of Shane Parker and James Grieves, Edinburgh, Thomas H Jonasson apart, scored well throughout the team with Aaron Summers recording a brilliant maximum and excellent contributions from the reserves with Michal Rajkowski quite outstanding with paid 14 from his five rides.

Edinburgh looked like starting with a 5-1 in the opening heat when Summers and Ryan Fisher left Shane Parker in their wake but Fisher decided to inspect the fourth bend fence on the second lap for some reason allowing Parker through for a 4-2. The 5-1 wasn't long delayed though as Stoddart and Rajkowski raced off to take the maximum from the reserves race. Glasgow hit back in the third heat when Josh Grajczonek shot from the tapes while Thomas H Jonasson didn't move from them. Peter Juul fell on the second bend causing Tully to fall too so the race was rerun without Jonasson and Juul. Grajczonek was fast away in the rerun but Tully passed him down the back straight only to fall again on the third bend. He remounted for the two points as Glasgow took a 2-3 to pull a point back. They pulled two more back in heat 4 with a 2-4 courtesy of a fine James Grieves win after a passing and repassing bout with Matthew Wethers. Stoddart fell so Ross Brady picked up the third place point taking the score to 13-10 after the first four heats.

The Tigers pulled another two points back in heat 5 when Shane Parker won comfortably from Andrew Tully while a strangely out of touch Jonasson trailed in last by a distance leaving Brady to take third for a 2-4 cutting the gap to just a single point. Edinburgh then pulled away with two 5-1s and a 4-2 over the next three heats. In the first of them James Grieves touched the tapes so went from 15 metres back but could only watch as Summers and Fisher streaked off for the maximum. Then Josh Grajczonek was deemed to have caused Matthew Wethers to fall in heat 6 coming off the second bend and he was disqualified from the rerun in which Wethers and Rajkowski comfortably headed Mitchell Davey home. Aaron Summers passed the fast starting Ross Brady in heat 8 but Brady took second from Stoddart to take the score to 29-18.

Now 11 points down James Grieves took a tactical ride in heat 9 and won from Andrew Tully. Jonasson fell trailing badly at the back and Mitchell Davey took third as the race was awarded. The 2-7 brought Glasgow storming back into the match, cutting their deficit to 6 points. In heat 10 Ryan Fisher was excluded under the two minute rule but went from 15 metres back. Summers was fast away again while Fisher made light of his handicap to pass Grajczonek and Juul to join Summers for another home 5-1. Shane Parker kept things as they were by winning heat 11 after hunting down and passing Rajkowski for the first shared heat of the match but another 5-1 went the Monarchs' way in heat 12 from Sean Stoddart and Michal Rajkowski which took the score to 44-30.

Glasgow were still in with a good chance of restricting Edinburgh's lead to single figures with Parker and Grieves out in heats 13 and 15. Better still Shane Parker came out for Glasgow's second tactical ride in heat 13. However Ryan Fisher won both to keep them from eating into the Monarchs' lead. The Tigers did take a 3-5 when Parker and Grieves were left to trail Fisher home in heat 13 after a scintillating ride from the Monarchs' rider but Tully and Rajkowski took a 5-1 in the penultimate race from Grajczonek before Fisher wrapped things up with his heat 15 win from a hard challenging Parker and Grieves.


Scorers: Edinburgh – Aaron Summers 12 (4) (full maximum), Ryan Fisher 11+2 (5), Michal Rajkowski 10+4 (5), Andrew Tully 9 (4), Sean Stoddart 7 (4), Matthew Wethers 6+1 (5), Thomas H Jonasson 0 (3).

Glasgow – Shane Parker 14 (5) (incl 4 point TR), James Grieves 12+2 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Josh Grajczonek 4 (4), Ross Brady 3 (4), Peter Juul 2 (4), Mitchell Davey 2 (4), Anders Andersen 2 (4).



Severn Bridge Trophy (second leg): Somerset 46, Newport 44, Somerset won on aggregate by 92-88 .


Team changes: Somerset were at full strength while Newport were missing Nick Simmons and Chris Kerr. They used Rider Replacement for Kerr and had Kyle Newman replacing Simmons at number 7. Paul Fry made his debut for the Wasps as a replacement for the injured Craig Watson.

Somerset opened their season with this challenge match against their nearest rivals, Newport. The Rebels had taken a two point advantage from the away leg at Newport so were hot favourites to win the Trophy over the two legs.

The Rebels duly won the silverware but not until Newport had pushed them all the way to a last heat decider for the match and aggregate win. Steve Johnston won the opening race from Mark Lemon and Jordan Frampton but Newport charged into the lead with a 1-5 in the reserves race from James Holder and Kyle Newman to take an aggregate two point lead. Simon Walker and Paul Fry then had an exciting wheel to wheel tussle in heat 3 but it was the Rebel who took the race win. Behind them Jordan Frampton passed Justin Sedgmen for third resulting in another shared race but the Rebels levelled the score in heat 4. It took three attempts to run this race but Emil Kramer won it from Brent Werner who had to defend his position from a challenging Jay Herne. The score now stood at 11-13 with the match tied on aggregate.

Mark Lemon passed Simon Walker in heat 5 for a Wasps heat advantage after Justin Sedgmen had shed a chain at the tapes. This increased Newport's lead to four points and gave them a two point aggregate lead. However that soon changed as the Rebels banged home a 5-1 and two 4-2s to put them in the driving seat. Steve Johnston won heat 6 with ease while Cory Gathercole came from the back to join him for a maximum then Emil Kramer took heat 7 from Paul Fry while Mark Lemon fell on the third lap for a 4-2. Heat 8 provided the third consecutive Somerset advantage with a Gathercole win from former Rebel, Jordan Frampton, for another 4-2 which took the score to 26-22 giving the Rebels a six point aggregate lead.

Newport hit back in heat 9 with a 1-5 from James Holder and another former Rebel, Brent Werner, which levelled the score on the night but the Johnston-Gathercole pairing struck again in heat 10 with a Rebels 5-1 restoring Somerset's four point lead. Emil Kramer saw off Mark Lemon in heat 11 for a 3-3 but back came the visitors again in heat 12 when yet another former Rebel, Paul Fry, won the race from Simon Walker. James Holder held off Jay Herne for third and the 2-4 cut the Rebels lead to just two points at 37-35.

Steve Johnston kept his winning run going by beating Mark Lemon in heat 13 after a thrilling battle which also involved Emil Kramer who eventually finished third for a 4-2 but the Wasps cancelled that advantage with a 2-4 in heat 13 as Paul Fry won again. This left the Rebels two points ahead in the match and four on aggregate. Mark Lemon ended Johnston's winning run in heat 15 but with Paul Fry stuck at the back the race was shared and the trophy was destined for the Rebels Trophy Cabinet.


Scorers: Somerset – Steve Johnston 14 (5), Emil Kramer 11+1 (5), Cory Gathercole 7+2 (3), Simon Walker 7 (4), Justin Sedgmen 3 (4), Jay Herne 3 (4), Tom Brown 1 (5).

Newport – Mark Lemon 12 (6), Paul Fry 10 (6), James Holder 9 (6), Jordan Frampton 6+3 (5), Brent Werner 5+1 (4), Kyle Newman 2+1 (3).

[Merlin]

Saturday, 28 March



Premier Trophy: Berwick v. Redcar
Premier Trophy: Stoke v. King's Lynn
Premier Trophy: Workington v. Newcastle
Premier Trophy: Rye House v. Somerset – Match off




Premier Trophy: Berwick 53 (3 points), Redcar 40 (0 points).


Team changes: Both teams were at full strength.

Most teams are now swinging into 'official' action now the early season challenges are dying out and both Berwick and Redcar launched their Premier Trophy campaigns in this match. It was a close fought encounter in the early stages with the score tied at 18-18 after six heats but three consecutive 5-1s for the Bandits opened up a 12 point lead from which Redcar never recovered.

It was the Bears who struck first with an opening 2-4 from Havelock and Kessler after Lawson had failed to make the two minutes but Berwick took a 5-1 in the reserves race to edge two points in front. Ben Wilson began an impressive performance by taking the third heat for a share of the spoils before another home 4-2 took the Bandits into a four point lead. However Redcar replied with consecutive 2-4s in heats 5 and 6 thanks to wins from Havelock and Ty Proctor to square the scores again before Berwick made their decisive move.

Carl Stonehewer fell and was excluded from a rerun heat 7 in which Ben Wilson missed the gate. Makovsky and Franchetti cashed in with a 5-1 and, when Kessler suffered an engine failure in heat 8,Warwick and Clews did likewise to open an eight point lead for the Bandits. Heat 9 also resulted in a home maximum, awarded after Benji Compton fell after one and a half laps, with Josef Franc and Tero Aarnio taking the five points and the Berwick lead had stretched to 12 points at 33-21.

Redcar then gave Ben Wilson a tactical ride and he responded by beating Paul Clews for the six points. Carl Stonehewer took third from a struggling William Lawson for a 2-7 which cut the gap to seven points but that was as good as it got for the Bears. Makovsky won heat 11 from Havelock while Franchetti passed Kessler for a 4-2 and the Bandits lead was up to nine points again. Stonehewer won heat 12 unsupported but a 4-2 from heat 13 put Berwick nine ahead and they now looked likely to take all three points. A shared heat 14 was followed by a last heat 4-2 to the Bandits in which Michal Makovsky completed a fine maximum.


Scorers: Berwick – Michal Makovsky 15 (5), Josef Franc 10 (5), Danny Warwick 9 (4), Paul Clews 8+1 (4), Guglielmo Franchetti 6+3 (5), Tero Aarnio 4+3 (4), William Lawson 1 (4).

Redcar – Ben Wilson 13 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Gary Havelock 12 (5), Ty Proctor 6 (4), Carl Stonehewer 4 (4), Robbie Kessler 2 (4), Arlo Bugeja 2 (4), Benji Compton 1 (4).


Premier Trophy: Stoke 48 (2 points), King's Lynn 42 (1 point) .


Team changes: Stoke were at full strength but King's Lynn again had to use Rider Replacement for the injured Kozza Smith.

This was the first match of the season to end with a 2-1 split of the league points as King's Lynn lost by just six points at Stoke. It was certainly a close match over the opening five heats which produced four shared heats and a Potters 4-2. Thereafter the home side pulled away opening up an eight point lead after heat 7 only for the Stars to pull that back to equality by heat 10. Although the home side took two further heat advantages they couldn't quite stretch their lead to the eight points required for all three league points.

King's Lynn produced the first two race winners in Topinka and Ward but both heats were shared. Jason Bunyan won heat 3, again for a 3-3, before Phil Morris and Klaus Jakobsen looked like taking a 5-1 from heat 4. However Darcy Ward chased and passed Jakobsen off the last bend so the Potters had to be content with a 4-2. Bunyan won again in heat 5 but again the race was shared then Stoke finally opened a gap by taking a 5-1 from heat 6 thanks to Glen Phillips and Lee Complin as Jan Graversen packed up. The six point lead went to eight as Kristiansen beat Henry with Morris third for a 4-2 which took the score to 25-17.

King's Lynn then hit back with a vengeance as Darcy ward passed Glen Phillips to win heat 8 while Emiliano Sanchez took third for a 4-2. Then Graversen and Sanchez scored a 1-5 in heat 9 and Christian Henry won heat 10 from Lee Complin with Chris Schramm third for another 2-4. The scores were now tied at 30-30 but Stoke responded with a perhaps unexpected 5-1 from Phil Morris and Jesper Kristiansen who headed Topinka and Ward home for a four point lead again. Tom P Madsen won heat 12 for a shared race which kept it that way and Morris did likewise in heat 13 beating Sanchez and Topinka.

Jason Bunyan was first away in a vital heat 14 but Darcy Ward chased him hard for three laps before passing him to share the points. This left Stoke needing a 5-1 in the last race for the three league points and King's Lynn needing a 2-4 or better for one. Morris won the race for the Potters but Topinka's second place from Bunyan gave the Stars a point with Stoke gaining two.


Scorers: Stoke – Phil Morris 13 (5), Jason Bunyan 9 (5), Jesper Kristiansen 8+3 (5), Glen Phillips 7 (4), Lee Complin 5+2 (4), Tom P Madsen 3 (3), Klaus Jakobsen 3 (4).

King's Lynn – Darcy Ward 14+1 (7), Tomas Topinka 9+1 (5), Christian Henry 7+2 (5), Emiliano Sanchez 6+1 (5), Chris Schramm 3 (4), Jan Graversen 3 (4).


Premier Trophy: Workington 51 (3 points), Newcastle 42 (0 points) .


Team changes: Both teams were at full strength.

In an excellent match at Workington, Newcastle couldn't quite keep the score close enough to gain anything from the outcome. However the match saw both sides have their purple patches. The Diamonds clawed back an early 12 point deficit after heat six to cut the gap to just one point after heat 11 but they faded over the last four heats and Workington took the three league points.

Kevin Doolan won the opener but at the back John Branney passed Boxall to share the spoils before Newcastle struck first blood with a reserves race 2-4 won by Casper Wortmann form Richard Lawson as the unfortunate Luke Priest had a puncture. Workington wiped that out and went two up with a heat three 5-1 from Adrian Rymel and Charles Wright who headed home Kenni Larsen. Jason King could only split Andre Compton and Richard Lawson in the fourth heat so the Comets charged into a 15-9 lead.

Rymel and Wright added another 5-1 from Boxall for a ten point lead and it went to 12 when Kevin Doolan won again from King while John Branney kept Wortmann at the back for a 4-2. However it was all change as Newcastle rallied. Kenni Larsen was given a tactical ride in heat 7. In the first running Andre Compton was excluded (or is it disqualified?) from the rerun for bringing down Trent Leverington and in the rerun Larsen and Leverington comfortably secured a Diamonds 1-8 cutting the gap to five points. Derek Sneddon won heat 8, Rymel heat 9 and Larsen heat 10 all for shared heats but the gap was down to a single point as the Diamonds scored a 1-5 in heat 11when Sneddon and Boxall headed home Compton. The score now stood at 35-34.

It was all downhill for the Diamonds after that as they lost two 5-1s and a 4-2 over the last four heats although Kenni Larsen offered resistance by winning heat 14 for a 2-4 to the visitors who were denied even the consolation of a point for their efforts. The score stood at 46-41 going into the last race so Newcastle needed a shared heat to salvage a league point but they were unfortunately faced by Kevin Doolan and Adrian Rymel so the odds were very much stacked against them. The Workington pair took the 5-1 with Rymel completing a paid maximum.

Scorers: Workington – Adrian Rymel 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Kevin Doolan 14 (5), Charles Wright 6+2 (4), Richard Lawson 6+1 (5), Andre Compton 6+1 (4), John Branney 4+1 (4), Luke Priest 1 (3).

Newcastle – Kenni Larsen 13 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Derek Sneddon 9 (5), Jason King 6 (4), Steve Boxall 4+1 (4), Trent Leverington 4+1 (4), Casper Wortmann 4+1 (4), Craig Branney 2 (4).

[Peregrinner]

Happy Birthday Merlin.