Around the Premier League Tracks 2009

[Merlin]

Wednesday, 16 September



Premier League:..... Birmingham 41 (0 points), Edinburgh 49 (4 points).


Team changes: Both teams were at full strength.


For the second year in succession the Premier League Championship was finally decided at Birmingham. Last year Birmingham's defeat of Somerset presented the crown to Edinburgh while this year Edinburgh's win presented the crown to King's Lynn. In this match the scores were tied at heat 9 but the Monarchs pulled ahead steadily to claim all four league points in the later stages of the match.

A comfortable win for Ryan Fisher produced a shared opening race but Edinburgh took the lead in the reserves race. In the first running, Jay Herne was adjudged to have run into Byron Bekker on the first bend, Bekker fell and Herne was excluded much to the disgust of the home fans who felt that Bekker had fallen on his own. In the rerun Lee Smart led for all of a lap before being passed by Aaron Summers. Bekker's third place point gave the Monarchs a 2-4. Richard Sweetman won heat 3 for a 3-3 then Jason Lyons did likewise in heat 4 taking the score to 11-13.

Heat 5 was an all-four-back rerun after Ryan Fisher fell on the first bend as Sweetman took him wide. Fisher made the gate in the rerun from Lindgren while Sweetman passed Max Dilger for third and another shared race. Heat 6 looked like producing a 5-1 for the Brummies when Tomasz Piszcz and Rusty Harrison made the gate however Rajkowski and Harrison then had a passing and repassing bout with Rajkowski finally taking second for a 4-2 which levelled the scores. Jason Lyons won heat7 for another 3-3 but Edinburgh gated on a 1-5 in heat 8 until Max Dilger fell on the fourth bend crashing into Lee Smart who had passed him. Dilger was excluded from the rerun in which Aaron Summers gated to win for another shared heat. The score was still tied at 24-24.

Michal Rajkowski came off the second bend in the lead in heat 9 and won from Sweetman and Lindgren to keep the scores tied but Edinburgh were back in front with a 2-4 in heat 10. Kevin Woelbert rode round the field to lead off the second bend and beat Tomas Piszcz while Matthew Wethers reeled in Piszcz but just lost out on the line. Fisher and Lyons fought out an epic battle in heat 11 but Fisher just got to the front off the second bend to hold off Lyons for another shared race but Edinburgh took a giant step forward with a 1-5 in heat 12 when Woelbert and Summers raced away from Ludvig Lindgren increasing the Monarchs' lead to six points. The score was 33-39 with three heats to go.

Heat 13 had to be rerun after Piszcz took a wide line into the first bend. Ryan Fisher outside him crashed into Jason Lyons and the race was rerun with all four back although the home support made it clear that they thought Fisher should have been excluded. In the rerun Piszcz made the gate while Fisher took second from Lyons for a 4-2 to the Brummies which cut the gap to four points. Matthew Wethers was the early race leader in heat 14 then, while Richard Sweetman passed Wethers on the third lap, Aaron Summers roared round the pair of them to win the race. The 2-4 increased Edinburgh's lead to six points guaranteeing them an away win. There was then the matter of the fourth league point with Edinburgh needing a 2-4 to win it. They got it too with a large slice of luck! Tomasz Piszcz led the race for three laps while Kevin Woelbert chased him down. However Piszcz suffered an engine failure and blocked the path of Fisher who was then passed by Jason Lyons. However with Woelbert winning the race it was still enough for a four point Monarchs win.


Scorers: Birmingham – Jason Lyons 11 (5), Tomasz Piszcz 10 (5), Richard Sweetman 8+1 (4), Ludvig Lindgren 4+1 (4), Rusty Harrison 4+1 (4), Lee Smart 3+1 (4), Jay Herne 1+1 (4).

Edinburgh – Aaron Summers 13+1 (5), Kevin Woelbert 12+1 (5), Ryan Fisher 12 (5), Michal Rajkowski 6+1 (4), Matthew Wethers 5+1 (4), Byron Bekker 1 (3), Max Dilger 0 (3).

[Merlin]

Thursday, September 17



Premier League:

Redcar v. Newport
Sheffield v. Edinburgh



Premier League:.... Redcar 52 (3 points), Newport 39 (0 points).


Team changes: Redcar again used Rider Replacement (R/R) for Gary Havelock at number 2. Newport had Kim Nilsson at number 1 as a guest for Leigh Lanham and Kyle Newman was again at number 6 for Marek Mroz

It ended up a comfortable win for the Bears but hey had to recover from a poor start which saw them trail by four points after the first five races.

Chris Kerr made the gate in the opening race and, after a hard challenge from Ty Proctor, he got the decision on the line. Carl Stonehewer took third from Kim Nilsson so the race was shared. Stuart Swales passed Kyle Newman in the reserves race to win it but with Jonas Andersson in third this race was shared too. Newport took the lead in heat 3 when James Holder and Jordan Frampton gated for the 1-5 as Robbie Kessler behind them fell. Paul Fry and Jonas Andersson made good starts for the Wasps in heat 4 but Ben Wilson charged between them to take the lead only for Paul Fry to repass him for another shared race which took the score to 10-14.

Robbie Kessler won heat 5 from the gate to head home Kim Nilsson. Carl Stonehewer in third lifted at the end of the third lap allowing Chris Kerr through to third for another 3-3 but the Bears were level again after a 5-1 in heat 6 from Kessler (R/R) and Proctor. Ben Wilson won heat 7 but the excitement was behind him as Frampton and Bugeja diced for second place. Frampton won that duel but the 4-2 pushed the Bears two points ahead and they stretched it to six with a 5-1 from Proctor (R/R) and Stuart Swales in heat 8 from Kerr taking the score to 27-21.

Consecutive 5-1s in heat 9 and 10 from Kessler and Stonehewer then Proctor and Wilson (R/R) all but finished the Wasps as the gap between the sides had opened to 14 points. The visitors gave Chris Kerr a tactical ride in heat 11 but gave it to the wrong rider as it was Kim Nilsson who won the race from Ben Wilson. Chris Kerr doubled up his third place point to two for a 2-5 for the Wasps then heat 12 won by Carl Stonehewer was shared as Stuart Swales fell while in second place. The score was 42-31 at this stage.

Kim Nilsson won again in heat 13 this time leading Proctor and Wilson home for a 3-3 then Jordan Frampton became the fourth Wasp to win a race on the night when he beat Kessler and Bugeja for another 3-3. Finally Redcar took a 4-2 in heat 15 with a Ty Proctor win from Chris Kerr and third place from Robbie Kessler.


Scorers: Redcar – Ty Proctor 15+1 (6), Robbie Kessler 12 (6), Ben Wilson 10+1 (5), Carl Stonehewer 7+2 (5), Stuart Swales 6+2 (4), Arlo Bugeja 2+1 (4).

Newport – Chris Kerr 9+1 (5) (incl 2 point TR), Kim Nilsson 8 (5), Jordan Frampton 7+1 (4), James Holder 5+1 (4), Kyle Newman 5 (4), Paul Fry 4 (4), Jonas Andersson 1+1 (4)..



Premier League: .... Sheffield 42 (0 points), Edinburgh 51 (4 points).


Team changes: Both teams were at full strength.


Sheffield's hopes of a Play-off place received a terminal blow as Edinburgh made it two maximum away wins on the trot. The Tigers were unlucky to lose Richard Hall during his second ride after a crash with his partner, Chris Mills, which ended his involvement for the night. A Ryan Fisher maximum was the springboard for the Monarchs win but it was a solid team performace which produced their first win at Sheffield since 1997. The track had suffered badly from a recent stock car meeting and several huge ruts developed which caused a number of falls. Nevertheless it was an exciting and highly entertaing meeting.

Things started to go wrong for the Tigers in heat 1 when Ricky Ashworth crashed through the tapes and was excluded. Ryan Fisher won the rerun by a distance while Michal Rajkowski took third behind Hugh Skidmore for third and a 2-4 to the visitors. Sheffield replied with a 5-1 which put them two ahead when Scott Smith and Chris Mills left Aaron Summers some way behind in the reserves race. Andrew Tully touched the tapes as they rose in heat 3 and had to go from 15 metres back in the rerun in which Matthew Wethers stormed from the tapes to lead Joel Parsons and Josh Auty home. Andrew Tully fell at the back trying to recover his handicap. Edinburgh levelled the scores in heat 4 which had to be rerun after Richard Hall got out of shape on the fourth bend and fell. Kevin Woelbert crashed into the stricken rider and machine and had to face the rerun on Matthew Wethers' bike as Hall was excluded. Chris Mills led the rerun from the start and looked to have the race in his pocket but Woelbert after a lap looking at the track and getting the feel of Wethers' bike suddenly took off roaring round Aaron Summers then Chris Mills as the Sheffield rider lifted on the last bend. The 2-4 took the score to 12-12.

Ryan Fisher and Michal Rajkowski gated in heat 5 but Joel Parsons thundered under Rajkowski on the third bend into second place with Josh Auty following him through into third for a shared race. Ashworth and Skidmore gated in heat 6 but as Kevin Woelbert went for an outside drive round Skidmore the Tiger's engine packed up so the race was shared. Edinburgh were back in front again after heat 7 but only after a rerun following a frightening crash involving the two Sheffield riders. Andrew Tully charged into the first bend in the lead and looked well set for victory. Coming off the second bend on lap 2 Scott Smith lost control and fell in front of Richard Hall who fell heavily and suffered a shoulder injury which caused him to withdraw from the meeting. Tully again made a good start in the rerun while Chris Mills, replacing Hall, took second from Matthew Wethers for a 2-4 and two point Edinburgh lead. Aaron Summers led heat 8 from Hugh Skidmore when Skidmore fell on the second lap. Mills moved into second but was passed in fine style by Michal Rajkowski for a 1-5 to the Monarchs who now led by 21-27.

In heat 9 Kevin Woelbert hit the huge rut on the first bend and crashed into the fence. He was excluded from the rerun which was won with ease by Auty and Parsons for a 5-1 which cut the gap to two points again. Not for long though as Edinburgh replied with another maximum. Hugh Skidmore made the gate and led until Andrew Tully passed him on the inside off the fourth bend on lap 2. On the last lap Matthew Wethers cut back beautifully off the second bend into second which produced the 1-5 with Ricky Ashworth stuck at the back. The Edinburgh lead was now back to six points and it streaked to ten with yet another 1-5 in heat 11. Ryan Fisher continued his unbeaten run with an easy win while Rajkowski joined him up front to lead Mills home for the maximum. Sheffield gave Joel Parsons a tactical ride in heat 12 and he shot from the tapes with Mills for what looked like an 8-1. However as Andrew Tully made to dive inside him on the first bend of the second lap Tully fell and the race had to be rerun without him. In the rerun Parsons again gated but Aaron Summers moved through to second as Mills bike gave up the ghost on the third lap. He pushed home for the point and gave Sheffield a 7-2 which cut their arrears to five points with the score at 35-40.

Ryan Fisher gated from Ashworth to lead heat 13 and he was joined round the outside by Kevin Woelbert. On the second lap Ricky Ashworth lifted coming off the second bend and wiped Fisher and Woelbert out causing the race to be rerun without him. A routine Fisher, Woelbert 1-5 in the rerun increased the Monarchs lead to nine points with two races to go. Josh Auty passed Matthew Wethers to join Scott Smith off bend 2 in heat 14 but Wethers got past Smith on the last bend of lap two reducing the Tigers to a 4-2 and seven point lead. Edinburgh needed a share of the points in heat 15 for all four points in what turned out to be a cracking race. Fisher and Wethers were fast away from the start but Josh Auty passed Wethers on the third bend setting off after Fisher. Fisher spent the rest of the race fending off the repeated challenges of Auty while behind them Wethers was doing likewise to Parsons. Both Monarchs retained their positions so they took a 2-4 and eleven point win for the four points.


Scorers: Sheffield – Joel Parsons 12+1 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Josh Auty 10+2 (5), Chris Mills 9+1 (6), Scott Smith 5 (6), Ricky Ashworth 3 (4), Hugh Skidmore 3 (4), Richard Hall 0 (1).

Edinburgh – Ryan Fisher 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Matthew Wethers 9+1 (5), Kevin Woelbert 8 (4), Aaron Summers 7 (5), Andrew Tully 6 (4), Michal Rajkowski 5+2 (4), Byron Bekker 2+1 (3).

[Merlin]

Friday, 18 September



Premier League:

Edinburgh v. Berwick
Edinburgh v. Redcar
Scun'thorpe v. Stoke

Testimonial Meeting


Mark Lemon Testimonial at Somerset



Premier League: .... Edinburgh 60 (3 points), Berwick 30 (0 points).


Team changes: Edinburghwere at full strength while Berwick were without Tero Aarnio and used Rider Replacement (R/R) at number 2.


Three 5-1s in the first four races put Edinburgh firmly in the driving seat. Only a Josef Franc win in heat 2 after Paul Clews had fallen and been excluded gave Berwick respite to the early onslaught which took the score to 18-6 although Stan Burza was unlucky to be excluded in heat 4 after Kevin Woelbert charged into the second bend fence from the gate.

Edinburgh added two 5-1s and two 4-2s over the next four races with only Stan Burza (twice) taking points from the home men taking the score to 36-12. The Bandits improved though and they shared heat 9 when Andrew Tully, leading the race, suffered an engine failure. However Paul Clews rode a superb race in heat 10 passing Ryan Fisher who drifted too wide on the fourth bend then hounding down and passing Michal Rajkowski. The only snag about this from the Berwick viewpoint was that Josef Franc at the back was the one they had chosen to take a tactical ride. The result was a 3-3 and another 5-1 followed that as the out of sorts Michal Makovsky found himself on the wrong end of a 5-1 for the third time in heat 11. Paul Clews won again in heat 12 and the score had progressed to 50-22.

Stan Burza made a fast gate to win heat 13 from Ryan Fisher and Kevin Woelbert and share the race then Josef Franc gated to lead heat 14 but Matthew Wethers soon passed him. A third place from Aaron Summers produced a 4-2 then Ryan Fisher rounded things off by winning heat 15 while Kevin Woelbert fell at the back. So Edinburgh's target of six points from the double header was still on track as they then prepared to face Redcar


Scorers: Edinburgh – Ryan Fisher 12+1 (5), Matthew Wethers 9+2 (4), Kevin Woelbert 9+2 (5), Aaron Summers 9+1 (4), Michal Rajkowski 8+1 (4), Andrew Tully 7 (4), Buron Bekker 6+3 (4).

Berwick – Stan Burza 10+1 (6), Paul Clews 9 (5), Josef Franc 5 (4), Michal Makovsky 3 (4), Gino Franchetti 2+1 (5), Tamas Sike 1 (6).



Premier League: .... Edinburgh 60 (3 points), Redcar 33 (0 points).


Team changes: Edinburgh were at full strength. Redcar again used Rider Replacement (R/R) at number 2 for Gary Havelock.

Having disposed of Berwick with an early onslaught, Edinburgh set about Redcar in similar fashion. They started with a 5-0! Ryan Fisher gated to lead Ty Proctor who was on his tail the whole race. On the last bend Proctor picked up grip and charged into Fisher with both riders going down. Since Robbie Kessler had already retired from the race it was awarded. The second heat, won by Aaron Summers, was shared as Byron Bekker fell at the back but Andrew Tully and Matthew Wethers added a 5-1 in heat 3. Edinburgh pulled two more points ahead with a 4-2 in heat 4 after an excellent race between Woelbert and Wilson with the Edinburgh rider passing Wilson off the last bend in fine style. With Bekker in third the 4-2 took the score to 17-6.

Ty Proctor took a tactical ride in heat 5 and made the gate but Matthew Wethers passed him off the second bend to win the race. Andrew Tully took third from Carl Stonehewer for a 4-4 shared race. Heats 6 and 7 produced home 5-1s then Michal Rajkowski rounded Ty Proctor on the opening two bends of heat 8 to hold on for a fine win. Bekker's third place produced a 4-2 and the score went to 35-14.

Tully and Wethers added another 5-1 in heat 9 ahead of Ben Wilson then Michal Rajkowski and Fisher looked like adding another in heat 10 when Rajkowski, on the way to a maximum, suffered a puncture and could only drift round for third place as Stonehewer had lost interet and pulled off the track leaving Robbie Kessler to take advantage by finishing second. The 4-2 put the Monarchs 27 points ahead but Redcar's big heat came in heat 11. It seemed inevitable that the second tactical ride would go to Ben Wilson as R/R off the favourable gate 4 while partnering Ty Proctor. The Bears made the start and there was nothing that Kevin Woelbert could do to catch them. The big 1-8 cut the arrears to 20 points but Edinburgh were on the march again in heat 12 with a win from Andrew Tully from Stonehewer and Bekker for a 4-2 which took the score to 49-27.

Woelbert and Fisher took a 5-1 from heat 13 but there were only two finishers to heat 14. Robbie Kessler fell and was excluded from the rerun which was won by Matthew Wethers. Aaron Summers shed a chain, was thrown from the bike but he pulled his machine from the track as Stuart Swales took second for a 3-2. Ben Wilson gated to win heat 15 for a shared race.

As a result of this win Edinburgh had taken fourteen points in four nights' racing and had scored 220 points in the process moving up to second in the table albeit temporarily.


Scorers: Edinburgh – Matthew Wethers 13+1 (5), Ryan Fisher 10+2 (4) (paid maximum), Michal Rajkowski 10+2 (5), Kevin Woelbert 10 (4), Andrew Tully 9+1 (4), Aaron Summers 5+1 (4), Byron Bekker 3 (4)

Redcar – Ben Wilson 14 (6) (incl 6 point TR), Ty Proctor 8+1 (5), Stuart Swales 4 (4) Robbie Kessler 3 (5), Carl Stonehewer 3 (6), Arlo Bugeja 1+1 (4).



Premier League: .... Scun'thorpe 59 (3 points), Stoke 31 (0 points).


Team changes: Scun'thorpe without Viktor Bergstrom used Rider Replacement (R/R) at number 2. Stoke were at full strength.

Stoke were no match for the Scorpions who won comfortably. Jason Bunyan won heat 1 for the Potters but it was nearly all downhill for the Potters after that. Two 4-2s in heats 2 and 3 put the home side four points up but Ritchie Hawkins fell in heat 4 while Carl Wilkinson won comfortably for a shared race which took the score to 14-10.

David Howe won heat 5 from Bunyan and Lambert for another 4-2 and the Scorpions were six up. Magnus Karlsson and Simon Lambert then Carl Wilkinson and Jerran Hart scoredr 5-1s leaving the visitors well out of it some 14 points down. Carl Wilkinson (R/R) won heat 8 from Kristiansen and Hawkins for a 4-2 and the score then stood at 32-16.

With Stoke unable to stop David Howe, Magnus Karlsson and Carl Wilkinson (until heat 15) the Scorpions piled on the points. Howe and Lambert added a 5-1 in heat 9 and Karlsson and Hawkins split by Lee Complin a 4-2 in heat 10. Wilkinson won again in heat 11 from Bunyan and Kristiansen for a shared race but without their top three Scun'thorpe conceded a 1-5 in heat 12. Klaus Jakobsen and Jesper Kristiansen produced the goods for the Potters although it was actually Simon Lambert who finished second only to be excluded for not having a dirt deflector. The score was now 45-27.

Buoyed by this success Stoke gave Jason Bunyan a tactical ride in heat 13 but he did himself no favours by touching the tapes and having to go from 15 metres back. This gave Wilkinson and Karlsson a clear run at a 5-1 and Howe and Hart added another in heat 14. In the last race David Howe completed his maximum but Lee Complin took second place from Magnus Karlsson so the race ended as a 4-2 to the home side.


Scorers: Scun'thorpe – Carl Wilkinson 15 (5) (full maximum), David Howe 15 (5) (full maximum), Magnus Karlsson 10+2 (5), Jerran Hart 7+2 (5), Simon Lambert 6+2 (5), Ritchie Hawkins 6 (5).

Stoke – Jesper Kristiansen 10+3 (7), Jason Bunyan 8 (4), Lee Complin 7 (5), Robert Ksiezak 4 (4), Klaus Jakobsen 3 (4), Tom P Madsen 0 (3), Craig Branney 0 (3).



Mark Lemon Testimonial Meeting: .... Australia Select 50, Rest of the World Select 43 .


This testimonial took the format of a regular 15 heat league match between two teams put together for the purposes of Mark Lemon's Testimonial. In front of a very big crowd at the Oak Tree Arena at Somerset the fans were treated to racing between two very strong sides drawn from the Elite and Premier Leagues with the Australian Select emerging triumphant.

After the match there was a Rider of the Night competition with two semi-finals and a final. The final was won by Hans Andersen from Mark Lemon, Leigh Adams and Travis McGowan.


Scorers: Australia Select – Leigh Adams 11 (4), Troy Batchelor 8+1 (5), Adam Shield 8 (4), Mark Lemon 7+1 (4), Travid McGowan 6+1 (4), Steve Johnston 6+1 (5), Jason Lyons 4+1 (4).

Rest of the World Select – Hans Andersen 13 (4) (incl 6 point TR), Peter Karlsson 9 (4), James Wright 7+2 (4), Rene Bach 5 (5), Emil Kramer 4 (4), Justin Sedgmen 3 (5), Joe Screen 2+1 (4).

[Merlin]

Saturday, 19 September



Premier League:

Berwick v. Glasgow
Bewport v. Sheffield
Workington v. King's Lynn

Premier League Knockout Cup Semi-Final:

Rye House v. Edinburgh



Premier League: .... Berwick 47 (2 points), Glasgow 46 (1 point).


Team changes: Berwick were without Tero Aarnio and used Rider Replacement (R/R) in his place at number 2. Glasgow were at full strength.


There was precious little passing in this match but nevertheless it was an entertaining encounter as both sides fought out this league match with gusto with the result a one point win for the home side. Everything was going well for the Bandits until Glasgow produced a 1-8 as a result of a tactical ride in heat 8 which clawed them back into the match from being ten points down to just three.

Berwick opened with a 4-2 from Michal Makovsky and Tamsa Sike, the latter producing an exceptional ride to keep Shane Parker at the back. A 3-3 in the reserves race was followed by a 5-1 from Paul Clews and Josef Franc at the expense of William Lawson but Glasgow hit back with a 1-5 from James Grieves and Lee Dicken who gated for a comfortable maximum and took the score to 13-11.

Franc and Clews again produced a 5-1 in heat 5 this time from Parker and Josh Grajczonek. Makovsky denied Dicken and Grieves repeating their heat 4 success by winning for a shared heat then Berwick added four more points to their lead with another 5-1 from Stan Burza and man of the moment, Tamas Sike, ahead of William Lawson in heat 7. Now ten points down the Tigers gave Josh Grajczonek a tactical ride in heat 8 and he duly rocketed from the gate with his partner, Lee Dicken, leaving Stan Burza desperately trying to get past but in vain. The 1-8 cut the gap to three at 27-24.

The Clews, Franc pairing steadied home nerves again but only with a 4-2 this time as James Grieves split the home pair. This put the Bandits five up but it was back to three when William Lawson overcame his Berwick bogey by winning heat 10. Michal Makovsky fell in the chase and Sandi Conda picked up the valuable third place behind Tamas Sike for a 2-4. Glasgow made further inroads with another 2-4 in heat 11 with another win for Josh Grajczonek ahead of Stan Burza. This time Shane Parker picked up the third place point cutting the gap to just a single point with the 2-4. Home nerves were now jangling but Paul Clews won heat 12 for a shared race and the score then stood at 38-37.

Shane Parker finally came to the party by winning heat 13 but Makovsky and Burza shared the points behind him ahead of Grieves. Finally Berwick put the match out of Glasow's reach with a 5-1 in heat 14 with Josef Franc winning and Tamas Sike passing Lee Dicken and Mitchell Davey on the opening bends to join him for the maximum. It was as well that they did because the Tigers got a 1-5 in the last race as Grajczonek and Parker got their revenge on the Franc, Clews pairing.


Scorers: Berwick – Paul Clews 11+1 (5), Josef Franc 10+1 (5), Tamas Sike 8+2 (6), Michal Makovsky 8 (4), Stan Burza 7+1 (5), Gino Franchetti 3 (5).

Glasgow – Josh Grajczonek 14 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Lee Dicken 11+1 (6), Shane Parker 7+1 (5), William Lawson 7 (5), James Grieves 6+1 (4), Sandi Conda 1 (3), Mitchell Davey 0 (3).



Premier League: .... Newport 51 (3 points), Sheffield 41 (0 points).


Team changes: Newport had Kim Nilsson for Leigh Lanham at number 1 and Kyle Newman for Marek Mroz at number 6. Sheffield were without Richard Hall and used Rider Replacement at number 5. They also had Luke Priest as a guest reserve replacement for Scott Smith at number 7.


Newport finally registered a home league win in their last home match of the season. It was at the expense of a patched up Sheffield side who were reduced to five riders when Hugh Skidmore had to be withdrawn after falling in his opening race.

With Skidmore falling, Ricky Ashworth's win in the opening race was only for a shared heat but the Wasps took a 5-1 in the reserves race and, for good measure, added another in heat 3 through Jordan Frampton and Chris Kerr after Joel Parsons had fallen and remounted on the first bend. Josh Auty steadied the ship for the Tigers in heat 4 but his race win only resulted in a shared race which took the score to 16-8.

Frampton and Kerr added a 4-2 in heat 5 as Ashworth dropped one of the two points he surrendered in six races. Chris Holder fell and was excluded from heat 6 but Kim Nilsson won the rerun for a 3-3 then Sheffield, now ten down, gave a tactical ride to Josh Auty. He responded by beating Paul Fry while Joel Parsons took third after Kyle Newman fell. The 2-7 reduced the Tigers' arrears to five points. Newport replied with a 5-1 from Holder and Jonas Andersson to take the score to 30-21.

Ricky Ashworth won heat 9 for a 3-3. Josh Auty did likewise in heat 10 then Ashworth made it three in a row in heat 11. Then Sheffield scored a 1-5 in heat 12 when Chris Mills and Joel Parsons gated to keep Chris Kerr and Jonas Andersson at the back. This cut the gap to five points again with the score now 40-35.

Ricky Ashworth kept the Sheffield flag flying with another race win in heat 13 but again it was just for a 3-3. Heat 14 had to be rerun twice after an unsatisfactory start then a fall and exclusion for Chris Mills. Finally Jordan Frampton and Kyl Newman clinched the win for the Wasps with a 5-0 after Josh Auty suffered an engine failure while challenging for the lead. Finally Kim Nilsson beat Ricky Ashworth while Joel Parsons took third after Jordan Frampton had fallen and been excluded. The shared race gave the Wasps a welcome 10 point victory for all three points.


Scorers: Newport – Kim Nilsson 11+1 (5), Jordan Frampton 10+1 (5), Paul Fry 7+1 (4), Jonas Andrersson 6+2 (4), James Holder 6+1 (4), Chris Kerr 6+1 (4), Kyle Newman 5+3 (4).

Sheffield – Ricky Ashworth 16 (6), Josh Auty 13 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Joel Parsons 6+2 (6), Chris Mills 6+1 (6), Hugh Skidmore 0 (1), Luke Priest 0 (6).



Premier League: .... Workington 42 (0 points), King's Lynn 51 (4 points).


Team changes: Workington were without Kevin Doolan, Phil Morris and Richard Lawson. They had Jason Lyons as a guest at number 1 for Doolan, Justin Sedgmen at number 2 for Morris and used Rider Replacement (R/R) at number 4 for Lawson.
King's Lynn were without Kozza Smith and used Rider Replacement (R/R) at number 2.

Workington already using R/R for Lawson just couldn't cope with the new league champions with two ineffective guests and a poor return from Adrian Rymel who fell heavily in his second race. Only Andre Compton and the two reserves pulled their weight in an attempt to keep the home side from an embarrassing defeat. King's Lynn with 11 race winners were always in the driving seat.

Darcy Ward and Jan Graversen opened with a 2-4 against the all guest pairing of Jason Lyons and Justin Sedgmen. Linus Eklof won the reserves race for a shared heat then Workington hit back with a 5-1 in heat 3 from Adrian Rymel and Craig Cook to take the lead by two points. Tomas Topinka won heat 4 for a 3-3 taking the score to 13-11.

King's Lynn regained their two point lead with a 1-5 in heat 5 from Ward and Eklof after Adrian Rymel had fallen heavily chasing Ward. The Stars doubled their lead with a 2-4 in heat 6 when Tomas Topinka beat Jason Lyons with Jan Graversen third. The Comets clawed two points back again in heat 7 as Andre Compton won from Schramm and Cook but a 1-5 in heat 8 from Sanchez and Eklof had the home side dtruggling to keep in touch. The score was now 21-27.

The visitors increased their advantage to eight points with a 2-4 in heat 9 as Topinka won again this time from John Branney with Eklof third. They were lucky though as Adrian Rymel suffered an engine failure while leading the race. The difference between the teams rocketed to 12 points after Schramm and Sanchez gated for a 1-5 ahead of Lyons in heat 10. Andre Compton took a tactical ride in heat 11 and won it from Ward and Eklof for a 6-3 but it was too little, too late. Chris Schramm passed Adrian Rymel to win heat 12 for a shared race which took the score to 33-42.

Ward won heat 13 from Lyons and Compton as Topinka was relegated to the back then Workington had another heat advantage in heat 14 when Compton won from Sanchez and Cook for a 4-2 but the Stars replied in kind with a 2-4 from Darcy Ward and Chris Schramm split by Andre Compton.


Scorers: Workington – Andre Compton 17+1 (6) (incl 6 point TR), Craig Cook 8+1 (7), Jason Lyons 7 (5), John Branney 5+3 (5), Adrian Rymel 5 (4), Justin Sedgmen 0 (3).

King's Lynn – Darcy Ward 14 (5), Chris Schramm 10 (5), Linus Eklof 9+3 (7), Tomas Topinka 9 (4), Emiliano Sanchez 7+1 (5), Jan Graversen 2 (5).



Premier League Knockout Cup, semi final, second leg: .... Rye House 49, Edinburgh 41 Edinburgh won through to the final on aggregate by 104-76


Team changes: Rye House were without Robert Mear, Andrew Silver and Tommy Allen. They had Kyle Hughes as a guest at number 6, Ritchie Hawkins as aguest at number 7 and used Rider Replacement (R/R) at number 2 for Mear. Edinburgh were without Kevin Woelbert and used Rider Replacement at number 2 in his place.

This was Edinburgh's fifth match in four days but it brought a spectacular run of wins to an abrupt end as they went down at Hoddesdon to a patched up Rye House team. Not that it mattered though as, carrying a 36 point lead from the first leg, they had secured the aggregate win by heat 7 provided they provided a finisher in each of the last eight heats.

Ryan Fisher won the opening race for shared race and the reserves race also produced a 3-3 after Ritchie Hawkisn had fallen and been excluded from the rerun which was won impressively by Conference League guest Kyle Hughes. The Monarchs then took a four point lead with a 1-5 from Matthew Wethers and Andrew Tully from Joe Haines and Luke Bowen. Linus Sundstrom passed Michal Rajkowski in heat 4 and Ritchie Hawkins' third place gave the Rockets a 4-2 taking the score to 11-13.

Luke Bowen fell in heat 5 but it was Ryan Fisher who was excluded. In the rerun Joe Haines led from the start while Luke Bowen passed Andrew Tully for second and a 5-1 which turned the two point lead in the Rockets' advantage. Neath and Haines added another 5-1 in heat 6 but the Monarchs replied with a 1-5 from Tully and Wethers so the Rockets led by two again. Kyle Hughes won again in heat 8 from Matthew Wethers. Aaron Summers slid off so Ritchie Hawkins took third for a 4-2 and the score was then 26-22 but Edinburgh were now home and dry on aggregate.

The Rockets added two more 5-1s in heats 9 and 10 from Haines and Bowen then Neath and that man. Hughes, again. Ryan Fisher was excluded again in heat 11 as Sundstrom fell entering the first bend on the second lap. Sundstrom withdrew from the meeting after that. In the rerun Michal Rajkowski gated to win the race for a 3-3. Edinburgh hit back with a 2-4 in heat 12 as Andrew Tully rounded Joe Haines for the win while Byron Bekker took third after Kyle Hughes had fallen and been excluded. The score was now 41-31.

Chris Neath won heat 13 from Fisher and Rajkowski for a 3-3 then the Monarchs scored another 2-4 in heat 14 won by Matthew Wethers from Luke Bowen while Aaron Summers held on to third under pressure from Hughes. The last heat was shared as Chris Neath gated again for the win while Wethers and Tully filled the minor places.


ScorersRye House: Home – Chris Neath 13+1 (5), Joe Haines 12 (6), Kyle Hughes 9+2 (7), Luke Bowen 7+3 (5), Linus Sundstrom 4 (2), Ritchie Hawkins 4 5).

Edinburgh – Matthew Wethers 13+1 (6), Andrew Tully 10+2 (6), Michal Rajkowski 8+1 (5), Ryan Fisher 5 (4), Aaron Summers 3 (5), Byron Bekker 2+1 (4).

[Merlin]

Sunday, 20 September



Premier League:


Glasgow v. Birmingham
Newcastle v. King's Lynn



Premier League:.... Glasgow 49 (3 points), Birmingham 41 (0 points).


Team changes: Both teams were at full strength.

When Shane Parker pulled out of this match with damaged knuckles after his second race Glasgow had lost their charismatic number 1 at a time when they were struggling to contain their opponents, However they dug in and with Lee Dicken and James Grieves carrying the fight to the Brummies they not only won but took all three points. Birmingham were unlucky though as Tomasz Piszcz unbeaten from his first two races and leading heat 11 had an engine blow-up which resulted in him failing to beat an opponent after that.

Birmingham got off to the perfect start with an opening heat 1-5 as Tomasz Piszcz and Rusty Harrison led Shane Parker home, Josh Grajczonek having retired from the race. Glasgow replied with a 5-1 from the reserves race which had to be rerun without Jay Herne who fell while lying second in the first running. Birmingham went back in front again after heat 3. Richard Sweetman led from the start while William Lawson had to pass Ludvig Lindgren for second and a 2-4. Glasgow replied with a 5-1 from James Grieves and Lee Dicken from the gate which reversed the two point advantage with the score now 13-11.

Birmingham levelled the scores in heat 5 with a 2-4 when Tomasz Piszcz won from William Lawson who passed Rusty Harrison for second. Jason Lyons gated to win heat 5 from Josh Grajczonek and Shane Parker for a 3-3 then James Grieves won heat 7 from Sweetman and Lindgren for another shared race. It was announced that Shane Parker had withdrawn from the meeting but the home side's spirits were lifted as Josh Grajczonek won heat 8 from Rusty Harrison with Lee Dicken third. The 4-2 took the score to 25-23.

William Lawson suffered a puncture before the start of heat 9 and missed the two minute deadline so was replaced by Lee Dicken who responded by beating Jason Lyons and Jay Herne for a shared race. Richard Sweetman won heat 10 from Grajczonek and Dicken for another 3-3 but Glasgow doubled their lead to four points in heat 11. Tomasz Piszcz looked to have the race in his pocket when leading James Grieves but suffered an engine failure which promoted Grieves to first and Rusty Harrison to second. Mitchell Davey picked up the vacant third place point and the Tigers scored a 2-4. In heat 12 William Lawson won the race but Ludvig Lindgren was excluded after the referee decided that the manner in which he passed Lee Dicken for second constituted unfair riding. This gave Glasgow a 5-1 which put them eight points up at 40-32.

With Parker's withdrawal from a non-speedway injury Glasgow were only able to field one rider in heat 13 but James Grieves kept the Tigers' eight point lead intact by winning the race for a 3-3. With two races to go things looked bleak for the Brummies but Richard Sweetman and Jay Herne threw them a lifline by scoring a 1-5 in heat 14 after Lee Dicken surrendered second place when he lost control on the third lap. There were now just four points between the sides with one race to go but Grieves and Lawson not only won the match with a 5-1 in heat 15 but secured all three points as the Tigers took an eight point victory.


Scorers: Glasgow – James Grieves 15 (5) (full maximum), Lee Dicken 12+3 (7), William Lawson 9+1 (4), Josh Grajczonek 7 (4), Mitchell Davey 4+1 (4), Shane Parker 2+1 (2), Sandi Conda 0 (3).


Birmingham – Richard Sweetman 12 (5), Tomasz Piszcz 7+1 (4), Rusty Harrison 7+1 (4), Jason Lyons 7 (5), Jay Herne 4+2 (5), Ludvig Lindgren 2+1 (4), Craig Branney 2 (3).



Premier League: .... Newcastle 51 (3 points), King's Lynn 42 (0 points).


Team changes: Newcastle were at full strength while King's Lynn still missing Kozza Smith used Rider Replacement (R/R) at number 2.

Newcastle were determined to keep their resurgence going against the newly crowned league champions, King's Lynn, for whom the pressure was no longer so great having won the league championship with a good bit to spare.

The Diamonds opened with a 4-2 from Kenni Larsen who beat Darcy Ward with Derek Sneddon third but Jan Graversen won the reserves race for a shared heat. However it was the last race winner the Stars were to produce until heat 8. Emiliano Sanchez separated the home pairing of Jason King and Rene Bach in heat 3 for a home 4-2 but the Diamonds struck home a 5-1 in heat 4 as Tomas Topinka retired at the back. This took the score to 16-8.

Rene Bach and Jason King added another maximum race win from Darcy Ward in heat 5 to leave the struggling visitors trailing by 12 points and Kenni Larsen kept it that way with a heat 6 race win. Mark Lemon did likewise in heat 7 as the Stars could only fill the minor places behind the home heat leaders. However Emiliano Sanchez (R/R) took a tactical ride in heat 8 and his win produced a 2-7 heat win for the visitors. In a hard ride Sanchez pushed Derek Sneddon to the fence causing him to slip to the back leaving Trent Leverington to take second as the score went to 29-22.

Tomas Topinka who had a poor night produced his one race win of the match in heat 9 for a shared heat but the Stars hit back again in heat 10 with a 1-5 from Chris Schramm and Emiliano Sanchez who led the previously unbeaten Kenni Larsen home. This cut the Diamonds' lead to just three points and the visitors' purple patch continued in heat 11 when Darcy Ward ended Mark Lemon's unbeaten run by winning the race with Jan Graversen in third ahead of Adam McKinna for a 2-4 which left the home side now just one point in front. Chris Schramm made it five race winners on the trot for the Stars by winning heat 12 from Jason King and Trent Leverington for a shared race which took the score to 38-37.

A heat 13 5-1 from Lemon and Larsen ahead of Ward and Topinka was greeted by the home fans with a great sense of relief as the Diamonds had opened up a five point gap with just two races left. They added another maximum in heat 12 as Bach and Leverington won from Graversen after Sanchez had fallen. Now the home side led by nine points leaving King's Lynn needing a 1-5 from the last race to emerge with a point. Kenni Larsen saw to it that that didn't happen by winning heat 15 although Ward and Schramm followed him home for a shared race.


Scorers: Newcastle – Kenni Larsen 12+1 (5), Mark Lemon 11 (4), Rene Bach 9 (5), Trent Leverington 8+4 (5), Jason King 8+2 (4), Adam McKinna 2 (4), Derek Sneddon 1 (3).


King's Lynn – Emiliano Sanchez 12+1 (4) (incl 6 point TR), Darcy Ward 9 (5), Chris Schramm 8+2 (5), Jan Graversen 7 (6), Tomas Tinka 4+1 (4), Linus Eklof 2 (5).

[Merlin]

Wednesday, 23 September



Premier League:..... King's Lynn 55 (3 points), Birmingham 38 (0 points).


Team changes: King's Lynn once again used Rider Replacement (R/R) for the injured Kozza Smith at number 2. They also nominated Scott Campos as their number 8. Birmingham were at full strength.


This was the last league match of the season with all fourteen clubs having completed their league programme for 2009. King's Lynn had already won the championship but Birmingham needed at least a draw from this match to pip Edinburgh for second place. They put up a good fight but like all others before them succumbed to the Stars' home power. The final analysis will show that the Stars won the league by 13 points with 64 to Edinburgh's 51. This wasn't the last meeting of these two sides this season since King's Lynn had already chosen Birmingham as their first round opponents in the play-offs.

Unlike some of their league matches this wasn't quite the 'walk in the park' some might have expected. In the early stages of the match Birmingham demonstrated why they occupied their high position in the league table and why they had challenged the Stars for the championship so well throughout the season. Unfortunately their challenge fizzled out half way through the match as the Stars took control.

Darcy Ward won the opening race for the home side while former Star, Rusty Harrison, took second from Jan Graversen with Tomasz Piszcz tailed off at the back. The 4-2 was followed by a 5-1 in the reserves race which saw the Stars streak into an early six point lead. Ludvig Lindgren produced Birmingham's first race win in heat 3 comfortably heading home Sanchez and Schramm for a shared race then Tomas Topinka won heat 4 while Jason Lyons secured second place for the visitors by passing Jan Graversen for a 4-2 which took the score to 16-8.

It was a different Tomasz Piszcz who emerged to win heat 5 from the one who tailed in last in heat 1. He rounded Chris Schramm on the back straight then held off Schramm's attempts to repass. Unfortunately for him Rusty Harrison was at the back this time so the points were shared. Then came a real sensation in heat 6 as Jason Lyons and Jay Herne gated for a 1-5 to the Brummies with Herne defying all Darcy Ward's attempts to pass him for second. This came as a minor shock to the home side who now found themselves just four ahead. The lead was down to two as Birmingham took another heat advantage in heat 7 as Richard Sweetman became the third Birmingham race winner on the trot when he went round the outside of Tomas Topinka on the second bend to win the race. He was supported by Ludvig Lindgren in third place for a 2-4. Back came the Stars in heat 8 with a Sanchez win from Harrison with Graversen in third for a 4-2 which took the score to 26-22.

King's Lynn increased their lead to six points with another 4-2 in heat 9. It looked as though it might be a 5-1 for the home side when Schramm and Sanchez led after Jason Lyons had missed the gate. However Lyons chased after Sanchez and passed him round the outside at the end of the third lap to restrict the home advantage to two points. After the interval Ward and Eklof threatened a 5-1in heat 10 but Linus Eklof suffered engine trouble allowing Lindgren and Sweetman to pass him for a shared race. Finally the Stars put some distance between themselves and their visitors when Jan Graversen and Tomas Topinka team rode to a 5-1 ahead of Harrison and Piszcz for a ten point lead. This allowed Birmingham to give Ludvig Lindgren a tactical ride in heat 12 and he won it for the full six points. Behind him Graversen and Sanchez team rode to keep Jay Herne at the back so the Brummies had to settle for a 3-6 heat win cutting the gap to seven points with the score now 41-34.

Another 5-1 for the home side from Topinka and Ward increased their lead to eleven points in heat 13 sealing the win. They added a 4-2 in heat 14 when Jay Herne separated Chris Schramm from his partner, Jan Graversen, stretching the lead to 13 points then Topinka and Ward repeated their 5-1 success in heat 13 with another ahead of Lyons and Lindgren in the final heat.


Scorers: King's Lynn – Tomas Topinka 13+1 (5), Jan Graversen 12 (7), Darcy Ward 11+2 (5), Chris Schramm 9+1 (4), Emiliano Sanchez 8+2 (5), Linus Eklof 2+1 (3), Scott Campos 0 (1).

Birmingham – Ludvig Lindgren 12 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Jason Lyons 8 (5), Rusty Harrison 5 (4), Richard Sweetman 4+1 (4), Jay Herne 4+1 (5), Tomasz Piszcz 4 (4), Lee Smart 1 (3).

[Merlin]

Thursday, 24 September



Tweed Tees Trophy, first leg:..... Redcar 48, Berwick 42.


Team changes: Redcar had Chris Kerr as a guest in place of Gary Havelock at number 2. Berwick had Chris Mills as a guest for Tero Aarnio at number 2 and Lee Dicken as a guest for Gino Franchetti at number 7.

There was little between the two sides until the Bears hit home two 5-1s in the last three heats for a six point advantage. Up until then there had not been more than two points between the sides and the lead had changed hands several times.

Berwick started with a 2-4 in the opening heat. Rather surprisingly it was two of the guests who filled first and second places with Chris Mills winning the race from Chris Kerr. Behind them Michal Makovsky left Ty Proctor in last place in a race decided from the gate. Redcar replied with a 4-2 thanks to a win from Stuart Swales over Lee Dicken. Arlo Bugeja passed Tamas Sike for third place and the scores were level again. Josef Franc passed Robbie Kessler in heat 3 for a shared race as Carl Stonehewer finished third. Stan Burza and Lee Dicken then gated and looked like taking a 1-5 from heat 4 but Ben Wilson passed Dicken for second restricting the Bandits to a 2-4 taking the score to 11-13.

Carl Stonehewer was the early leader of heat 5 but he was passed by Michal Makovsky at the end of the second lap resulting in a shared race which kept the Bandits two ahead. Redcar turned things round though with a 5-1 from Ty Proctor and Chris Kerr who passed Stan Burza on the line for second. Now the Bears led by two but their lead lasted just one race as, in heat 7, Josef Franc passed Ben Wilson at the start of the second lap to win the race while Paul Clews took third for a 2-4 which levelled the scores again. Chris Kerr won heat 8 while Chris Mills and Lee Dicken held off Stuart Swales who fell trying to pass them for a 3-3 which took the score to 24-24.

There was no change in heat 9 won by Stan Burza from the gate for a 3-3, nor in heat 10 which Josef Franc won after both he and Ty Proctor had passed Chris Kerr who had made the gate. Then Berwick went back in front again in heat 11. Michal Makovsky won the race while Stuart Swales passed both Ben Wilson and Chris Mills, the latter finishing third for a Berwick 2-4 which put the Bandits back into a two point lead. Redcar levelled again in heat 12 with Stonehewer winning from Paul Clews while Bugeja picked up third while Dicken fell. The score was now 36-36.

Redcar opened a four point gap for the first time in the match with a 5-1 in heat 13 as Ty Proctor and Ben Wilson gated leaving Stan Burza to take third after Michal Makovsky had fallen. Back came Berwick again with a 2-4 as Josef Franc completed a four ride maximum while Stuart Swales took second from Dicken after Robbie Kessler had fallen. Finally the Bears took another 5-1 in heat 15 through Ty Proctor and Chris Kerr who came from the back to pass Burza then Franc for second giving the home side a six point lead to take to Berwick for the second leg.

Scorers: Redcar – Ty Proctor 11 (5), Chris Kerr 10+3 (5), Carl Stonehewer 7+2 (4), Stuart Swales 7 (4), Ben Wilson 6+1 (4), Robbie Kessler 5+1 (4), Arlo Bugeja 2 (4).

Berwick – Josef Franc 13 (5), Stan Burza 8 (5), Michal Makovsky 7 (4), Chris Mills 6 (4), Lee Dicken 5+1 (5), Paul Clews 3 (4), Tamas Sike 0 (3).

[Merlin]

Friday, 25 September



Premier Trophy Final, first leg:..... Edinburgh 54, King's 41.


Team changes: Edinburgh were at full strength while King's Lynn still without Kozza Smith used Rider Replacement (R/R) at number 2.

This is the second time these two teams have met at Armadale this season and it may not be the last time since both are still involved in the Premier League Knockout Cup and Play-offs. Edinburgh are the current holders of the Trophy having beaten Birmingham in last season's final and hoped to make it two consecutive wins. King's Lynn on the other hand, having won the league, were out to make a clean sweep of the team honours.

The Monarchs must be wondering how on earth they only have a 13 point lead to take to the Norfolk Arena on Wednesday. They completely dominated the match restricting the Stars to only two race winners all evening but two heats were killers for them. In heat 8 Linus Sundstrom turned right on Aaron Summers after leaving the starting gate causing both riders to collide and fall heavily before entering the first bend. Summers, who was unbeaten from his three races prior to that heat, found his bike crippled from the crash and he couldn't manage a point from his last three races as he didn't even make it away from the starting gate in two of them. Then in heat 11 they lost a 1-8 cutting a 16 point lead to nine points. With both reserves passengers over the last eight heats the home side couldn't build up the lead they wanted.

King's Lynn will feel happy with this result since they usually manage bigger wins at home than the 13 points they have to pull back. They owe their good position to a stunning 10+5 return from Linus Sundstrom whose fast gating caused the Monarchs a number of problems.

The opening race was a cracker! Darcy Ward burst through the tapes and had to go from 15 metres back. Ryan Fisher and Michal Rajkowski were soon off for a 5-1 but Ward was already on Rajkowski's back wheel down the back straight of the opening lap. Somehow he couldn't pass him though but a race to the fence on the fourth bend of the last lap followed by a stunning cutback left him only inches short on the line. Aaron Summers won heat 2 in a canter while Byron Bekker, after a brief challenge on Linus Sundstrom, was tailed off at the back. The race ended as a 3-3 but Edinburgh hit home another 5-1 in heat 3 against the woeful Schramm, Sanchez pairing who lost three consecutive 5-1s in their three outings together. However in the first running Andrew Tully charged through the tapes and was replaced by Aaron Summers who soon passed early race leader Chris Schramm to head off for the win. Matthew Wethers passed Emiliano Sanchez and chased after Schramm catching and passing him on the line for second place in a brilliant manoeuvre. This put Edinburgh eight points ahead but Tomas Topinka and Jan Graversen gated for what looked like a 1-5 for the Stars in heat 4 until Kevin Woelbert passed Graversen for second restricting their advantage to a 2-4 which took the score to 15-9.

There was a shock for the Monarchs in heat 5 when Linus Eklof stormed from the tapes to lead until the last bend when Andrew Tully passed him in fine style on the inside to deny him the race win. Meanwhile Matthew Wethers got a good view of the action as he followed them round in third with Darcy Ward stuck at the back and unable to make any inroads. The 4-2 put Edinburgh six points ahead and it stayed that way when Eklof gated again in heat 6 to lead Ryan Fisher for a lap. Fisher stormed past him while Topinka was content to take third place for a shared race. Woelbert and Summers gated in heat 7 to win comfortably from Sanchez while Schramm fell at the back, remounted, then retired. The 5-1 increased the Momarchs' lead to 12 points so King's Lynn gave Emiliano Sanchez a tactical ride in heat 8 a move which looked doomed as he hadn't beaten an opponent in his first two races. However Linus Sundstrom's move on Summers caused both riders to crash resulting in a rerun with the referee calling all four back. It was the end of Summers' night. After being checked over by the medics he appeared for the rerun on Kevin Woelbert's bike and looked anything but happy on it. Michal Rajkowski won the race but Sanchez and Eklof took second and third as Summers toiled in vain at the back. This gave the Stars a 3-5 advantage so the score went to 30-20.

Andrew Tully gated to lead Tomas Topinka home in a strung out heat 9. Matthew Wethers took third and the 4-2 put the home side 12 points ahead again. Rajkowski and Fisher gated and team rode to an easy 5-1 in heat 10 ahead of Sanchez increasing Edinburgh's lead to 16 points. However it all went wrong for them in heat 11. Aaron Summers never left the tapes and it looked as though |Kevin Woelbert hadn't either so slow was his start. This was not the best time for woeful gating since Darcy Ward, taking King's Lynn's second tactical ride, and Linus Eklof had the 1-8 sown up by the first bend. Edinburgh's lead was now down to just nine points and an Andrew Tully win in heat 12 didn't result in any advantage for the home side as a slow Byron Bekker finished at the back behind Schramm and Eklof for a 3-3 which took the score to 46-37.

Edinburgh needed to add to their lead for the second leg but Heat 13 brough them no joy. Ryan Fisher raced off to win the race but Topinka and Ward kept Woelbert at the back for another shared race. Matthew Wethers had an easy win in heat 14 but, again, Summers never left the tapes, so Sanchez and Eklof picked up the three gift points for another 3-3. Finally the Monarchs did get a 5-1 in the last race. Ryan Fisher was again fast away while Tomas Topinka moved into second. Andrew Tully, unbeaten since his tapes indiscretion in heat 3, passed him while Darcy Ward fell off at the back on the third lap causing the race to be awarded leaving Edinburgh with a 13 point lead to defend in the second leg.


Scorers: Edinburgh – Ryan Fisher 14+1 (5) (paid maximum), Andrew Tully 11+1 (5), Michal Rajkowski 8+1 (4), Aaron Summers 8+1 (6), Matthew Wethers 7+1 (4), Kevin Woelbert 6 (4), Byron Bekker 0 (3).

King's Lynn – Linus Eklof 10+5 (7), Tomas Topinka 9+1 (5), Darcy Ward 8+1 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Emiliano Sanchez 8 (5), Chris Schramm 3 (4), Jan Graversen 3 (4).

[Merlin]

Saturday, 26 September



Young Shield:

Berwick v. Workington
Stoke v. Somerset



Young Shield, Quarter final, first leg:.... Berwick 37, Workington 57.


Team changes: Berwick already without Tero Aarnio (injured) and Gino Franchetti (riding in the Italian Grand Prix) were rocked when Stan Burza was recalled to ride for his Polish club at the last minute. As a result Berwick were allowed no facility for Burza so had to track John McPhail at number 5. They used Rider Replacement (R/R) for Aarnio and had Greg Blair at reserve at number 7. Workington without Kevin Doolan (injured), Phil Morris (retired), Craig Cook (riding in the National League Riders Championship at Rye House) and Richard Lawson (injured) had Mark Lemon at number 1 as a guest for Doolan, Trent Leverington as a guest at number 2 for Morris, Ben Taylor as a guest for Cook at number 6 and used Rider Replacement for Lawson at number 4.

Losing a heat leader while using R/R left Berwick in some disarray and they were crushed by the Comets to the tune of 20 points leaving the second leg somewhat of a non-event as they have all but cruised into the Young Shield semi-final.

There is little point in picking over the bones of this meeting. Berwick remained on level terms after Michal Makovsky won the opening race but after that it was Workington who steadily pulled away for the 20 point win. It took until heat 11 before the Comets sealed wictory with a 1-5 from Mark Lemon and Trent Leverington but, with the match being decided over aggregate scores, it had become all too clear from the start that Berwick's chances had disolved with the non-appearance of Burza leaving them now to look forward to the Bordernapolis and Tweed Tees Trophy second leg against Redcar to wind their season up.


Scorers: Berwick – Josef Franc 13 (5) (incl 6 point TR), Michal Makovsky 10 (5), Paul Clews 7+1 (4) (incl 2 point TR), Greg Blair 4 (6), Tamas Sike 2 (7), John McPhail 1 (4).


Workington – Adrian Rymel 15 (5) (full maximum), John Branney 12+3 (6), Mark Lemon 11+1 (5), Andre Compton 8+1 (5), Trent Leverington 6+2 (4), Ben Taylor 5+1 (5).



Young Shield, quarter final, first leg: .... Stoke 52, Somerset 43.


Team changes: Stoke were at full strength but Somerset were missing Emil Kramer and Nick Simmons. They had Mark Baseby as a guest at number 7 for Simmons and used Rider Replacement at number 4 for Kramer.

A last heat maximum kept the first leg lead arrears for the Rebels down to nine points setting the return leg up for a close run contest. Somerset though were effectively a three man side with Steve Johnston, Cory Gathercole and Justin Sedgmen scoring all but two of their team total. Stoke looked like building up a healthy first leg lead when they led by 12 points after heat 10 but a 2-7 loss in heat 11 put the brakes on and left them with less of a lead than they might have hoped for to defend in the second leg.

Wins for Steve Johnston and Justin Sedgmen for the Rebels resulted in shared heats 1 and 2 but Stoke broke the deadlock with a 5-1 from Klaus Jakobsen and Lee Complin in heat 3. Somerset replied with a 2-4 in heat 4 when Cory Gathercole won from Jesper Kristiansen while Mark Baseby beat Robert Ksiezak for third. The score after the opening races was then 13-11.

Steve Johnston won again in heat 5 but again only for a 3-3 but Stoke added two points to their lead with a 4-2 in heat 6 after Cory Gathercole had been excluded following a crash involving him and Jason Bunyan. Steve Johnston was out again in heat 7 as R/R for Emil Kramer and won for the third time in another shared race but Stoke took advantage of having to face neither of the Rebels' heat leaders in heat 8 by scoring a 5-1 from Tom P Madsen and Jesper Kristiansen taking the score to 28-20.

Things were looking good for the Potters when they added another 5-1 in heat 9 through Jakobsen and Complin who left Gathercole back in third for a 12 point lead. Somerset gave Cory Gathercole (R/R) a tactical ride in heat 10 but he finished second to Jason Bunyan with Madsen third so the race was shared 4-4. Still 12 points down the Rebels gave Steve Johnston their second tactical ride in heat 11 and this time with Johnston winning for the fourth time they were much more successful by scoring a 2-7 when Justin Sedgmen finished third behind Kristiansen. The home side's lead was cut to seven points but a 5-1 for the Potters in heat 12 from Jakobsen and Kristiansen increased it to eleven again with the score now 44-33.

Cory Gathercole won heat 13 but Jason Bunyan finished second ahead of Steve Johnston so the 2-4 cut the gap to nine points. Stoke increased it to 13 with another 5-1 in heat 14 with Complin and Kristiansen heading Sedgman home but Somerset reduced it to nine again with a last heat maximum from Gathercole and Johnston.


Scorers: Stoke – Jesper Kristiansen 12+2 (6), Lee Complin 10+2 (5), Klaus Jakobsen 10+1 (4), Jason Bunyan 9+1 (5), Tom P Madsen 7 (4), Craig Branney 3+1 (3), Robert Ksiezak 1+1 (3).


Somerset – Steve Johnston 18+1 (6) (incl 6 point TR), Cory Gathercole 14 (6) (incl 4 point TR), Justin Sedgmen 9 (7), Simon Walker 1 (4), Mark Baseby 1 (4), Jari Makinen 0 (3).

[Merlin]

Sunday, 27 September



Premier League Riders Championship at Sheffield:..... Winner: Ricky Ashworth;.....Runner up: Darcy Ward.....Third: Ty Proctor..

The format was a full 16 rider 20 heat Individual meeting with the top two scorers being seeded directly to a Grand Final and the next four top scorers contesting a Semi Final with first and second also going to the Grand Final.

There were five stanzas of four heats in which each rider had one ride. In the first stanza the race winners were Kenni Larsen, William Lawson, Ricky Ashworth and Darcy Ward but after completion of the second set of four races only Kenni Larsen could claim maximum points with two race wins. Sitting behind him on five apiece were William Lawson, Jordan Frampton, Ricky Ashworth and Ty Proctor. Darcy Ward lay in sixth position with 4 points.

A third place for Kenni Larsen in heat 9 behind David Howe and Jordan Frampton opened things up. Darcy Ward stepped up his challenge with a win over Ty Proctor in heat 10 then Magnus Karlsson, after two zeroes, won heat 11 from Jason Bunyan. Heat 12 had to be stopped after Ricky Ashworth fell on the first bend causing the race to be rerun with all four back. Jason Lyons emerged from his doldrums to win the rerun from Ricky Ashworth. Sharing the lead on seven points after all the riders had had three rides each were Kenni Larsen, Jordan Frampton, Ricky Ashworth Ty Proctor and Darcy Ward. Joint sixth on six points each were William Lawson and David Howe.

Into the fourth stanza there was another all four back rerun after Larsen fell on the first bend of heat 13. The rerun was won by Andre Compton from Ty Proctor. David Howe continued his charge through the field by winning heat 14 from Steve Johnston. Ricky Ashworth momentarily took the outright lead by winning heat 15 from William Lawson but he was joined on ten points by Darcy Ward who won heat 16 from Ryan Fisher. Ashworth and Ward were followed in joint third place by David Howe and Ty Proctor both on nine while, in joint fifth place were William Lawson and Jordan Frampton on eight. Still very much in the hunt with seven points each were Kenni Larsen and Andre Compton.

The last set of four races started with a with a classic in heat 17 involving the leaders Darcy Ward and Ricky Ashworth with Kenni Larsen thrown in for good measure. Ricky Ashworth won the heat guaranteeing that he would be one of the two seeded directly to the final. Kenni Larsen finished second with Darcy Ward third. Andre Compton won heat 18 from Steve Johnston then Jordan Frampton and Ty Proctor were pitched together in heat 19 but it was Jason Lyons who won the race while Proctor finished second ahead of Frampton. David Howe and William Lawson featured in the last qualifying race, heat 20. However it was Ryan Fisher who won the race from William Lawson and David Howe.

When the dust had settled and the scoring inspected Darcy Ward was deemed to be the second rider seeded directly to the final. Although he and Ty Proctor had both finished on 11 points, Ward had had more race wins (3) than Proctor (1).

Semi-Final: This was contested by Ty Proctor from gate 1, Andre Compton from gate 2, William Lawson from gate 3 and David Howe from gate 4. David Howe won the race from Ty Proctor with William Lawson third and Andre Compton last. Howe and Proctor joined Ricky Ashworth and Darcy Ward in the final.

Final Ricky Ashworth went from gate 1 in the final with Darcy Ward in gate 2, Ty Proctor in gate 3 and David Howe again in gate 4. Ricky Ashworth won the final from Darcy Ward, Ty Proctor and David Howe the same order as their respective gates. Darcy Ward closed in on Ashworth on the last lap but couldn't pass the Sheffield number one. Congratulations to Ricky.


Scorers from the qualifying heats (all from 5 rides each) [/color]: Ricky Ashworth 13, Darcy Ward 11, Ty Proctor 11, Andre Compton 10, David Howe 10, William Lawson 10, Kenni Larsen 9, Jordan Frampton 9, Ryan Fisher 8, Jason Lyons 7, Steve Johnston 6, Jason Bunyan 5, Tomas Topinka 5, Magnus Karlsson 3, Chris Neath 2, Michal Makovsky 1.