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Olympic Edition
- news - results - div one - div two - div three - statistics - averages - honours - - rider search: gsa/age - rider search: name - transfer list - international standings/averages -
Comment now on the latest news at the Forum SWANS PASS TOTTON TEST Draw takes Caversham to trophy Caversham have won the Division One Cup for the first time after beating Totton in this years final by four. A draw at the Testwood Arena secured the Swans the silverware and is takes them to their second major trophy of the season, they having beaten Long Eaton in the final of the European Cup last month. Club Pairs runners-up Steffan Juhlin (13) and Garry Gould (10+1) were the heroes for the visitors this week, their last heat 5-1 over Simon Snow (10+2) and Lewis Atkins (10) breaking the deadlock in the final. A surprise result given two races earlier it had been the hosts lead riders who had picked up maximum points when the two pairings had met, Gould on that occasion missing from the action after clashing with Snow in the first running of the race. It was a deserved success for David Grainger’s side, who didn’t once let slip the aggregate advantage in the return leg despite taking just a four point lead with them to the south coast, solid performances from their back-up riders—most notably 19 year old reserve Mattias Hageman (9+2)—keeping things tight throughout. Totton have now lost in the final of this particular competition six times, with their only success coming in SL12, they haven’t lifted any major trophy in the six years since. The two clubs will be fighting again for silverware next week, as they—along with Hallamshire and Long Eaton—do battle for the 4TT title. In the league Totton’s hopes of making a late challenge for the title are dwindling, their gap to leaders Bradford having grown to six points as they failed to pick up any of the three on offer on their latest trip to Belfast (L50-39), there are now just 12 left to fight for.TODAY: Shorts Hallamshire completed the first half of a likely second tier double by winning this season’s Division Two Cup. It was far from plain sailing for the Sheffield side, who were 12 down from the first leg when they took on Sedgley for the silverware on home shale this week. They fell further adrift after a fall from Marcin Jaworski (12) in the opening heat at the Tapton Wreck, and wouldn’t get their noses in front in the meeting until the end of heat five. A 5-1 won by second string Connor Nicholls (8+1) gave them the lead on the night, that the first race maximum of five, a run which would see them take a 55-35 meeting win and see them through to the trophy by eight on aggregate. Jaworski won all the other four 5-1’s, two ahead of 19 year old second string Tyler Needleman (9+2) and two from Rafal Grabowski (12+2). Hallamshire went on to win at Stoke 43-47 in the league, a result which takes them six points clear at the top of the division two standings. Stoke end the week ninth, two points adrift of safety.
Promotion looks beyond them but Abdy will end their second season in the sport with a first trophy. Steven Pearce’s side got their hands on the Division Three Cup after completing a two point aggregate win over Dudley in this years final, the Cheetahs runners-up for a second time in three years after failing to hold on to an advantage they’d gained in the opening races of their home return leg. Dudley were on course for victory after wiping off their eight point deficit from the opener—and more—with two 5-1’s and a 4-2 in the first four heats, however the Aces had the better of the remainder of the tie, and eased to a nervous victory despite conceding 4-2’s in each of the final three races of the contest.
Marcin Jaworski (11) beat Steffan Juhlin (2nd) and Samuel Hill (3rd) in a race-off to win his third Grand Prix of the season and consolidate his single point lead at the top of the World Championship. Hallamshire’s world number one remains the man to beat with two rounds of the series to go, although the consistent Juhlin is still ready to pounce should the young Pole slip up.
Buxton’s Danilo Franchini (14) picked the right meeting to fulfil his promise and get on the WSO winners board. The 18 year old Italian the new WU19 Champion after winning this years final in Oslo from fellow British League riders, Waclaw Zawadzki (11) and Petri Couri (11), who completed the podium. Franchini will be back in Oslo next week when he’ll bid to become only the second rider—after Harry Nicholls (SL8)—to win both the WU19 and WU21 titles in the same season.
Back-to-back wins has seen Long Eaton become the closest rivals to Bradford at the top of the league championship standings. They up to second, four points off top, after earning the maximum six this week, three of which came at Bournville where a penultimate race 5-1 won by second string Julian Harrison (9+1) helped they claim a 44-46 victory. In division two the battle for promotion continues to heat up, with both third placed Stirling (47 points) and Sedgley (45) winning away from home 44-46 this week. Bridgwater meanwhile are the in-form team in division three, the second placed side within now four points of top spot after winning at Ernsford Grange.
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