|
|
|
|
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 COLTS OVER THE FIRST HURDLE, AGAIN Houston continue record run Houston are into the second round of the KO Cup for the 18th consecutive season after coming through their all top flight tie with Bradford. The Colts—one of 11 founder members of the British League to have appeared in every season of the competition—maintained their 100% record in the opening round after successfully overturning a first leg ten point deficit at The Stables this week. On paper it looked as if it was a tie that could have gone either way, Houston soon turned the odds in their favour however, scoring back-to-back 5-1’s in the opening two races, before levelling the aggregate scores with a 4-2 in heat three. Second string Maris Zizilev (10+1) won the first of the maximums ahead of his number one Boris Monyak (13+2), it was the same pairing that gave the hosts the overall lead in the tie six races later by scoring their side’s third 5-1, a remarkable one given that Bradford boss Dave Robinson had sent Ross Nicholls (7+1) into the race as a tactical substitute. That result really knocked the stuffing out of the visitors, a third Monyak/Zizilev 5-1 in heat ten hit them even harder, leaving the league leaders 16 down on the night, six adrift on aggregate. Bradford ensured the fight for the second round berth would go on by striking back immediately with their first 5-1 of the meeting in heat 11, however a fourth Houston full house in heat 13 followed by a Hans Willemssen (12+1) victory in heat 14 confirmed yet another spot in the last 16 for George Seymour’s side. Next up for the Colts—who have lifted the trophy three times—is a tie against East Hull, who maintained their own 100% record (3/3) in the first round by beating Abdy.TODAY: Shorts Bradford bounced back from their KO Cup exit by extending their unbeaten league run to six with victory at Harringay. The 40-49 win takes the Speedsters three points clear at the top of division one as we hit the one-third mark of the campaign, 19 year old reserve Dusan Blahnik (8+3) sealing the visitors the points with victory over Harringay second string Liam Harris (7+1) in heat 14. Blahnik—who cost Bradford £25,000 as a 17 year old—moves back into the Speedsters top five at the latest GSA change, a change that takes the league leaders over the 47 limit and leaves boss Dave Robinson with the prospect of having to drop the promising Czech youngster from his line-up. Harringay meanwhile have now lost 11 of their opening 12 division one fixtures since sealing their second successive promotion, the Hoods end the week 11 points adrift of safety.
Wednesfield’s 108-72 aggregate victory over Kent is the biggest ever by any club in the first round of the KO Cup. Jerek Szczepanski (13+2) scored his third maximum of the season for the Wasps in the rout, with the margin of victory also the biggest in eight years at any stage of the competition. Daz Smith’s side face Stourbridge in round two, the Scorpions having beating Chesterfield home and away in round one. An upset of sorts came at Harringay, with second division—in the form of Sedgley—beating first over two legs by four. Still a rare meeting win for the Hoods this season, they 49-41 winners on the night, but the Sprites go through to face Hallamshire on aggregate, Beck Sundling (10) and Alex Zakreshevsky (10) securing the visitors passage with a last heat 4-2. Belfast have drawn Caversham at the second round stage, that one of three all division one last-16 ties, the two sides have previously met three times in the competition, the Sinks winning all three. Holders Long Eaton open their defence with a trip to Shetland, last years runners-up Mansfield take on Totton.
Stourbridge suffered their biggest ever home league defeat in their 18 year history this week. Uzor Rosko (13) and second string Callum Armstrong (11+2) scored a last heat 5-1 for Barnsley to set the new unwanted low mark for the Scorpions at 39-50, it was the third heat maximum scored by the Bears on the night, 19 year old Jan Vogel (8+1) had been involved in both the previous two. Barnsley moved two points clear at the top following the victory, Hallamshire back up to second after they beat bottom side Stirling 41-49 on the road with the help of a paid eight from 19 year old second string, Joshua Hay, Swinton slip to third despite picking up an away point for a draw at East Hull.
Disappointment in Prague for British Champion Lewis Atkins (6) who made an unexpected early exit from this years World Championship. The current world number four—who won the European round and finished on the podium twice more in last years GP series—finished without a win and outside of the necessary top eight places in the first round qualifier won by Stirling’s Joseph Goldwire (13). Two of Adkins’s fellow SL17 GP riders—Jarek Szczepanski (15) and Kenne Balle (3)—also failed to make the cut from the tie. Dudley’s Lech Wysocki (12) won the second of this weeks meetings in Barnsley.
|
|
