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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 ALL GOING SWIMMINGLY Swans stun leaders and progress in cup Caversham brought to an end Bradford’s six meeting unbeaten league run with a stunning 42-48 win at Bodhall before recording back-to-back cup victories. The Swans took down the leaders on their own patch with a run of three 5-1’s in the closing four races, reserve Harry Peck (7) and Isakov Pavel (10+1) benefiting from a Scott Read exclusion in heat 12, Garry Gould (14) and Staffan Juhlin (12+2) beating Ross Nicholls (13) and Jeppe Hildebrandt (7) to earn more deserved maximums for the visitors in heats 13 and 15. A fantastic finish to the night for David Grainger’s side, who carried that momentum into their European and Division One Cup ties, they winning the first leg of their clash with Gyor, 49-41, before sealing a semi-final spot in the latter competition with a 48-42 victory over Bournville. Whichever team won that meeting was certain to claim the final place in this years last four, a draw though would have handed Houston a sniff at qualification. And that was still a possibility heading into the last, one Gould (15) and Juhlin (12+1) ended with another heat 15 advantage, this time a 4-2 taking them over the line, Gould claiming his second maximum of this season’s competition, Juhlin denied his first by Alex May (12). It’s only the second time in nine attempts Caversham have made it through the first round stage, they do so as group winners and will have to beat Belfast over two legs in they are to make a maiden final appearance. Bradford—who didn’t ride this week—finish as runners-up to the Swans and will take on another previous winner in Totton in their semi-final, the Tigers topping their section after winning at Long Eaton, 44-46.TODAY: Shorts Bradford’s fall from the summit was a brief one—they lost top spot to Houston after that Caversham defeat—with a victory at Balham seeing them return to the head of the standings. The Speedsters became the first side to win at Trinity Road in the league this season when Ross Nicholls (13) and Jeppe Hildebrandt (12+1) scored their sides third 5-1 of the meeting in the final race, the maximum aided by a fall and subsequent exclusion from the re-run for home number one, Daniel Pesola (8+1). The 44-46 win sees them end the week two points clear of Totton, who are back up to second have smashing Belfast on the road, 36-54. The defeat was by far the Sinks biggest ever on home shale in any competition, and their first in double figures in their 313 league meetings at Bodhall. Lewis Adkins (14+1) scored his first five ride maximum of the campaign for the Tigers as the records tumbled, there were three wins apiece for Simon Snow (13+1) and Izak Zaloudek (9)—who could have had four out of four but for a mechanical retirement—while like Atkins, reserve Ryan Dale (6) finished with season best figures. The margin of victory was just two shy of Totton’s biggest ever road trip win, which remains their 20 point success at Epping in SL9. At the other end of the table, more misery for Harringay, the bottom side losing for the 13th time in 14 fixtures this season when entertaining ninth placed Bournville, who secured the points in their own relegation battle, 43-47, with a last heat Harry Thorpe (11)/Alex May (12+1) 5-1.
Matt Akers duo Barnsley and Hallamshire have pulled further clear at the top of division two after they both recorded away wins. Leaders Barnsley sneaked a single point victory at Swinton—who began the week in third—with a last heat 5-1, it was their third race maximum of the contest, the first two had both come in the opening three races, earning the visitors an eight point lead at the time. Swinton trailed right up until the end of heat 14, when a 5-1 of their own earned them the lead for the first time and the chance of what had been an unlikely looking victory. However George Shields (10) and Uzor Rosko (12+1) dramatically turned the meeting back the way of the Bears in the decider. Hallamshire’s own third away win of the campaign was returned at Stoke, heat 13 and 15 Marcin Jaworski’s (14+1 from six) winning 5-1’s taking the Sheffield visitors to a 42-48 success in a meeting they had trailed in by ten.
Another up and down week for Bridgwater who once again partnered a division three home defeat with an away win. The good news came first for the Builders, who won at Ernsford Grange 43-47 despite reserve Jamie Prater scoring 9+2 on debut for the hosts. Unluckily for the 56ers, Prater’s second win of the night in heat 14 was sandwiched by 5-1’s from the visiting top two of Durko Kalban (13+1) and Sampsa Nikula (13+1). More double figure scores for Kalban (15) and Nikula (12+1) for Bridgwater when they hosted Wednesfield later in the week, but the second placed side came out on top, 43-46, despite their riders recording just four heat wins between them.
Hallamshire’s Marcin Jaworski (14) began the defence of his world title with a first round win in Malmo. The second of this weeks ties in Pskov was won by Caversham world number 12, Staffan Juhlin (13).
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