|
|
|
|
Diamond Edition - ENHANCED
- news - div one - div two - div three - other results - transfer list - averages - - statistics - rider search: gsa/age - rider search: name - club honours - international tables/averages - Comment now on the latest news at the Forum QUICK ON THE DRAW St Ives complete convincing Euro triumph St Ives have won the European Cup with plenty to spare of this years final with Danish giants Horsens. A first victory in the competition for Nick Ward’s side in fact completed prior to the final three races of the second leg in Denmark, where a heat 12 4-2 from second string Venedict Smolin (7+1) and reserve Thomas Black (5+3) secured them the silverware. Smolin become the fifth different visiting rider to win a race in the meeting in the process, in contrast the hosts top two raced to eight of their nine, they lacking the strength in depth below Yuri Duskin (15) and Cameron Ross (10) in the line-up to compete adequately with the British side. Duskin—who finished as runner-up in last years World Championship—scored his second maximum in this years competition, but it was to no avail, with St Ives travelling back with a draw under their belts, a result which earned them the trophy by a convincing 14 point aggregate margin. As well as a first win this competition, it’s only the fifth major trophy won by St Ives in their 28 year history, a below par tally given they’ve spent 20 years in the top flight. That they have still to win the league title in that time is a major disappointment to Ward and the club as a whole, they finished as runners-up for a fifth time last season and are eight points off the pace in SL36 and currently in the bottom half of the standings. Chances of more silverware this year lie in the KO Cup, they continued the defence of that title this week with a first leg semi final 49-41 defeat at division three leaders Bolsover, a deficit they’ll be expected to overcome with their home return leg to come.TODAY: Shorts Pelham (111) turned a maiden second round 4TT appearance into a first final one after winning their latest tie ahead of two top flight teams. Nick Howard’s quartet—which included recent £21,000 signing from Kassel, Jesper Dahlgren—were vying with St Ives for top spot throughout, but eventually cruised through after finishing as joint winners of the final leg at Rhondda as the Pirates trailed in last, scoring just 18 points. Dahlgren picked up a useful seven points alone in that meeting but didn’t win a heat, the Zaz’s top two of Adamec Krupa (8) and Waclaw Borkoswki (8) picked up two victories apiece. Pelham’s will be up against it when they make their final debut and look to become only the second side from outside of division one to win the competition in 23 years, their opponents having lifted the trophy 16 times between them! Holders York (108) will be looking for their third success, they back in the decider after claiming the spot reserved for the highest scoring runners-up from the three second round ties, they were headed by just four points by Beverley (112) this week, who sailed through by scoring 37 in the fourth leg on home shale. Coventry (138)—who like the Hellcats have won the competition a record equalling seven times—won all four legs of their tie to reach the final for a seventh year in a row.
Having reached the halfway point of the season in seventh, Houston are now up to a season high second thanks to a draw at fellow title challengers York. A great result would have been even better for the Mustangs but for the concession of a last heat 4-2, still the second place from Branimir Klepp in the decider was gladly expected by the Mustangs, who had claimed just two away points in SL36 prior to the meeting. York slip to third following the draw, which saw the visitors take the bonus by four on aggregate. Coventry have increased their advantage at the top of the table to four points, despite a 49-41 loss at Houston earlier in the week. At the other end of the table Fort William—who’ve been in the drop zone all season—boosted their chances of survival with a 44-46 victory at sister club Beverley, where former Hellcat Fredrik Ren (8+2) raced to two wins from his four rides at second string, which included a crucial heat 14 victory over Ruda Svehla (5+1). The Wildcats remain ninth, but are now just three points off Beverley—who slip to seventh—in the standings.
Buxton returned to the top of the division two table for the first time in over four months with a 44-46 win at previously leaders Sandwell. Henrik Vargo (13+1) secured the points in the top of the table clash by beating Marek Siadaczka (14+2) in the last heat decider. Bolsover meanwhile extended their advantage at the top of division three to three points with home and away wins, the latter a 41-49 success at Bury, East Gostcote are back up into second after winning at Great Barr, 43-47.
A second career GP win for Adam Bennett (11) who added to his SL34 British success with a win in Denmark this week. The York and New Zealand rider topped the standings by a point from Robin Dahlberg (2nd) and Fredrik Alquist (3rd).
Comment now on the latest news at the Forum |
|
