It was all but over after the first leg. Coventry have gone one clear of Beverley in the all-time winners list by making it eight 4TT titles, a score of 45 out of a possible 48 in the opening meeting of this season’s final setting them of their way to their latest success. After finishing third last year, it was top spot once again for Dave Hood’s quartet, who have now lifted the trophy in five of the last six seasons. Beverley were runners-up on this occasion, but they ended the fourth leg some 31 points adrift of the Crusaders on aggregate, York and Pelham a further ten and 13 points back respectively. Coventry began with a bang at Diamond Park, Angus Rogers (12) and John Hawke (12) both scoring maximums in the meeting, while Anthony Collier (11) and pre-deadline day £250,0000 signing Jesper Fransen (10) would each win three out of their four races. Beverley were the only other side to win a race on the night, two to the hosts 14, they’d finish 26 points adrift however. Coventry increased their advantage over the Hellcats with second place finishes to the hosts of legs three and four, the Hellcats taking third on both occasions. Another runners-up spot for Coventry in the last at Figham Road, the battle for the silverware though was over long before the visit to Beverley. After defeats in both the Pairs and Division One Cup finals, the victory is a welcome boost for Coventry ahead of the title run-in, a race which seems to be heading their way after this weeks results took them five points clear with just six left to race for, Houston slipping back with bonus points defeats in both their meetings and a 12 point loss at Blackpool.

It’s three top flight campaigns in a row that have now ended in relegation for Warley. A 54-36 loss at York sending them down with two meetings to spare, just 12 months after they won promotion to the highest level for a record seventh time. Last years division two champions Beverley (38 points)—who travel to Warley on the final day—look set to follow them down, however they gave themselves a chance of survival by ending an eight meeting winless run with a 48-42 home victory over Blackpool. Doncaster (38) are currently below them in ninth on points difference, Fort William (40) their target in seventh. The third of the SL35 promoted sides Brighton (43) are all but safe in fifth, and have already qualified for Europe next season courtesy of their KO Cup final appearance, which they go into their home second leg of as favourites to win, having limited their opponents St Ives to a 47-43 victory in the opening meeting of the final in Cornwall. There’s a three way battle for the one remaining European spot in SL37, with Houston (47), York (46) and Blackpool (45) all vying to join the Rockets, St Ives and Coventry in the competition.

Beverley’s Fredrik Alquist (13) is back in the World Championship race after landing his second GP win of the season—and of his career. Having gone from top to fourth in the standings with a poor result in Germany—where he scored just four—the 32 year old Swede was back to his best in York, three straight heat wins plus second place finishes to Adam Bennett (11) in heat 16 then Branimir Klepp (10) three races later taking him to the British GP title. Bennett finished second on the night, Klepp third after winning a race-off against Herman Stanic and Milan Grof. Stanic still leads the overall standings, Alquist climbs back up to second, two points adrift of the pace with the meeting in Poland to come.

Five WSO meeting wins from six now this season for Jay Partridge (12), with the latest success earning him his biggest prize yet. The BU19 and 21 Champion made it a hat-trick of titles in the WU19 Final at Warley, but it was hard work for the Buxton youngster, who needed a race-off win over Valentin Mervar (2nd) and Marcin Piotrowski (3rd) to secure the trophy. A shock result given both riders had beaten him in the main meeting, he also had the opportunity to take the win outright in heat 20, but was caught on the line by Jarek Krol (10), which forced the extra race. Partridge goes for trophy number four next week in Blackpool, where the WU21 final takes place, both Mervar and Piotrowski line-up too looking for revenge.

Buxton (55 points) need just a point from their remaining two meetings to secure promotion to the top flight for the first time. But the job is all but done for Martin Harvey’s side after their 48-42 win over Midland (45). Nottingham (54) and Sandwell (50) currently lie second and third in the division two standings, the former travel to fourth placed Pelham (49) on the final day, a side who’ll still fancy their chances of going up despite a trip to the unbeaten at home Timperley (48) in the penultimate round. Meanwhile Kev Lilley’s Boslover became the first side to secure promotion from division three with a 51-39 win over East Goscote.