Competition debutants Blackpool are into the semi-finals of the European Cup after holding back the challenge of Gyor in Hungary this week. Dave Hood’s side took a nine point lead into the second leg and looked to be comfortably sailing through when a run of four 4-2’s in the space of five heats extended that advantage into double figures. However a tricky finish to the tie had to be negotiated by the Blaze after the concession of back-to-back 5-1’s to the hosts in heats 11 and 12, their reserve Jesper Franzen (7+2) beating two of Blackpool’s top four, Ashley Smith (6) and Andrew Butler (4+2), in turn. Blackpool however received a huge slice of luck in heat 12, with Gyor number one Edo Pelc (10) falling while challenging for the lead, what should have been a 4-2 for the Hungarian’s transposed into a 4-2 for the visitors. Breathing space for the Blaze, who could now finished the job off in the penultimate heat, the minor places from Davide Natali (10) and reserve Tyler Holder (5+1) sending them through to the last four. Next up for them a tie with Danish side Horsens, which means we are guaranteed at least one first-time finalist in SL35. Holders Houston meanwhile began their bid to reach the final of the competition for the third time in four years with a 17 point first round aggregate victory over Prague, eight wins in the Czech capital from the Mustangs heat leaders helping complete the convincing success. George Seymour’s side take on Pori for a place in the final, the Finns going through by two against Coventry thanks to a 48-42 home second leg win, in which home reserve Dobry Czerwinski (10) raced to three heat victories.

Peckleton have been cast 11 points adrift from safety at the bottom of division one despite taking leaders Coventry to the final heat on their travels. That fixture ended in a 46-44 defeat, a strong result given the opposition, the two point loss at home to eighth place York was anything but. The Raiders failed to get much out of either Marcin Syminski (15+3) and Adam Bennett (15), who between them raced to seven heat wins, as many as the home side put together. The two riders combined to score 5-1’s in heats nine, 11 and 13 plus a match winning 4-2 in the last heat decider! York went on to beat second placed St Ives at home again by a two point margin, a result which sees them close to within two points of seventh placed Fort William and safety.

Beverley are one shy of equalling a club record eight league meetings unbeaten after beating St Barts 53-37 at home. Second string Kai Goodwin (11+1) scored his first maximum of the campaign in the success, and only his second of a career which now spans 163 league meetings. Earlier the 24 year old had contributed a heat three win and three second places from his four rides as the Hellcats picked up an impressive 43-47 victory at second placed Timperley, ending the Titans own club record nine meeting unbeaten run in the league. On this occasion recent £850,000 signing Frank Alquist (15) went through the card unbeaten, the maximum the Swede’s fifth in the eight meetings since joining the club from Sandwell.

Houston’s world number nine Branimir Klepp (13) bounced back from surprise late defeats to Niki Wangsgard (5) and Sebastian Bong (7) to win a race-off for the Scandinavian Championship. Klepp beat Rasmus Wilhelmsen for a second time in the meeting to win the title for the second time, three years after his first success. The victory is Klepp’s fifth of his WSO career and his second of the season, the Norwegian having won his semi-final meeting earlier in SL35. Cato Kalberg (10) completed the podium and becomes the third rider from Malmo to qualify for this years Grand Prix series. Those who finished fourth to seventh get another shot of qualification via the Play Off round, last years Scandinavian champion and the current world number 16 Ragnvald Ringstad (6) missed out of that meeting.

York riders won the last six races to overturn a six point deficit and win the first leg of their KO Cup second round tie at Blackpool. The 44-46 victory sets them up nicely for the return meeting, when they’ll bid to reach the quarter-finals of the competition for the third time in five years. Both other all-top flight ties also ended in two point victories, one for the home side—hosts St Ives beating Houston—and one for the away, with Coventry claiming success at Witham. They did so thanks to 5-1’s from John Hawke (15) and Angus Rogers (14+3) in heats 13 and 15, both riders had also been used as tactical substitutes earlier on in the night as the Crusaders recovered from a 26-16 deficit. Elsewhere top flight Nottingham have plenty of work to do if they are to overcome division two side Warley next week, the Warriors winning their home leg 50-40 after scoring three 5-1’s in the final six races, two of which involved their recent reserve loan signing, 18 year old Pole, Waclaw Borkowski (8+2).