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A long hard season reached it’s climax this week, with Matt MacDonald not just lasting the pace, but setting it. Others fell by the wayside, but not the 24 year old Birkenhead Bombers man, who this week not only starred for his club, but his country too. MacDonald is the toast of the nation, as expected he become the first Englishman to win the World Championship—another double figure haul bagged this week in the final GP in Poland—and then two days later he leads the Lions to World Cup glory in Lyme Bay in a pulsating final against the Swedes. Over 7,000 packed into Rolle Park to see the Lions claim their second World Cup in three years, although after heat five many in the crowd would have been resigned to defeat for the home nation, the Swedes eight up after a couple of early 5-1’s. The belief returned to the terraces with MacDonald’s (13+1) first win of the night in heat six, the Lions taking maximum points as Ashley Wilkins (4+3) fought hard to take second, Graham Davis (11+1) and reserve Carl Riley (10+1) then levelled things in heat seven with another 5-1, game on. The mid point of the meeting again belonged to the Swedes, the visitors taking five wins from six, races which provided them with three heat advantages and a six point lead going into heat 13. The big-hitters race was going to be pivotal, Charlie Levin (11) was unbeaten, another win for him and it was game over. MacDonald was fired up for this one, he’d already lost out to the Swede and wasn’t about to again, both gated well but the Brit clamped down on his pray going into the first corner, Davis flew around both, maximum points were going the Lions way—the crowd went wild. England’s deficit was now two points, but not for long, Riley proved again a trump card at reserve, winning heat 14 in a 4-2, back to level pegging going into the last. MacDonald and Davis joined forces once more for the decider, these two were not going to be beaten, they charged powerfully from the gate, double-teaming Levin who was just as determined, he though couldn’t find a way through the ever decreasing gap going around the first bend, the England pair were away, now all that was left was for the crowd to cheer them home. 5-1, England were crowned champions. It was a fitting end to the season, and end to the career of manager Dave Lewis, who bows out from not only the national side but also his club side, Lyme Bay too. His proudest moment would be to see England lift the trophy on his home track, a circuit which has seen it’s fair share of club silverware paraded around it. MacDonald was back as Lyme Bay closed their gates for the final time later in the week, Birkenhead their final league opponents, the Bucs securing yet another win. They can claim to be one of the most successful clubs in the sports history, they have won every competition at least one and will be a great loss to the sport.

One cannot overstate the workload Matt MacDonald (9) has had over the final weeks of the season, so many important meetings, not least the small matter of a KOC final second leg at Framlingham Knights this week, sandwiched in-between his other Birkenhead Bombers and England commitments. His priority has always been to those that paid his wages, whether Gloucester or now the Bombers, and earning some silverware for them this season was his number one goal. He wasn’t at his best—winning just one race on the night—but thankfully others stepped up to cover, Matt Fyfe (10) and reserve Brian Davidson (9+1) both wining twice as Birkenhead contained the Knights to an eight point victory, which meant the Bombers would win by two on aggregate. The final scores may have been close, but it was a deserved success for Birkenhead, who were in front all evening and only a run of three home 4-2’s at the death prevented a bigger victory. It’s Birkenhead’s—and their promoter Glyn Hughes’s—first major piece of silverware since their promotion to the top flight two season ago.

The record points tally didn’t fall in division one, Stockport Shaleblasters somewhat taking their foot off the gas with the title safe long ago. This week they suffered a shock home defeat against a determined Derby Spirit side, the visitors 43-47 winners. Stefan Kek (1st) and Daniel McCann (2nd) used the meeting as a warm up for the final GP in Poland, and to good effect, both tried out new machinery in Stockport, bikes which earned them the first two spots in Krakow.

There were more twists and turns in the division two championship race this week, Somerset Wolves sitting top of the table when it mattered, with those that started the week there—Buxton Highwaymen—dropping down to third. A 44-46 win at Wisbech helped see the Wolves pick up maximum points, 18 year old reserve Adrian Williams (12) putting his best performance of the season in when it mattered most. Buxton meanwhile ended the season with a two point defeat at home to Parkstone, a result which saw not only the Wolves but also Newhaven Knights leapfrog above them in the table, the Knights having won 38-52 at Aberavon Flyers. Totton have to settle for fourth place for the second successive season. Aberavon’s home defeat sees them finish in the bottom three, Ipswich clambering above the Flyers on the final day.

Eastbourne Bulldogs end their first season in the league as champions of division three, although Border Raiders did close to within a point of them with a final week win over Great Yarmouth (41-49). The Bloaters defeat saw Tipton Tornadoes—winners at Kent (43-47)—promoted in third.

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