Revenge for Putney in this years 4TT final as they took the silverware by a clear 16 points from holders Lane End. This time last year it was the Trappers celebrating pulling off a single point victory over the competition’s most successful side, the SL36 decider was certainly more one-sided; and it was Putney who had the upper-hand. Pairs champions Kimmo Laakso and Juhani Mantyla were joined by Jindra Kubes and Yevgeni Orlov to form a quartet that would dominate the final from the second leg onwards, a meeting held at the Lane End Stadium. Laakso (11) and Kubes (11) dropped just a point apiece on the Trappers circuit as Putney pulled off a remarkable four point leg victory, they leading the meeting from Mantyla’s (7) win in heat one to the final race, at one stage going eight points clear of their hosts. The result gave Neil Boniface’s side a two point lead in the final at the halfway stage, and they still had their home leg to come. Swanage won the third leg on home shale, but they were still 12 points adrift of the pace heading to Tibetts Corner, were Putney had the formality of wrapping things up on home shale. A run of four wins and a second in the five races from heat eight onwards saw them do just that, Mantyla (12) would finish the night by recording the only maximum by any rider in this years final, Kubes (10) and Laakso (10) also contributed double figures scores as Putney racked up 37 in the meeting to take their aggregate tally to 117. The victory is a record extending 11th in the competition for Putney, Swanage are next on the all-time winners list with just four wins to their name.

It was confirmed this week that Dover and Nottingham will replace two of the relegated sides from the top flight next season. It was Nottingham’s home 49-41 win over fourth placed Bracklesham which ended their duos wait for a top flight return, in the Jazz’s case after just one year, for Dover it’s been an gap of three. Nottingham had earlier won at Medeswell, 43-47, that result part of a run of six straight league wins for the Jazz as they close to within a point of the Silkmen in the second tier title race. Medswell (40 points) responded to that defeat by winning at Tresco (40), 39-51, a result which took them above the Tigers on points difference in the battle to avoid the drop, with the pair ending the week a point clear of eighth placed Wordsley. Tresco also won on the road this week, beating the now relegated bottom side Wirral, 42-48. Bolsover have also been relegated.

Houston’s first season back in the league after a 14 year absence has been a successful one. George Seymour’s side promoted to division two this week with three meetings to spare following a 48-42 home win over second placed Warrington (56 points), who are all but certain to follow them up. Farnham (52) and Poole (51) are in a battle for third, both pulled clear of Benfleet (47) following away draws, with the former taking theirs at the Robins, while Poole’s meeting at Calne also ended all-square.

Reading’s Aarno Saarinen (14) has gone top of the World Championship standings after winning the British Grand Prix in Swanage. After dropping a point to eventual runner-up on the night Charles Trosky (12) in heat three, the 31 year old Finn won his next four to take his second career GP title. Odell Mattiessen (11) beat Kimmo Kaakso in a race-off for the third podium spot.