One of only two sides to retain the KO Cup, Newport Pagnell have now won the competition for a third time in four seasons. Final opponents Wilmington were bidding to become the first side from division three to win the competition, however a 12 point first leg defeat at the Knights left them with a lot to do to achieve their goal ahead of their home return. Four heats into the Common Lane clash and it looked all but over for the hosts, with Glenn Ford’s side extending their advantage to 18 after following up a Daniz Rask (10)/Alex Gallagher 5-1 with a couple of 4-2’s. Iain Brine has put together a talented side at Wilmington though, and not only that they have three youngsters in Michael Langhome (17), Vitas Kolesnichenko (12) and the on loan heat leader Christian Lindblad (7+1) who are full of ambition and fight. And fight they did, racing to nine heat wins between them they took the Knights all the way to heat 14 before eventually succumbing, the trophy would be going the way of Newport Pagnell—eventual aggregate winners by four—but it could have been so much different if they just hadn’t being giving such a good start.

Three in a row for Deniz Rask (11) in this years GP series as he took the Polish round victory with a race-off win over Valeri Elin (2nd) and Bengt Karim (3rd). It was the Wilmington man who stood top on one podium, however Karim took the main prize, his consistent scoring throughout the current GP series earning the Plock and Swedish international rider his third World Championship title in six years. The challenge of defending champion Bernd Hoover (8) faltered in Warsaw, just one win on the night for the Bridgwater rider, whose last place finish in heat 16 ended his hopes of gaining a third world crown himself. At 24 though he’ll have plenty of other opportunities of adding to his tally, likewise at 26 Rask has a big future ahead of him. Bring on SL28.

Just one promotion place was left up for grabs ahead of the final rounds on the division two campaign. Nottingham big favourites to claim it, and they did so with a home win over Bolsover. It’s a second successive promotion for Michael Wright’s Red Stars, who have achieved division one status in the quickest possible time. New Forest meanwhile finished the season with a 42-48 victory at Bolsolver, the match not just their last of SL27, but one which closed the curtain on a successful 16 years in the sport for them. The Knights—promoted by John Shuttler—have struggled in their first campaign back in division two after 13 years in the top flight, a 13 year spell in which they won the league title a record seven times as well as 12 other major trophies! Wordsley meanwhile claimed the second tier title from Oxford, as the latter lost their advantage at the top with a shock home loss against Maldon.

Durham came out on top in their battle with Bristol for the final promotion place in division three. Just. Points difference separating the two sides in the end, with Neil Magee’s side boosting their advantage with a whopping final day 61-29 victory over Kesgrave. Durham—relegated just last year—will begin a seventh different spell in division two in SL28. Loughton meanwhile confirmed the third tier title win with victory over Manston.