More cup misery for Glasshoughton as their KO Cup exit was swiftly followed by elimination in another competition. Out of the Division One Cup go the four-times winners at the semi-final stage, with Bridgwater’s strong SL27 form away from league racing continuing as they completed a six point aggregate success with a draw at the Gazelles this week. The Pairs Champions reached their second final of the season—they also remain in the hunt for two further final appearances (KO Cup and 4TT)—despite seeing their first leg advantage wiped out as early as heat three of the return at the Broomhill Arena, the visitors recovering to progress with a race to spare after scoring three 5-1’s in the space of seven races. The third from Kevin Dobinson (8+2) and reserve William Adolfson (8+2) confirmed their spot in the SL27 decider, earlier Bernd Hoover (16+1) had picked up maximum points as a tactical substitute alongside Dobinson in heat seven and then with second string Andrew Walker in heat 11. Hoover had the measure of his opponents all night, his only defeat in six races coming in heat 13 against Adam Schofield (13) when he fluffed the start. Last years runners-up Bridgwater—who lifted the trophy in SL23—face Whitemoor in the final, a six point defeat for the Witches in the second leg of their last four tie at Colney Hatch this week, but they’d done all the hard work in the first leg, winning that 54-36. It’s the first time Trevor Walker’s side have reached the final in five attempts, they’ve yet to meet the Baboons over two legs in the competition, but have lost on aggregate on all three occasions they have met them in the KO Cup, including in last years semi-final.

Second tier double hunters Nottingham made their way through to the Division Two Cup final after beating fellow promotion chasing Oxford in the last four by eight on aggregate. The Mavericks made a good fist of overturning their 16 point first leg deficit, but all hopes went with the concession of a heat 14 5-1 to visiting tactical substitute Staffan Sandqist (7+1) and recent Red Stars second string signing, Matthew Elliott. Nottingham are looking to become the first club in 17 years to follow up victory in the Division Three Cup, with success in the second tier competition a year later. SL14 winners Netherton stand in their way of doing just that, the Heathens having qualified for a record equalling fourth final with a ten point aggregate victory over Wordsley, two wins from reserve Connor Houghton (9) helping them achieve their 53-37 home second leg success this week.

55-35 home wins sent both Halesowen and Wilmington through to the final of this years Division Three Cup. The latter are there again after losing out in the decider to Nottingham last season, the Wombats drew the first leg of their semi-final tie with Durham last week. League rookies Halesowen meanwhile took just five heats to wipe out their eight point first leg deficit against Cirencester, maximum man Adam Ward (15) the standout for the Spitfires in their eventual 12 point aggregate success.

Back-to-back wins have seen Whitemoor close to within points difference of leaders Sedgemoor at the top of division one. The first was returned at Colney Hatch, 43-47, who end the week three points adrift of safety in ninth spot as a result. The Witches second away league win in as many seasons at the Friern Leisure Park was completed with a last heat Terry Duffield (13) winning 4-2, two races earlier a 5-1 from Duffield and Roland Mair (9+1) had seen the visitors regain the lead in the meeting.

Loughton’s run of 24 consecutive wins at The Den came to an end as the Lions were held to a draw by Wilmington in their division three top of the table clash. Their first dropped home point in over a year the result of a Wombats last heat 4-2 scored by Ladislav Kasinc (14+1) and Michael Langhome (15), both of whom had been used as tactical substitutes by the visitors earlier in the meeting. Wilmington though remain, as they started the week, six points adrift of the leaders in the standings, Loughton having earlier claimed their fifth away win of the campaign on their trip to Manston, 44-46.

A deserved first British title for 24 year old Glasshoughton star Adam Schofield (13). The two-time GP round winner—who was runner-up in the final for a second time last year—topping the standings in this years decider at Sedgemoor by three points from Terry Duffield, Neill Innes took third. Over in Kassel an eighth career GP win for world number three Bengt Karim (14), the SL22 and 24 world champion dropping just a point in finishing two clear of Vlas Levitsky. Karim now leads the GP series standings by four points from Levitsky.