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Glasshoughton Gazelles were praised for their team work in the first leg, but all the plaudits in the return will go to their number one Nigel Campbell (14), who’s performance led the visitors in Kassel to an eight point aggregate European Cup final victory. The former World Champion set the tone with victory over the German’s lead man in the opener, Rob Scali losing out in what would prove to be the race of the night, handle bars touched going down the back straight of the final lap, but Campbell battled through to take the heat win. That was the first of six victories on the trot for the visitors, who by the end of heat six had extended their aggregate advantage over the European League leaders to 16 points. A brief fight back saw that lead cut to ten, but a third win on the night for Campbell in a heat 11 4-2 and then a fourth success in heat 13 in yet another 4-2 saw the Gazelles ease to victory, the silverware theirs with two heats to spare. It’s the third time in four seasons that the European Cup has been won by a British club, this though was Glasshoughton’s first final, their only other season of participation in the competition ending at the first round stage. The trophy wins ends a bit of a baron spell for the James Calderbank side, this their first major competition win since their fours triumph three season’s ago, much has changed since then, with only Rune Amundsen (8) of that successful quartet still plying his trade around Broomhil, something tells he won’t have to wait as long to get his hands on the next piece of silverware.

Sedgemoor Rebels and Whitehaven Knights went into the first leg of their KOC quarter final tie with hopes of a league and cup double still in tact, both are still in contention, but Rebels manager Nick Howard will be disappointed that his side will take just a four point lead to Cumbria for the second leg. The Knights scored 4-2’s in three of the last four heats to turn the tie in their favour, they’d trailed by ten going into heat 12, but two wins from Marek Neajewski (16)—the first as a tactical substitute—and a second win of the night for Niko Zlogar (12+1) in the closing stages left Brian McKnight the happier of the two promoters at the halfway point. Glasshoughton Gazelles remain on course to reach their third final in the competition in four years, they 51-39 first leg winners over Walsall in their third round tie. Over at Smethwick first time quarter finalists Tiptree Typhoons will be happy with their work having held the hosts to just a 46-43 win, Henrik Sorensen (17) racing to six consecutive race wins as the visitors fought back from an early nine point deficit.

Russell Draper (14) lost his first WSO event this week, after four successive victories the Cambridge Cougars starlet had to settle for second behind home track rider and fellow Brit Sammy Taylor (15) in his World Under 21 qualifier this week. Draper will need to reverse the placings in the Oslo final if he is to claim his third successive title. Taylor—who rides for Sedgemoor—finished second to Draper in the SL6 final, but last season, controversially, didn’t even get the chance to qualify as the RLSA did not put his name forward. There was further British success in the second semi final, Plymouth’s Terry Fern (14) qualifying through to the final as the meeting winner.

Three times league champions Colney Hatch Crusaders are now facing the real prospect of relegation from the top flight for the first time in their history, they this week became the first team to lose at home to bottom side Tiptree Typhoons, the 42-48 defeat leaving them five points adrift of safety. 5-1’s from Henrik Sorensen (13+1) and Mark Kennedy (9+2) in heats five and 11 made the difference on the night, the pair in all dropping just two points between them all meeting. At the top second placed Whitby Whalers extended their unbeaten run to five with a 49-41 win over leaders Sedgemoor, the Rebels though still hold a comfortable six point lead at the summit.

It continues to be an ever changing situation at the wrong end of division two, this week Rugby fell back into the drop zone after they were held to a home draw by seventh placed Walsall, leapfrogging them both are Kidderminster Cobras, who recorded a shock 42-48 win at third placed Cliftonville Admirals. The visitors took full advantage of Andy Oldfield’s continuing team selection worries, his struggles to find adequate back up to his top three were highlighted as second string Mattias Jigenheim (11+1) and reserve Brian Clarke (11+1) dominated for the Cobras.

Cowley Cougars extended their unbeaten run to six in the league with wins over Rayleigh and Chalvington Chiefs, the latter—a 44-46 success on their travels—earned despite falling eight behind in the first three heats. The use of tactical substitutes by Ashby Hope helped bring them back level by the end of heat 11, while an early finish was assured when a third visiting 5-1 of the night scored in heat 13 was followed up by a Martin Bradley (7+1) win in a 4-2 in heat 14.

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