Defending champions Leeds (20) are into their fifth Club Pairs Final in six years after recovering for early heat reversals to finish third in their semi-final. 5-1’s over Calderwood and Bradwell in their final races saw them finish level with fellow qualifiers Wentworth in the standings, but three points behind Runcorn and another two adrift of impressive winners Eastbourne (25). The Seagulls will appear in their 19th final in 21 years following the meeting victory, the second in succession in this years competition from Stig Martinson (16) and Ronnell Hawtin (9), who will start next weeks final at Coventry as favourites. Erich Pavlik (15) and Maurizio Giacomini (8) were surprise winners of the second of this weeks ties at Kelso, the Greenhill (23) pairing finishing a point clear of Brickhill (22) and two better off than Stowmarket (21), who went through from third. Disappointment in that for top flight sides Wimbledon (19) and Linlithgow (14), who both suffered heat losses to the Lurchers and were both eliminated.

Dudley are the only side in the country left with a 100% league record after the first month of SL32. The Tigers made it four victories from four since relegation to division two by coming from behind to win at Wolverhampton, 44-46, with 5-1’s in heats 11, 13 and 15 completing the comeback in a meeting they had trailed in by ten. Dudley riders won seven of the final nine races, with those successes split between their four lead riders. Paul Hope (16+2) was the standout, he securing his first maximum of the campaign when finishing second to Cvetko Greiwe (12+1) in the last heat decider, the 5-1 taking Terry Meech’s Tigers in front for the first time on the night!

Normanton and Beverley remain unbeaten at the top of division three despite both dropping their first points of the season this week. Pre-season signings Eric Borsheim (12) and Matthias Zimmerman (13) were again in great form as the Wallers snatched a draw with a last heat 4-2 from the pair in their meeting at Margate, both are on course to see their GSA’s increase substantially at next weeks change. Beverley also levelled things up in their meeting at Disbury Village with a 4-2 in the final heat, somewhat fortuitously in their case, with the hosts number one Steve Vitale suffering a nasty fall in the decider. It’s a fall with further consequences too, it likely to keep him out of action for around two months. Disbury Village’s earlier meeting at Kelso had also ended all-square, four wins from Steve Vitale (15+1) helping the Vikings gain their first ever away point in a meeting they had trailed in by ten after just four races. Like Kelso, bottom side Swindon are still looking for the first win of the season in any competition, the Serpents have lost five out of five, a run which includes a 44-46 home league defeat to Calderwood this week, a meeting which saw six different riders for the visitors race to heat victories.