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COVENTRYS Adam Roynon is reported to be comfortable and stable in hospital after an horrific accident in the Bees Elite League defeat by Birmingham.Roynon, who also rides for Premier League Leicester, came to grief in Heat 14 at Brandon with the closely-following Josh Auty being powerless to avoid a collision. After lengthy medical attention, Roynon was given a police escort to hospital for checks, and has undergone a brain scan.The crash overshadowed the meeting which was won 49-41 by the Brummies thanks to an inspired haul of paid-20 from reserve Martin Smolinski, who enjoyed his best-ever night in British racing.Coventry boss Gary Havelock said: It was an awful-looking crash, unfortunately Josh was trying to go round Adam at the time he fell and he just couldnt miss him. Now were just hoping Adam is going to be okay but it really put a dampener on things.
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SWINDON have collected the first silverware of the new season by completing an aggregate win over Poole in the Elite Shield.The Robins took a 17-point lead into the second leg at Wimborne Road on Friday lunchtime, with the Pirates taking that meeting 46-43 thanks to a last-heat 5-1 from Chris Holder and Darcy Ward.Swindon co-promoter Gary Patchett said: Its a great feeling to see the boys carry on where they left off last season and it sets us up nicely for the Elite League campaign now.Obviously Poole will get stronger as the season goes on, its very early of course, but its nice to see our boys hitting the ground running.
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WOLVERHAMPTON ended their long barren run away from home with a 47-43 win at Belle Vue in a last-heat decider.Tai Woffinden dropped just one point from five rides and picked up a last-heat 4-2 with skipper Freddie Lindgren to confirm their first Elite League win on the road since July 2010.Lindgren said: We're really happy with that result to start the season. It's been a long time since we won away so it's an encouraging result and one which we are delighted with - especially in the first meeting of 2013.Meanwhile Kings Lynn top the early table after collecting a maximum seven points from their fixtures against Peterborough. The Stars won 50-40 at the Showground in the afternoon before a 41-33 victory at the Norfolk Arena in a meeting curtailed after twelve races due to icy conditions.
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EASTBOURNE and Lakeside shared the points from their home and away Elite League double-header on Good Friday.The Hammers took their home meeting 49-40 with Davey Watt top-scoring on 12-points, but the Eagles turned the tables in the evening with a 52-41 Arlington success as returning No.1 Bjarne Pedersen dropped only one point from his five outings.Eastbourne boss Trevor Geer said: It would be true to say that we were a bit disappointed to come away from Lakeside with nothing to show for our efforts, especially after the start we made.Tonight, we seemed to do it the other way, made a slow start, let them get six-points clear of us but then a strong mid part of the match saw us hit back in style. We were particularly pleased with performances by both Bjarne and Adam (Shields) in their first matches back with us.
(SPEEDWAY 5)
SCUNTHORPE and Ipswich both secured narrow home victories in close-fought League Cup matches on Good Friday afternoon.The Scorpions and Leicester were never separated by more than two points at the Eddie Wright Raceway, with a last-heat 4-2 from Josh Auty and Ashley Birks seeing them through to a 46-44 win.Birks said: It was a hard match, but we ended up coming away with a win against a strong-looking Leicester team. I dont see any reason why we cant win the return meeting at Leicester next Saturday. We can give them the same hard match that they did at our place.It was the same scoreline at Foxhall although Rye House went into the last race in front, before home duo Ben Barker and Leigh Lanham kept Anders Mellgren at bay to turn the match in the Witches favour.Rye promoter Len Silver said: Almost all of the team rode above their averagesand that is with very little practice, away from home and against very tough opposition. It was a remarkable performance.
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY MARCH 30:LEAGUE CUP: Leicester v Sheffield 7.30COCK O THE NORTH 2nd leg: Berwick v Edinburgh 7pmCHALLENGE 2nd leg: Plymouth v Somerset 7.15IAN THOMAS SHIELD 1st leg: Workington v Newcastle 7pm
SUNDAY MARCH 31:SPRING TROPHY 1st leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh OFFIAN THOMAS SHIELD 2nd leg: Newcastle v Workington 6.30
MONDAY APRIL 1:LEAGUE CUP: Rye House v Ipswich 2pm
TUESDAY APRIL 2:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Wolverhampton v Belle Vue 7.30
WEDNESDAY APRIL 3:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Coventry 7.30, Poole v Kings Lynn 7.30
