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SEVEN-TIMES British Champion Scott Nicholls will begin the defence of his title at Sheffield on April 25.Nicholls has been drawn into the Owlerton semi-final as riders bid for a top-seven finish to book a guaranteed place in the Final at Wolverhampton on May 13.The Coventry captain will face Wolverhamptons Grand Prix man Tai Woffinden at Sheffield, whilst Birminghams Chris Harristhe man who has dominated the Final along with Nicholls in recent yearsheads to Edinburgh on April 19.Harris will be joined at Armadale by his Brummies team-mate Danny King, whilst home representation comes from Craig Cook and Derek Sneddon.Sheffield skipper Simon Stead will also be racing at home, along with Tigers colleagues Richard Hall and current British Under-21 Champion Joe Haines.The semi-finals feature the top 32 available riders based on final 2012 averages, all converted to Elite League figures.The top seven riders from each semi-final qualify for the Final, with those 14 to be joined by two Wild Cards.Sheffield co-promoter and Management Committee member David Hoggart said: These meetings have always been well-attended in the past, and Im sure they will provide some great entertainment this year.From a Sheffield point of view we cant wait to see Scott Nicholls and Tai Woffinden going head-to-head at Owlerton, and I know our captain Simon Stead is really keen to make a mark too in the competition this season.And Im sure it will be a great night at Edinburgh too with their No.1 Craig Cook taking on the likes of Chris Harris, Danny King and Edward Kennett.
EDINBURGH (April 19): Chris Harris, Danny King, Edward Kennett, Craig Cook, Ricky Ashworth, Richard Lawson, Stuart Robson, Leigh Lanham, James Grieves, James Wright, Derek Sneddon, Richie Worrall, Kyle Howarth, Chris Mills, Carl Wilkinson, Steve Worrall. Reserves: Charles Wright, Kyle Hughes.
SHEFFIELD (April 25): Tai Woffinden, Scott Nicholls, Ben Barker, Lewis Bridger, David Howe, Josh Auty, Olly Allen, Simon Stead, Robert Mear, Richard Hall, Chris Schramm, Ashley Birks, Kyle Newman, Joe Haines, Jason Garrity, Lee Smart. Reserves: Tom Perry, Lewis Blackbird.
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UNBEATEN Birmingham and Swindon go head-to-head at Perry Barr on Wednesday in another big night of Elite League action.The Brummies have secured a double win over local rivals Coventry, whilst the Robins have won all three of their top-flight fixtures, with home and away successes over Lakeside and a Blunsdon win against Peterborough.Elsewhere, third-placed Kings Lynn face Coventry at the Norfolk Arena with the Stars at full-strength and the Bees calling upon Richie Worrall to guest at reserve for Joe Screen.Pooles home clash with Wolverhampton fell victim to the weather on Wednesday morning, and will now take place next Wednesday (April 17).
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SHEFFIELD co-promoter Neil Machin has labelled the Tigers home clash with Leicester on Thursday as their biggest in recent seasons.The League Cup group comes down to the final match in the section, with Sheffield needing a maximum-points win to qualify for the semi-finals, whilst the Lions will go through if they avoid a defeat of more than six points on the night.Machin said: This is certainly the biggest team meeting weve had for a few years and it will all go on the line against Leicester.We went into the toughest qualification group against last years league champions (Scunthorpe) and against the team many expect to win it this time around, so for us to still be in the frame considering everyone had written us off is a terrific achievement.(SPEEDWAY 4)
GERMAN-based British youngster Daniel Spiller has won the FIM Speedway 250cc Gold Trophy title.The 14-year-old was born in Maidstone but moved with his family to live in Bavaria when just a couple of years old, and although riding on a German licence in the event he has the option to ride for GB in the future.Spiller, who is a member of the MSC Landshut club, took the honours with a 29-point haul over the two-day event staged at Teterow, three points clear of Russian rider Arslan Fayzulin who came to grief when the two clashed in Heat 10 on the second day.The youngest rider in the field was British rider Reece Downes, who finished in a creditable eleventh place with nine points in his first experience on a European circuit.
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DUDLEY skipper Ashley Morris scored a paid maximum to lead his side to a 60-35 win over Coventry in their opening home fixture of the season.The Heathens opened up a convincing lead in the first leg of the Travel Plus Trophy with new signing Lewis Blackbird adding 13-points, missing out only to Storm captain James Sarjeant in Heat 13.Morris said: It feels good to get a paid maximum but more importantly Im really pleased with the way the team has started the season.Its important for me to be a genuine No.1 and I feel I did that tonight, but we have come together superbly as a team and Im really pleased.(FIXTURES)
WEDNESDAY APRIL 10:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Birmingham v Swindon 7.30, Kings Lynn v Coventry 7.30, Poole v Wolverhampton OFF (Now Apr 17)
THURSDAY APRIL 11:LEAGUE CUP: Ipswich v Somerset 7.30, Redcar v Workington 7.30, Sheffield v Leicester 7.45
FRIDAY APRIL 12:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Coventry v Kings Lynn 8pm, Lakeside v Birmingham 8pm, Peterborough v Swindon 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Edinburgh v Leicester 7.30LEAGUE CUP: Plymouth v Ipswich 7.15, Somerset v Rye House 7.30PREMIER SHIELD 1st leg: Scunthorpe v Newcastle 7.30
SATURDAY APRIL 13:SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE: Eastbourne v Birmingham 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 2nd leg: Leicester v Edinburgh 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP 1st leg: Berwick v Redcar 7pmLEAGUE CUP: Rye House v Plymouth 7pm, Workington v Newcastle 7pmCHALLENGE: Stoke v Isle of Wight 7pm
SUNDAY APRIL 14:LEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Edinburgh 3pmPREMIER SHIELD 2nd leg: Newcastle v Scunthorpe 6.30NATIONAL TROPHY: Mildenhall v Stoke 4.30
