(SPEEDWAY 1)
EDINBURGH won the Premier League title in the most dramatic of circumstances – edging out holders Somerset by a single point on aggregate.The Monarchs overturned their 12-point first leg deficit with four 5-1s in the first six heats at Armadale, but the Rebels battled back into contention and an 8-1 in Heat 11 when home man Sam Masters fell put them back into a five-point overall lead.Paul Starke’s second win of the meeting helped the visitors to extend that by two in Heat 12, before Edinburgh took a 5-1 in Heat 13 from Masters and Craig Cook, at the third time of asking after clashes between Masters and Nick Morris.With the penultimate race shared the Monarchs needed a 5-1 in Heat 15 to snatch the title, and Cook and Masters achieved it with the race stopped after two laps when Somerset’s Pontus Aspgren came down, and an awarded result was declared.The result confirmed the 2014 Monarchs as the most successful in their club history, having also won the League Cup, Knockout Cup and PL Pairs.Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “That was incredible, I’ve never known a night like it. It was a tough choice for Heat 15 with Justin Sedgmen unbeaten, but Sam Masters had got the 5-1 in Heat 13 with Craig Cook and he was certainly up for it.”Somerset manager Garry May said: “Many congratulations to Edinburgh on winning the title. They were the form side throughout the season, but we certainly pushed them all the way and the way the boys came back at Edinburgh tonight to take it into that last heat decider speaks volumes for the character of the team.“Unfortunately someone has to lose in situations such as this, and on this occasion it was our turn to do so, though to lose by a single race point for the second time in three years is a bit hard to take right now. But we will come back from this next year all the stronger for it ready to reclaim that Championship trophy.”
(SPEEDWAY 2)
WORKINGTON secured a 57-38 win over Berwick in their final Premier League play-off fixture.Rene Bach (13+1), Ricky Wells (11+1) and Simon Lambert (10+2) all hit double figures for the Comets with Kevin Doolan scoring 12 for the Bandits.The result also gave Workington a 98-86 aggregate success, which enabled them to claim the Border Trophy.Berwick boss John Anderson said: “We were down on power as we had allowed David Bellego to race on the continent with little hanging on this match, but despite this there were good moments from the lads who still managed to install a degree of excitement into proceedings to entertain the fans.”In the National League, Devon raced to their third win of the season with a 50-43 win over a Buxton side inspired by veteran Tony Atkin.The 48-year-old piled up 20 points and was beaten only by Demons top-scorer Luke Chessell in Heat 15, which was enough to see the home side take maximum points from the meeting.Devon co-promoter David Short said: “It was an unexpectedly entertaining meeting. Buxton put up an excellent show and there were some very good races which kept the admittedly small crowd well entertained.”Buxton manager Jayne Moss said: “I’m very proud of the boys, and we were in with a chance of taking something from the meeting right up until the last heat. Tony was magnificent, it would have been a fitting way to end the season had he completed a maximum and gained us a league point.”(SPEEDWAY 3)
COVENTRY stage the National League Fours at Brandon on Sunday afternoon (2.30pm) with eight clubs competing in the popular event.The home club are in Group A alongside holders Cradley, Buxton and Kent, whilst Group B is made up of Mildenhall, Devon, King’s Lynn and Stoke.The group stages consist of eight races apiece, with the top two teams in each group proceeding to the eight-race Final.Coventry boss Laurence Rogers said: “It’s a prestigious meeting for us to hold, and it should be a really good afternoon of racing.“I think there are some pretty evenly-matches sides out there - I’m sure Cradley will start as favourites, but it would be really nice to win this event at home and that’s what the boys will be fired up to do.Team changes this week have seen Josh Bates return from injury for Mildenhall, for whom Joe Jacobs is ruled out, whilst Steve Worrall’s broken wrist has handed Nathan Greaves a call-up for Cradley.Heathens skipper Paul Starke said: “Winning the Fours last year like we did was a great moment in the season, so to win it again this year would be awesome. Obviously you go into every meeting wanting to win, so that's what we are going there to do.“We've got a strong side and we are all on good form at the moment so we should have a good chance, but you never know with these sorts of meetings.”
(FIXTURES)
SUNDAY OCTOBER 26:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Workington OFFLEAGUE CUP: Glasgow v Berwick OFFNATIONAL LEAGUE FOURS: Coventry 2.30
TUESDAY OCTOBER 28:NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 2nd leg: Cradley v King’s Lynn 7.30
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29:NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL 2nd leg: Coventry v Cradley 7.30
FRIDAY OCTOBER 31:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Devon v Coventry 7.15
