Just three top flight clubs have made it through to this years Pairs Final with further big names exiting this week. SL26 winners Stone Cross (26) are one of the successful trio, Dusan Hobler (16) and Benjamin Hess (10) winning their home second round tie by a clear three points from fellow division one outfit, Greenhill (23). SL30 World Champion Hobler went through the card unbeaten by an opponent as he continued his bid to win this title for a first time in fine form, in Hess he looks to have a great partner to achieve that goal next week in the Dundee decider, between them they put on three 5-1’s and a 4-2 in their final four races. Going through from third are league newcomers Birmingham (20), who’d also impressed in round one when winning their tie, holders Birkenhead are out after finishing down in fifth. Second division Eastbourne (24) made it two meeting wins out of two in this years competition with victory in the second of this weeks ties at Wolverton, Zarek Wiezcorek (14) and Kasper Larsen (10) finishing a point clear of the partnership from Whiddon (23). Grangemouth (20) became the third side from the second tier to make it through to the final after finishing equal third alongside last years runners-up Swinton (20).

Three out of the four British riders in last years GP series have been eliminated from the SL33 World Championship at the opening stage. World numbers six, 11 and 16—Colin Bradford (6), James Power (6) and Ben Dowding (4)—all failed to make the top eight in their respective British semi-final ties. Current world number five and three time World Champion Andy Daniel (14) did progress to the British Final, a final he’ll be looking to win for a fifth straight season. The Auckland number one did so by winning the qualifier at Lakeside, he dropping a point to record what is his 22nd career WSO success. At the other end of the scale it was WSO event victory number one for Liden’s Tom Parsons (14), winner of the meeting at Halesowen, the 32 year old had exited at this stage of the World Championship in each of the previous five seasons.

Pre-season title favourites Greenhill picked up their first away points of the division one campaign on their visit to Dundee. A last heat 4-2 from Luca Romano (15+1) and Harry Myers (13+2) seeing the Greyhounds snatch a 44-46 victory in a fixture they had trailed in by ten after heat seven. Romano, Myers and Colin Bradford (9+1) featured as tactical substitutes as the visitors began their comeback with back-to-back 5-1’s in heats eight and nine. Elsewhere in the top flight a last heat 5-1 from Stone Cross earned them a draw at Nottingham.

Eastbourne recorded their first away win in division two since their relegation last season. Although never headed in the meeting, the Hyenas didn’t secure the league points at Grangemouth (42-48) until Kasper Larsen (14) and Zarek Wiezcorek’s (11+2) final race 5-1. Andreas Bender and Matthew Carter featured at reserve for the first time this season for the visitors, they opened their account immediately by scoring a 5-1 in heat two of the contest.