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Diamond Edition - ENHANCED
- news - div one - div two - div three - other results - transfer list - averages - - statistics - rider search: gsa/age - rider search: name - club honours - international tables/averages - Comment now on the latest news at the Forum SEVENTH HEAVEN Coventry in record breaking Pairs success Coventry have won the Club Pairs Championship for a record seventh time after topping this years final standings at St Barts. John Hawke (9) and Angus Rogers (13) are the fourth partnership to successfully retain the crown, in doing so they take the Crusaders above Beverley in the all-time winners list. It was tough going though for the defending champions in this years decider, with a retirement for Hawke in heat two setting them off on the back foot, the England International—who has been averaging well over 11 in the league this season—also going on to be beaten by Daniel Nordin and Peckleton duo Jacek Kawiak and Svenee Gregersen in his opening four visits to the track. Crucially in the period though he did pick up a second behind Rogers in a 5-1 over last years runners-up Houston (19), a fantastic result for the side as the Mustangs—favourites alongside Coventry for this years crown—would have took some catching. Still it wasn’t until heat 17 that Hawke claimed his first race success of the tie, he forcing his way by Fredrik Alquist to take the three points, the 4-2 garnered only the second heat advantage of the meeting at that stage recorded by Coventry. A decisive third would follow three races later when Hawke and Rogers closed out their night with maximum points against Nottingham, a side that had gone into the race level in the final with the Crusaders. What a difference that result made, the holders taking the lead for the first time with a performance that marked them out as champions. Blackpool could still have denied them in the last, but they conceded a 5-1 to Peckleton in that, a runners-up position for the Blaze in the final, a Dave Hood 1-2 in the competition.
TODAY: Shorts Coventry’s fantastic week continued as they added away wins in both league and cup to their Pairs success. First up a trip to Nottingham for their latest Division One Cup group fixture, one they would lead in three times only to be pegged back by their hosts. At the fourth attempt they made their lead stick, the Red Dogs having no answer to the 5-1’s scored by the visitors in heats 13 and 14, Pairs Champions’ John Hawke (14) and Angus Rogers (11+2) landing the first punch, second string Anthony Collier (9+1) and reserve Thomas Gentry (5+1) the knockout blow. On to a league visit to Peckleton—their first in eight years—for last years top flight runners-up, a meeting which once again proved to be another tight run contest until heat 13, in which a Hawke (13+1) and Rogers (13+1) maximum would give the visitors a four point advantage. No immediate follow up on this occasion, the visiting fans having to wait until their top two returned to the track in the last for the celebrations to occur, the minor places in the heat 15 decider securing the league leaders a 44-46 victory and extend their unbeaten start to the top flight campaign onto six meetings.
Sandwell’s first ever visit to Midland ended in a two point defeat for the side in the Division Two Cup. 14 days on and the scores were reversed, the Sabres scoring a 44-46 victory at the Kirkby Raceway, one which sees them end the week top of division two in their first season at this level. The visitors trailed their hosts for all but two heats, the first and the last, they twice falling six behind in the contest. Three 5-1’s—all involving George King (12+2)—made all the difference to the Sabres, with the third in the final race proving decisive. A Fredrik Alquist (16) victory with King in tow on this occasion, it taking Alistair Carrol’s side into the lead for the first time on the night, just at the right time. Second string Callum Gregory was missing from the fixture, which maintained his 4.50 GSA for now and sees him drop into a reserve berth at the first average change of the campaign. However despite this, the Sabres start of season top seven has gone over the 47 point limit, which could hinder their bid to achieve back-to-back promotions.
A first defeat for Brighton in division two—49-39 at Sandwell—leaves Coventry and Kelvedon as the only unbeaten sides left in the league this season. In all competitions Kelvedon have won seven and drew one of their eight meetings in SL35, their latest away success earned at Bolsover and one which took them three points clear at the top of the division three standings. It comes at a cost, with the Stream’s top seven now well over the 47 point limit, heat leader Herman Stanic (13), plus reserves Johan Lang and Andreas Lindquist all putting over two points on their GSA’s. Lang scored a season best 11+2 in the 43-47 win at Bolsover, he racing to wins in heats two and eight plus a second place behind Stanic in a heat 12 5-1. That was Stanic’s fourth win from four on the night, he went on to finish third in a last heat 4-2 which would clinch his side’s victory, Darren Stevens (11)—who also took three points a heat 13 5-1 ahead of Janis Pochinsky (8+1)—winning the last heat decider for Iain Brine’s side.
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