The shocks of the first round are a fading memory as the top flight contingent collectively dominated the semi finals of the Club Pairs at both Coventry and Earley (19) this week. In the latter the three division one representatives filled the podium spots and qualify for next months decider in Beverley, the trio led by two-times defending champions Stowmarket (25), who are this year represented by Lasse Classen (11)—one of their SL30 title winners—and Christopher Hall (14), who replaces SL29 and 30 winner, Paul Hope. Having received a bye in round one, the new partnership opened their challenge with a 4-2 against the much-fancied Wimbledon (20), before notching up back-to-back 5-1’s to lead at the halfway point of the meet. A couple of 3-3’s looked to have cost them victory, but a 5-1 over rivals for top spot Cradley (22) in heat 20 would see them regain top spot. Cradley had done more than enough already to reach the final for the first time in 13 years, SL26 winners Wimbledon took third, while hosts Earley qualified as the highest scoring fourth placed side of the semi-finals. Last years competition runners-up Leeds (26) dominated to win the second of the ties at Coventry, Aaron Macaulay (18) and Daniel Lake (8) scoring four 5-1’s in their half dozen outings to the track, with Macaulay winning the other two to complete a six ride full maximum. Dudley (20)—who in Paul Hope and Cvetko Greiwe have the top averaged partnership in this years competition—were one of the two sides to deny Leeds a 5-1 on the night, they took second spot after rounding off proceedings with maximums of their own against Claygate and Swinton. Second division Calderwood (20) meanwhile qualified through in third after snatching a 5-1 against Derby in heat 19 of the contest.

First defeats of the season for both Stowmarket (49-41 at Eastbourne) and Leeds, with the latter losing out by a whopping 56-34 in the battle of the two expected title rivals when they met at Green Meadow. The defeat was the Jaguars biggest of their 524 meetings away from home in the league. 17 year old Connor Begum (8+1) was one of six different heat winners for the hosts, only Aaron Macaulay (12) managed a victory for the visitors. Joy though for the Jaguars in their Division One Cup opener, Macaulay (14) dropping just a point and he and his second string partner Steve Wales (8+2) scored two 5-1’s to lead their side to a 41-49 victory at Huntingdon, a result which leaves the record five-times in a strong position to reach the semi-finals of the competition for the seventh time in eight years.

With the top two dropping points, Wimbledon are now left as they only unbeaten division one side in SL31 league campaign. A second successive away draw for the Werewolves this week as they took on Huntingdon, a disappointing result for the visiting in the end, as having led from heat two onwards they missed out on taking both league points after conceding a last heat 5-1 to Miloslav Dorosh (13+1) and Jake Campbell (13+1). A first point for the Hunters, but they are still looking for that maiden win in SL31 in either league or cup.

Led by the ever-improving Vaino Koistinen, Runcorn are looking more than capable of bouncing back to division one at the first attempt. The Finn is starting to find his feet in the British League after making a £120,000 switch from Malmo half way through SL30, scoring his second maximum of the short campaign to date as the Rockets extended their unbeaten start to the year to five meetings with a 50-40 win over Brickhill. Three of those five meetings have come away from home, with both the two this week resulting in victories, the first a 44-46 league success at Margate completed with a Frank Klein (13) winning 4-2. Meanwhile three 5-1’s in the opening 5-1 races saw them win a one-sided Division Two Cup clash at Wolverhampton, 39-51, every one of the visiting side managing at least one win or paid win, Koistinen (11) taking three.

Beverley are still without a win in SL31 after Derby (44-46 league) and Bradwell (44-45 Division Two Cup) both rode to narrow victories at the East Yorks Raceway. Bradwell’s secured by a second place finish from the previously unbeaten Tomaz Bozic (13+1) in the final heat, as both Carl Madin (12)—who had won four out of four—for the visitors and the host’s Jake Coiner (10) failed to finish. Veterans Nathan Kay (12+1) and Marc Thompson (13) both rode to three wins for Derby in their success over the Hammers. In division three second string David Hyde (8) returned to form with two wins as Swindon won at Normanton, 43-47.

Connor Begum of Calderwood—runner-up last year—opened his BU21 title campaign with victory in his semi-final at Hale. Claygate’s Thomas Sullivan (14) won the second of the ties.