Buxton Hitmen 58 Linlithgow Lightning 31
(Conference League ~ August 22nd)
Another home win was expected but Linlithgow arrived on a high after beating St Austell the day before. Jamie Young made a surprise comeback to help the short-handed Hitmen while the opposition contained the Conference League Riders Champion, Jonathon Swales. Jonathon also brought the Bronze Helmet with him to defend against the top-scoring Hitman.
| HITMEN | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | Total | BP | | LIGHTNING | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | Total | BP |
| Neil PAINTER | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1' | | | 7 | 1 | | Jon SWALES | X | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | 10 | |
| Mark STEEL | 2' | X | 2' | 1' | | | 5 | 3 | | James DENHOLM | X | 0 | 0 | | | | | | 0 | |
| Aidan COLLINS | 3 | 2 | 1' | 3 | | | 9 | 1 | | Gary FLINT | 0 | 0 | F | | | | | | 0 | |
| Paul BURNETT | 2' | 1' | 2 | X | | | 5 | 2 | | Robert McNEILL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1' | 0 | | | | 3 | 1 |
| Adam ALLOTT | 3 | 2' | 2' | 2 | 3 | | 12 | 2 | | Rider Replacement | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee SMETHILLS | 1' | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2' | | 12 | 2 | | Derek SNEDDON | F | 2' | 1 | F | 0 | 1 | | | 4 | 1 |
| Jamie YOUNG | 2 | 2' | 3 | 1 | E | | 8 | 1 | | Robert GRANT | 3 | 1 | 3 | X | 3 | 2 | 2 | | 14 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Lee HOWARD | 0 | | | | | | | | 0 | |
Heat 1 ~ Painter, Steel, Denholm (Ex-Lapped) Swales (Ex-Fell) (5-0) [5-0]
Swales clipped the fence on the back straight trying to pass Steel for 2nd. Denholm fell on the 2nd lap of the re-run and was lapped.
Heat 2 ~ Grant, Young, Smethills, Sneddon (Fell) (3-3) [8-3]
Smethills had bike trouble before the start and went out on Aidan's bike. Sneddon fell after being passed by Young on the 2nd lap
Heat 3 ~ Collins, Burnett, McNeill, Flint (5-1) [13-4]
Easy 5-1 for the Hitmen.
Heat 4 ~ Allott, Young, Grant, (r/r)Howard (5-1) [18-5]
Allott led all the way. Young pushed his way under Grant on the first turn.
Heat 5 ~ Swales, Collins, Burnett, Denholm (3-3) [21-8]
Swales made the gate and the Hitmen settled for a share of the points.
Heat 6 ~ (r/r)Grant, Sneddon, Painter, Steel (Ex) (1-5) [22-13]
Steel was excluded after Grant fell following a hard pass for 1st place. Painter fell in the re-run when challenging Grant but remounted.
Heat 7 ~ Smethills, Allott, McNeill, Flint (5-1) [27-14]
Another easy win over a weak Lightning pair. Smethills was back on his own bike for this one.
Heat 8 ~ Young, Steel, (t/s)Sneddon, Grant (Ex) (5-1) [32-15]
Grant was excluded for squeezing Steel into the back straight fence. Steel wasn't too happy but was able to go in the re-run.
Heat 9 ~ (r/r)Swales, Burnett, Collins, Sneddon (Fell) (3-3) [35-18]
Swales again led from the tapes and, as before, the home pair settled for the minor places. Sneddon fell while last.
Heat 10 ~ (t/s)Grant, Painter, Steel, McNeill (3-3) [38-21]
Painter was away first but McNeill fell at the back on the first turn, causing a re-run. This time Grant got away and held on for a good win.
Heat 11 ~ Smethills, Allott, Swales, Denholm (5-1) [43-22]
Super starts by the Hitmen saw off Swales' challenge.
Heat 12 ~ Collins, (res)Grant, Young (F.rem), Flint (Fell) (4-2) [47-24]
A bizarre finish to this one as both Young and Flint fell on the last turn. Flint had been in front but Young made one last attempt as they entered the 3rd turn on the last lap. Flint seemed move out to give Young room but both fell. Referee Ackroyd didn't stop the race and Young remounted to finish third.
Heat 13 ~ Swales, Allott, Painter, (r/r)Sneddon (3-3) [50-27]
Swales got the better of Allott after some hard riding on the first turn. Allott pressed but Swales held on.
Heat 14 ~ Smethills, Grant, McNeill, (res)Young (EF) Burnett (Ex-Tapes) (3-3) [53-30]
Burnett touched the tapes and was out. His replacement Young was in a comfortable 3rd place when he stopped on the second lap.
Heat 15 ~ Allott, Smethills, Sneddon, McNeill (5-1) [58-31]
Allott and Smethills had an easy win as Swales didn't come out for the Lightning, probably getting ready for the Bronze Helmet defense.
Bronze Helmet ~ Smethills (Challenger) Beat Swales (Holder)
Allott and Smethills tossed a coin to decide the Challenger as both had finished on 12+2 with Smethills winning. He also won the toss for gate positions and chose the inside. He then made a terrific start to lead into the first turn and, apart for a couple of mistakes, he held on to take the title.
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