SEASON 8 REVIEW

A season of success beyond the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic supporters was achieved last season, winning the 2nd Division Championship, the KOC and the 4TT.  Our top four quartet of Juhar, Doolan, Kashentsev and Howard proved decisive, especially in the first leg of the 4TT Final where our foursome scored a record 43 out of 48 points.  This feat was even more remarkable given the quality of the opposition.  Riders from Eastbourne, Peterborough and Coalville included Jimmy Hammer, Alan Kenny, Grame Hocking, Lee Blake, Bill Perthen and Alan Clark.

The KOC win was also an amazing performance, beating runaway Division 1 Champions Eastbourne Seagulls.  Having lost the first leg 48-42 the pressure was on to beat a team who lost only 4 away matches in the league all season.  However, two paid maximums from Yevgeniy Kashentsev (13+2) and Gerry Howard (10+2) plus a 14 point haul from Curtis Doolan turned the tie around for a 52-38 win.  (94-86 AGG).

In the league, a run of 14 consecutive victories during the middle of the season, set the Tigers on their way to the Division 2 title.  In Division 1, Eastbourne romped to the title by 13 points, from Leeds, with Coalville 27 points off the pace in third.  Jimmy Hammer enjoyed another fine season for the Seagulls.  Bletchley, Dover and Exeter were relegated, Dover relied too much on their Danish Captain Thomas Rafn, and Exeter struggled with no out and out heatleader.  Brickhill will be joined in Division 1 next season by Huntingdon and Henham, where Mike Darracott flourished and became an integral part of the England squad.  Beverley, Arena Essex and the woeful Cradley drop to Division 3 with Margate, Coventry and Washington moving in the opposite direction.  Margate in particular enjoyed a superb season, with Ray Tinson and Robert Priest looking stars of the future.