ASTLEY and Tyldesley's Gin Pit Raceway was the venue for the British Team Knockout Cup finals on Sunday.

Hard work by club members in the weeks leading up to the meeting saw the circuit and surrounds in top condition, aided by some Brighter Borough Funding from the Tyldesley ward council.

Defending champions Wednesfield, of Wolverhampton, took the honours after breezing past Newport 102-75 in the semi-final before claiming a 94-78 victory over local rivals Birmingham in the final.

Stockport flew the flag for the North West in the last four, but after going into the interval trailing by just two points they collapsed in the second half of their semi-final against Birmingham, suffering six race exclusions in nine races in their 95-76 defeat.

Birmingham took a 6-4 heat win in the opening race of the final, but Wednesfield immediately hit back with a 7-2 in the next race, after world number two Chris Timms was excluded.

Wednesfield put in a typically professional display, with Birmingham suffering two more race exclusions, to take a commanding interval lead of 51-35. The eventual winners were content to hold on to their lead in the second half, which they did despite suffering two race exclusions, to run out emphatic winners.

All eight Wednesfield riders scored well in the final as they equalled Poole's all-time record of 13 victories in the competition to lift the cup for the third successive year.

The awards were presented by Tyldesley Ward Councillors Joanne Marshall and Stephen Hellier, along with A&T club chairman Bill Phillips.

The next race meeting at Gin Pit is this forthcoming Sunday, when A&T take on Northumbria in a Northern League fixture. First race is at 2 pm.

For more information on cycle speedway, ladies road rides and off road leisure rides, visit the Astley & Tyldesley Cycling Club's website at www.astleycyclespeedway.org.uk.

Tyldesley-based speedway rider Adam Watson, who races for the Sheffield Stars, made the podium in the British Under-19's Individual Championships last weekend.

The 16-year-old outpaced older competitors to take third place overall.