Well Coventry disposed of Belle Vue, in the EL playoffs, somewhat more easily than might have been expected, although I think that it would have been closer had Kenneth Bjerre not been injured, I think that the outcome would have been the same. Belle Vue finally got their hands on some silverware with the defeat of Eastbourne in the EL KO Cup, a favourite of mine ever since our exploits in 1979.  Coventry made no impression in this competition falling early season to Swindon, who had already seen off the holders Poole, following a dismal display by the Pirates in late April when they only managed 36 points at Blunsdon. Belle Vue finally got the better of Swindon when it may have appeared that Swindon had done all of the hard work! Eastbourne defeated Peterboro’ and Arena Essex on their way to the final, but when they could only get a two point advantage from their home leg in the final despite 17 points from Pedersen the writing was on the wall. Good to see the new promotion at Belle Vue being successful, for speedway to thrive it needs a strong Belle Vue team.

In the Craven Shield an exceptionally close semi final between  Poole, Coventry and Peterboro saw the Pirates get to the final, in the other semi both Eastbourne and Oxford made it at the expense of Belle Vue.  Upsetting the form book Oxford beat both of the other teams with a well deserved victory, good to see some late season heroics from our old buddies Hancock and Hamill.                        

In the Premier League, Newport had yet another season to forget, as did Stoke who at least had injury problems to Steachman and Pickering to blame for their poor showing. Defending Champions Hull had a nightmare season culminating in being thrown out of New Craven Park before all their fixtures had been completed, oh what a difference a year makes! Of the middle of the league, Workington and Glasgow under performed, the latter doing so whilst spending quite a lot of cash in the process, whilst Edinburgh despite having Nermark  in at an unsustainable 11 points plus assessed average did quite well, eventually finishing an unexpected 5^th.

Sheffield again had a good season as did Kings Lynn who once they had settled looked a quality team, however the damage was done early season and they couldn’t mount a  challenge for the league title. As with the top 2, Sheffield and Kings Lynn didn’t taste defeat on their own shale, which must be good for business, although a little less predictability may be nice for us neutrals. We then move onto my PL team of the season, no-one expected anything from The Berwick Bandits this year, not even I suspect within the walls of Berwick, however they had a good start and with that unbeaten home record managed to win five times away from the specialist Shielfield Park track. If unexpected defeats at Somerset and Newport could have been turned into victories , or indeed a 1 point defeat at Kings Lynn, then the Bandits could have been the champions,  alas it was not to be.  Good to see ‘The Scud’ still scoring well on occasions.

And so onto the champions Rye House. Many would say that when  assessed averages were given out Rye benefited the most, that aside Rye had more or less 5 PL heat leaders in their team and class told in the end. Good progress for King and Kennett, although Eddie seems to have developed a strange affliction to racing at the otherwise widely acclaimed Norfolk Arena. Any small track team that takes a win at Exeter deserves praise, and the Rockets did just that, a complete turnaround from their capitulation at the County Ground at the end of the 2004 season. Kings Lynn showed what might have been but for the poor start when they lifted both the Young Shield and the PL KO Cup at the expense of Rye House, who just couldn’t get enough points at the Norfolk Arena to triumph in either competition.

My pet hate with the PL is their insistence of using riders from outside of the UK, this league was at its best and most interesting when it was restricted to British and Commonwealth  riders only, they do not need the extra expense, and the Promoters have a choice to employ them or not, one thing is for sure, riders from outside the UK put up costs and this division can ill afford that. If teams want to employ the worlds best go Elite, you can employ who you want there, as long as you don’t mind them not being available on a Sunday, or a Tuesday, or GP weekends or when a National Federation calls them back, employer beware!

In the Conference League, congratulations are due to Oxfords Academy Team who won the title with no help from ‘old hands’, well done. This division saw a debut season for Sittingbourne and a return to league racing for Weymouth and Scunthorpe.

Whilst Sittingbourne won only one league match all season Weymouth and Scunthorpe gave a better account of themselves, I hope that it can be built into competing in a higher division for both of them. Weymouth had the sensation of the CL season riding for them in Louis Bridger of whom big things are expected, however it looks like it’s the end of the road for Wimbledon who once again have been evicted from Plough Lane and Armadale who just could get the message across that they where not Edinburgh reserves and suffered with poor attendances because of it.

Apologies for the delay in bringing you this episode of Ommerin' Around, which was written a few weeks ago. Episode #5 should be along much sooner, with the 2006 rapidly season creeping up on us. [Ed]