George wins again as Monmore romp home to seal Final place

Perry Barr staged the sixth and final match in the Midlands division of the Bags Track Championship on Tuesday lunchtime and it was Monmore and Hall Green that held their nerve to book their places in the Grand Finalon 23rd December at Monmore Green.

Hall Green, who were attempting to peg back league leaders Monmore, got off to a flier when Paul Sallis's Klockwork Krai produced a bold front-running display to bag ten valuable points and reduce the overnight deficit to just 3 1/2 points.

Monmore hit back in leg two (Sprint) when Corren Price's Sanantone Jack blasted from the boxes and held out for the victory. Hall Green's Ballymac Gain finished third to bag five points while Swindon finished fifth and slipped  further behind the front two teams. Heat three (Dogs) saw a terrific buckle between runners that had already won two previous legs in the competition.

Monmore got the maximum out of Kim Billingham's Cape Maldini who held a determined challenge from Kevin Hutton's  Ding Hero, and with Hall Green finishing fifth, Swindon again had a shot at second place.
However, Hall Green fought back when Gerry Ballentine's Around Corners, already a winner at Oxford and Swindon, recorded her third success in the competition when making all in the Bitches leg at 12.12.
Leg five, the Puppies contest, saw Monmore finally wrap up the this Midlands title when our Borna George recorded his fourth successive win and guarantee Monmore the £3,000 prize for winning the division.
Although Hall Green finished down the field they had done enough to secure secondplace behind Monmore and book  their place in the Grand Final alongside the hosts.

The sixth leg, for Stayers, had become a dead rubber but there was still pride to play for plus a matter of £200 for winning the race.

It was like a lap of honour for Monmore who recorded their fourth win of the match when Kim Billingham's Farloe Gambit made all of the running for an easy success and give team Monmore a brilliant 46 point haul on the day. Well done to all the trainers involved and and special well done to Kim Billingham who kept the team going well after a difficult start.

Tuesday's score: Monmore 46, Hall Green 35, Swindon 25, Perry Barr 25, Oxford 19, Yarmouth 18.

FINAL result: Monmore 219.5, Hall Green 198, Swindon 183.5, Yarmouth 143, Perry Barr 140, Oxford 123.