Shields claims Euphony Classic

Eastbourne's Adam Shields finished off the 2004 speedway season on Sunday night at Smallmead Stadium, by taking the Euphony Classic individual trophy, and the top prize of ?2000 after beating Reading's Danny Bird in a run-off
for first place.

Shields won the big money pot dropping his only point to Brent Werner in heat 20 and with Bird losing his only point to Shields in heat 14, this resulted in a run-off to take the top prize. In the run-off the Australian Elite League rider made a perfect start and led Euphony Racer Bird all the way.

There was also another run-off, this time for third place, with Rye House's Davey Watt beating Racers Slovenian star Matej Zagar, after both finished the meeting with 11 points.

Zagar's hopes of taking the top prize were dashed when he crashed whilst second in heat 7 behind Shields, and Euphony Racers skipper Phil Morris suffered a similar fate whilst chasing leader Leigh Lanham in heat 2.

At the interval stage after all riders had completed three rides each, Shields and Bird led the field with a maximum 9 points apiece. The pair then met in a showdown in heat 14 with the Eastbourne rider making a great start to lead all the way to the chequered flag. Bird didn't make one of his better starts and had to fight his way past team-mate Morris early on to get second.

Shields then looked set to go through the card, but came unstuck when Brent Werner made a great start in heat 20 leaving the Australian in second place which meant a run-off with Bird for the Euphony Classic title.