Champion Birkinshaw as Allott blows it.

Adam Allott must be kicking himself for not winning the Steel City Championship at Sheffield last night. Five wins in qualifying by huge distances made him an apparent certainty to win the final. Instead he blew it to finish last.

The sixteen (mostly) teenagers contesting this meeting put on an excellent display of entertaining speedway. Allott, who missed out on a team spot with Sheffield this season, showed that not retaining him could be a mistake after slamming in those five massive qualification victories which made him a class above anyone else in the field.

But Birkinshaw was arguably the best 'alternative' winner. His only defeat throughout qualification was by Allott in the first heat and although he dropped out of heat sixteen with a machine problem, Birkinshaw's eleven points were enough to send him automatically to the final along with Allott.

Under the meeting format, the next four highest scorers fought it out in a semi-final with the riders finishing first and second lining up against Allott and Birkinshaw in the final.

Edinburgh's Rory Schlein looked to have booked his final place when comfortably leading the semi until he seemed to either throw a chain or seize his engine. His misfortune was accepted by Jon Armstrong and Aiden Collins.

Nobody in the stadium would have bet against Allott running away with the final. But a sluggish start left him too much to do and he never looked like being able to make up lost ground. Instead, Birkinshaw had it all under control from the front for a comfortable title victory.

Aiden Collins and Armstrong were always in the thick of the action as was Craig Branney. Ricky Ashworth joined Schlein as a contender for 'unluckiest rider of the night'.

He looked good for at least a semi final place until costing to a halt in heat twenty then pushed his failed machine home for an entire lap for the single point that could have taken him through.

But all it did was tie him on ten points with Aiden Collins and Branney resulting in the unfortunate Ashworth missing out on race wins. He had just the one compared to two each from Collins and Branney.

One competitor in particular to catch the eye was fifteen year old Australian Trevor Harding. The current Aussie Under-16 champion was making his competitive debut in England and visibly improved with each race. Young Harding is over to ride for Sheffield's Conference League team this season and on this evidence could be quite a talent.

All credit to Birkinshaw who can take encouragement from his win in to the new Premier League season - as can Allott who on his qualification performance alone must surely be approached by some needy promoter with a riding contract before long.

Steel City Championship Final
Birkinshaw, Armstrong, A. Collins, Allott

Semi Final
Armstrong, A. Collins, Branney, Schlein (F)

Qualification scores (in riding order)
Adam Allott 15
Matt Cambridge 6
Rory Schlein 11
James Birkinshaw 11
Ricky Ashworth 10
Trevor Harding 4
Ben Wilson 6
Luke Priest 4
David Speight 4
Aiden Collins 10
Chris Collins 7
Jamie Swales 0
Danny Norton 6
Richard Hall 5
Jon Armstrong 11
Craig Branney 10