Speedway: Ex-Monarch Rory roars to third championship crown

Published on Friday 29 July 2011 13:49

Belle Vue Aces speedway star Rory Schlein trumped all his rivals to capture the Scottish Open Championship for a third time at Armadale Stadium last night.

The Australian, a former Monarchs rider, was head and shoulders above everyone else and never looked like being headed after scoring a 15-point maximum in the qualifying heats.

The Grand Final saw Schlein face three home riders - Kevin Wolbert, Craig Cook and skipper Matthew Wethers.

Schlein had choice of gate and chose the productive outside trap and by the time he had reached the first bend the famous Jack Young Memorial Trophy was his as he left the trio of Monarchs challengers chasing air.

Wolbert finished runner-up, with Cook in third spot and Wethers in fourth position.

Schlein, who won the crown in 2004 and 2008, said: "I struggled when I was here last year and I always wanted to come back to see if I could win the title for a third time, which I've done and I'm delighted.

"I've been riding pretty well this season and importantly I made some good gates and, as everyone knows, round Armadale this makes winning races so much more easier."

Cook was glad he made the final but said: "I had some problems with my bike and I made changes for the final and while it helped a bit, it wasn't good enough and Rory was flying all night."

Wethers was also pleased with his own performance, saying: "I had gate three in the final, which was tough, but I reached the last four race-off and that had been my goal and I enjoyed myself."

Wolbert said: "I was quite happy with how things went and I just wasn't fast enough to catch Rory."

Schlein's route to glory was made considerably easier when his chief Elite League challenger, Oliver Allen, somersaulted over the fence in a first race spill and withdrew from the meeting on medical advice.