ACES CHAMPIONS IN FINAL THRILLER

BELLE Vue ended a 29-year wait for a top-fight title as they were crowned Premiership champions with a gripping Grand Final victory over Sheffield.

The Aces were beaten 50-40 at Owlerton on Thursday but successfully defended their 12-point advantage gained in Manchester, sealing the crown with a 3-3 in the penultimate race when Tom Brennan and Norick Blodorn kept Tigers skipper Kyle Howarth at the back.

As in the first leg, there were incidents and talking points galore with Aces skipper Brady Kurtz disqualified in Heat 1 for bringing down Lewis Kerr, whilst Sheffield’s Adam Ellis was thrown out of Heat 3 after a first-bend incident with Brennan.

Ellis crashed out of Heat 5 himself but the Tigers gradually applied the pressure and a 4-2 in Heat 10 took them ten points up on the night, and to within two points on aggregate.

But another massive moment came on the last lap of Heat 11 when Kurtz hit the deck under the challenge of Tobiasz Musielak, and it was the Pole who was disqualified to hand the Aces a 5-1.

The visitors, who only won four heats but defended resolutely though a series of crucial shared races, maintained their advantage with 3-3s in Heats 12-14 which put the tie beyond the Tigers.

Sheffield finished with a consolation 5-1 from Jack Holder and Musielak in Heat 15, but it was Belle Vue’s title for the first time since way back in 1993 – long before the current play-off system was implemented.

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Photo credit: IAN CHARLES