ROBERT Branford lifted the British Under 21 title on a night of memorable racing hosted by Dudley Heathens at Monmore Green on Tuesday.
In front of a bumper crowd, Britain's most talented young riders put on a tremendous display of close action which eventually saw new Coventry signing Branford leave victorious.
Jason Garrity and Kyle Howarth had looked set to contest a two-horse race after they topped the score-charts - Garrity edging ahead of Howarth courtesy of his victory when the duo met in heat 17.
Yet Branford shot out of gate two in the final before holding off Howarth to take the chequered flag.
The impressive Garrity eventually took third place courtesy of a last lap overtake on Heathens skipper Ashley Morris who bounced back from a heavy crash in his opening ride to come within a whisker of the top three.
And Morris was frustrated not to make the rostrum after a tough evening.
He said: I'm really annoyed to be honest. After getting so close it is hard to take a place in the top three slipped away like that.
"It was obviously good to get that chance to get on the podium, especially after everything that happened on the night but I'm still going away pretty disappointed."
Morris' Heathens team-mates Dan Greenwood and Max Clegg both scored solidly - ending with six and three points respectively - whilst former Dudley men Darryl Ritchings and Danny Stoneman worked hard for their scores of eight and seven.
Last year's runner-up Tom Perry made the semi-finals on his return to his parent club only to see his night end in unfortunate fashion with a fall whilst challenging for a place in the final.
1. Robert Branford (Coventry) 2. Kyle Howarth (Workington/Poole) 3. Jason Garrity (Rye House) 4. Ashley Morris (Dudley/Workington)
QUALIFYING SCORES: Jason Garrity 15, Kyle Howarth 14, Ashley Morris 13, Robert Branford 12, Tom Perry 11, James Sarjeant 9, Darryl Ritchings 8, Danny Stoneman 7, Joe Jacobs 7, Dan Greenwood 6, Ben Morley 4, Stefan Nielsen 4, Shane Hazelden 3, Max Clegg 3, Josh Bates 3, Matt Williamson 1.
