There was a new trophy winner in the Junior Productions, as Deborah McCann raced to an excellent heat and final double. Shane McMillan followed Deborah home in heat one before going one better in the second heat to record the win. The final looked as though it was heading for the McMillan household too, as Shane led Irish Champion brother Derek. But they contrived to commit the cardinal sin and took each other out, leaving McCann to fend off Jordan Rochford over the final laps to record a very popular feature race win indeed.

Ryan Abernethy took the flag in the first heat for the ProStocks from Brian Johnston’s immaculate Escort, but Robbie Diffin then took over to win the second heat and the final from the yellow grade and earn himself an automatic upgrading to blue for the next meeting. Abernehty chased him home in both races, with Ryan Stewart third in the final.

The tricky track conditions made life difficult for the other classes, but former British Champion Garry Campbell was in fine form in the 2.0 Hot Rods. Second behind Feargal McNally in heat two was the only blot on his record as he recorded a fine heat and final double, and with it a return to the red grade from next week. Glenn McDowell, showing great speed in the wet, and recent Golden Helmet winner Shane Murray followed Garry home in the feature race.

With the defence of his World Championship only three weeks away, Stephen Emerson sent out an ominous message with victory in the Lightning Rods final. His big rival in 2010 Gordy McKee – another with high hopes at Ipswich in July – tracked him home in the final, having earlier taken the flag in heat two. Portadown’s Vince Litter earlier picked up the days’ first victory.

The Junior Productions saw penalties aplenty throughout the day, most likely due to the damp conditions and the fact that they were given the tough job of following the Bangers each time which usually leaves the track treacherous to say the least. Derek McMillan took the heat one win from Lee McCracken, before Johnny Armstrong inherited heat two after McCracken got docked a couple of spots for earlier contact. Jordan Rochford was then first over the line in the final, but he too fell foul of the Steward after an earlier incident as the star men had battled their way through the pack. A two place penalty was duly handed out, leaving McMillan to pick up his second victory of the day with his brother Shane in second.