Second pairs win for Bjerre is Som target
JUST two years ago, Lasse Bjerre stood on the winner’s podium alongside Kyle Howarth as they lifted the Pairs Championship title for Sheffield.
Tonight, Newcastle BTS Diamonds’ diminutive Dane hopes to do the same again when he partners skipper Steve Worrall in one of the league’s major events of the season at Somerset.
All 11 SGB Championship clubs are represented and whichever pair eventually lifts the silverware will certainly have put in a hard shift to do so as there are some terrific duos involved.
Newcastle won the inaugural Pairs title back in 1975 through club legend Tom Owen and then captain Brian Havelock when the event was staged at Belle Vue, Manchester - a neutral track.
Since then further success has eluded them, though the Diamonds have finished runners-up three times in 1976, 1978 and 2001.
Worrall, with Scunthorpe last year, missed the Pairs because of a broken leg and is very much looking forward to racing tonight.
He said: “It is all about teamriding and Lasse and I have raced together a number of times and come up with good results hopefully we can do so again.”
The last time they raced together was in the final heat at Byker last Sunday when the 4-2 victory they pulled off made sure visitors Redcar Bears picked up no league points at all.
Worrall was originally due to be partnered by Thomas Jorgensen but the Dane’s shoulder popped out while racing for the Diamonds at Sheffield.
He has been replaced by Bjerre, who was in magnificent form against his old club, notching 16 (paid 17).
Since becoming host track for the Pairs, Somerset has won the event twice and finished as runners-up on two occasions - and their Aussie duo Rory Schlein and Nick Morris are sure to be among the hot favourites at this evening’s event.