THERE was some exciting stock rod meetings at the Cowdenbeath Racewall over the year, especially in the Scottish Championship where at one point there were five drivers dicing for the lead.

The most consistent was Michael Bethune (Kirkcaldy) and he was soon heading the track points championship.

Initially the race for points centred on Derek Conner (Airdrie), Bethune and John McAllister (Shotts) who were bunched together until Stuart McKinnon (Lochore) and Conner had a fall out after a race, resulting in both cars ending against the tyres on the back straight. Conner received a suspension and fell out of the title race.

Siobhan Martin (Barrhead) had another impressive season although at one stage she dropped down to the blue grade. However her time there didn’t last long and after a big haul of points and visiting the winners circle she moved back up to the red grade and into contention for the track points.

She certainly didn’t give anyone any respite when racing and proved tough to displace. In the end it hinged on the last race of the season although she needed to win all the races and Bethune to slip up.

Bethune won the opening heat from Martin. Leon Stewart (Ratho) won heat two from Martin and Bethune and whilst Martin won the final from Bethune and collected the Turner trophy. Bethune’s second place saw him win the championship by 12 points.

Cowdenbeath duo Ryan Johnston and Lee Green had good seasons and a few fine wins, James Matson (Glenrothes) and Lee Smart (Leslie) also impressed but spare a thought for Paul Prentice (Selkirk) who chalked up his first win and then had his car wrecked in the next race!

Leon Stewart (Ratho) had a mixed season but went on to finish in eighth in the track points and should move up the grades. Chris Chance (Barford) covered the most miles – he travelled from the north of England and didn’t miss a Racewall meeting. Unfortunately he didn’t always head home with his car in one piece!

The Michael Hastie memorial trophy saw Craig Tosh (Perth) come out on top with McAllister the runner up in all three races. There were 18 of the qualified stock rods at the track and during the drivers meeting the grid was decided with numbers drawn out of a hat!

After a re-start due to a number of crashes, the front row consisted of defending champion McKinnon with Willie Hardie (Shotts) alongside, behind were James Gray (Boness) and Bethune.

Brett Sneddon (Linlithgow) and Bethune stepped up their challenge but neither could find a gap and this allowed Hardie to become the new Scottish champion.

Over the closing weeks of the season it was all eyes on the track points championship where Bethune came out on top to pick up his second points title win.