SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams put his vast experience to good use as he carried off the Elite League Riders' Championship for the first time, on Friday evening at Coventry's Brandon stadium.

Adams was left with the unfavoured inside gate in the Final but as Bees skipper Chris Harris, Chris Holder and Fredrik Lindgren furiously contested the early stages, Adams held the kerb-line to go clear of his rivals.

With Lindgren locking up on turn three and subsequently retiring, Harris and Holder engaged in such a battle for second place that neither were able to land a challenging blow on the leader, although Harris did gain a consolation runners-up spot.

A thoroughly entertaining meeting in front of a good crowd at Brandon quickly developed into a battle between nine riders for the six places in the semi-final and Final, with Harris and Holder heading the qualifying scores on 13 points apiece.

Adams' only blip came with a last place in Heat 15, a race which brought together four of the main contenders, so despite his four wins he was forced to go into the semi-final.

There he met Lindgren, Bees man Edward Kennett who had won his first two rides, and former Coventry skipper Scott Nicholls - and it was Lindgren and Adams who progressed.

Those to narrowly miss out on top-six places were Niels-Kristian Iversen, Matej Zagar and Hans Andersen, whilst Robert Miskowiak's fast-starting also made him a factor in several races.

The meeting went ahead with 15 starters after the late pull-out of Lee Richardson due to illness. Reserves Josh Auty and Joe Haines shared his rides, and neither youngster disgraced himself, with both scoring a genuine point against much more experienced opponents.