BELLE Vue captain Scott Nicholls took the honours in the Bob Kilby Memorial meeting at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.

Nicholls, who spent a season with Swindon in 2011, recovered from a third place in his first ride to reel off four straight wins and earn himself a chance of the title.

Wolverhampton’s Freddie Lindgren could have pipped Nicholls had he won Heat 20, but in fact his second place to former Robins skipper Hans Andersen meant all three riders finished on 13 points ensuring a run-off to decide the title.

With first choice of gate, Nicholls trapped superbly from the inside to race clear, leaving a ding-dong scrap for runners-up position which was eventually taken by Andersen ahead of Lindgren.

Racing was entertaining and competitive throughout on an excellent Blunsdon circuit in a meeting run at a fine pace on a chilly evening.

Robins skipper Troy Batchelor finished just off the rostrum on 11 points, having been left to rue his second outing when he had been left at the back from the outside and eventually picked up third spot when Justin Sedgmen fell.

Fellow Swindon man Nick Morris supplied plenty of thrills, just missing out to Josh Grajczonek in a terrific Heat 14 dice, before successfully coming from third to first off a 15-metre handicap in Heat 17 having exceeded the two-minute time allowance.

New Robins reserves Charles Wright and Lewis Rose finished down the order in a tough competition, but will have benefited from their track time ahead of the league campaign.

There were also four races featuring British Youth competitors at 250cc level, with Tom Brennan taking away the Malcolm Holloway Trophy.

Nicholls said: “It was a cold night but I was making some good starts and I’m really pleased to win the meeting.

“It’s nice to have meetings such as this to loosen up before league racing begins, and I am very proud to have won the event as I know what the name of Bob Kilby means to everyone here.”

SCORES: Scott Nicholls 13, Hans Andersen 13, Freddie Lindgren 13, Troy Batchelor 11, Chris Harris 11, Nick Morris 9, Justin Sedgmen 9, Josh Grajczonek 8, Max Fricke 7, Sam Masters 7, Brady Kurtz 5, Bjarne Pedersen 4, Sam Simota 4, Steve Worrall 3, Charles Wright 2, Lewis Rose 1.
RUN-OFF: Nicholls, Andersen, Lindgren.