THE 2002 cycle speedway season finally came to a close last weekend with two Bury riders involved in an unofficial international invitation event at Wednesfield, Wolverhampton.

The following day, the one outstanding league championship was decided in a volatile match at Sandwell, when Stoke defeated Wednesfield by the surprisingly large margin of 113-55.

Referee Bob Prince of Birmingham, had his hands full as two Wednesfield riders were "match banned", and another "walked out".

On the previous day, Ben Scranage scored 12 points for an England select, and Robert Pearce scored 12 for the European select, and won by a single point 89-88.

The indoor season will take place over four weekends as follows:

Sunday, November 3 -- practice at Pendlebury Sports Centre, 2-4pm; Saturday and Sunday, November 9 and 10 -- British Indoor Individual Championships at Cheslyn Hey, Wolverhampton; Sunday, November 17 -- practice at Pendlebury, 2-4pm; Sunday, November 24 -- British Indoor Team Championships, senior and junior, Broughton Leisure Centre.

It has been a good year for the Bury club in team and individual competitions. In the Northern Alliance they are Division One champions, Senior cup winners, and Junior cup winners; Northern Alliance Combination League (second team): runners-up; Midland/North Regional Division One: fourth place; Midland/North Regional Combination: champions; Northern Alliance Fours League: champions; Northern Alliance Junior League: runners-up; Manchester League Division Two: champions.

INDIVIDUALS

Northern Alliance -- U16 champion: Ben Scranage; U19 third place: Robert Pearce; Senior runner-up: Neil Howarth, third place: Paul Dyson; Veteran champion: Paul Dyson.

Grand Prix -- U16 champion: Ben Scranage; U19 champion: Robert Pearce; Combination champion: Steve Mann.

Manchester League -- U16 champion: Tom Doyle, third place: Ben Scranage; U19 champion: Robert Pearce; third place: Tom Doyle; Senior runner-up: Ben Scranage; third place: Neil Howarth.

Grand Prix -- U16 champion: Ben Scranage; third place: Tom Doyle; U19 champion: Scott Jarman; third place: Robert Pearce.

British Finalists -- U16: Ben Scranage; U19: Robert Pearce, Scott Jarman; Veterans: Paul Dyson, Dave Morgan.

European Finalist -- U19: Robert Pearce.

England Internationals -- Senior: Paul Dyson, Neil Howarth; Junior: Robert Pearce (England European gold medallist).