IT was a weekend of mixed fortunes for Bury-Border Flooring riders on their trip to Edinburgh.

Saturday's British Veteran's Individual championship saw Bury's Fred Rothwell and Steve Mann qualify for the final while Derek Garnett, a multi champion in the past only made the first reserve slot and Steve Jarman was eliminated.

Although the final was delayed through heavy rain, a distraught Steve Mann failed to arrive at the track in time falling foul of Edinburgh's one way system and heavy Saturday afternoon traffic.

A reluctant Derek stepped up into his place in the final sixteen, scoring six points. Fred scored a battling 16, including three race wins but just missed out on the trophies after a four man run-off for runner up, third, fourth and fifth places.

Steve was left to reflect on what might have been, having qualified for his first ever British final in his twenty-sixth year of racing,

Sunday's Midland/North Regional fixtures saw the Bury second team secure a vital combination league victory, if somewhat unexpected, to remain their on-coming interest in the championship.

A 62-57 match win was an excellent reward for their combined efforts in difficult circumstances.

Young Ben Scranage topped the scores with 13, winning three of his four rides, Dave O'Callaghan added 11, Robert Pearce scored 10+2 from 3 rides, Scott Jarman 9+1, from 3, Martin Degman 7+1, Steve Mann 6 from 2, Tom Doyle 5 and Steve Jarman 1 from his only ride.

The senior first team match was again somewhat controversial and although Bury battled gamely, the home team produced enough to win with a little help from the 'Man in the Middle'.

The referee came in for some stick from the Bury contingent, as several decisions saw the match slip away from the depleted visited side with several key riders unable to make the trip through injury and other reasons.

A score of 99-77 was the final verdict but it should have been so much closer. Fred Rothwell and Steve Mann both put the previous days disappointments behind them topping the scores with 17 and 14 pts respectively, Fred won three races and Steve two.

Robert Pearce added a good 12+1, captain Neil Howarth did some excellent team riding with Steve Mann, but came unstuck on a couple of occasions himself in the heat of battle, Neil scored 8+1, Derek Garnett 8+1, Ben Scranage 8, Dave O'Callaghan 6 and Scott Jarman 4.

There is no local racing again this weekend as East Anglia is the setting for the British Individual Championships with the grand finals of the Under 16s and Seniors at Norwich on Bank Holiday Monday.