IT was a very depressing weekend for Bury Border Flooring on their travels to East London on Saturday and Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday.

Three senior riders missing from the line up proved too much ;of a handicap in the quarter final of the British team championship. John Whiting, serving the second of a two match suspension, Matthew Parr on holiday abroad and Steve Muff, broken collar bone would collectively, undoubtedly, have scored enough points to have won the day but any hopes of a first ever appearance at the grand finals day was sunk without trace as a vastly experienced East London side rattled off a 101-77 victory. Incredibly everyone of the eight home riders was in the veteran category being 39 years or over.

Despite the scoreline only one rider was unbeaten and that was current British veterans and former senior champion , Dennis Hubble, who can consider himself very lucky not to have been excluded for some very dubious tactics against Bury Rider Robert Pearce, already making himself a big reputation in other U16 circles, was without doubt the star of the whole meeting and was actually leading hubble on the last bend of his second ride, having won his first. When the challenge which relegated him to last place escaped action from the referee. Robert went on to win his other three races and was very unlucky not to register what would have been an amazing maximum score at this level.

Bury only won seven races and Robert got four of them, Paul Dyson, two and Steve Mann were the other race winner.

On the day East London were worthy winners, but the referee certainly stretched their lead somewhat. Bury scorers: Robert Pearce 17, Neil Howarth 12, Derek Garnett 11 + 1, Fred Rothwell 10, Paul Dyson 9, Steve Mann 7, Dave O'Callaghan 6, Ben Stranage.

The trip to Stoke was a depressing affair and with Robert Pearce off on holiday in addition to the other missing riders, Bury were on a loser right from the off. Only two Bury race wins in the combination Division match for Steve Mann and Derek Garnett left the depleted five man team out of contention and a stranger than expected Stoke second team took the spoils 69-44.

Steve Mann 10, Ben Scranage 10, Derek Garnett 9, Dave O'Callaghan 7, Martin Degnan 7.

The first team match was just as bade. Paul Dyson suffered two race excursions as Stoke won in a canter. The whole team tried hard but seemed to be suffering an anti-climax from the previous days encounter. Stoke 116, Bury 60.

Fred Rothwell 11, John Whiting 10, Paul Dyson 9, Steve Mann 9, Neil Howarth 7, Ben Scranage 7, Derek Garnett 4, Dave O'Callaghan 3.

Spirits should be lifted on Sunday when Northern Fours and Junior League action takes place at Stockport.