FORMER Swindon Robins number one Peter Kildemand missed out on World Cup glory in agonising fashion yesterday as his Denmark team were pipped at the post by Sweden in a thrilling final.

The Danes, who hosted the event, led by a point going into the last heat of the meeting in Vojens but when Niels-Kristian Iversen clipped Polish rider Przemyskaw Pawlicki, causing him to come down, a re-run was ordered, with Iversen excluded.

That gave the Swedes a glorious opportunity to snatch the title from their rivals’ clutches and Andreas Jonsson duly delivered with victory in the heat to see his side finish on 34 points, two clear of Denmark.

Kildemand, who appeared for the Robins earlier in the 2015 Elite League season in the absence of injured number one Adrian Miedzinksi, finished as the top scorer on the day with 13 points from five rides but it was not enough to help Denmark defend the title they won last year.

It was also a disappointing day for current Swindon duo Troy Batchelor and Nick Morris as Australia could only finish fourth in the final with a haul of 26 points, one behind third-placed Poland.

Youngster Morris made his senior international debut in this World Cup campaign but struggled in the final and could only score two points from three rides.

After the meet he posted on Twitter: “Disappointing stuff. Tried hard, made setup mistake, and that was all she wrote.

“Learnt so much and awesome to be a part of an awesome team.”

Fellow Aussie Batchelor also could not find his best form and returned eight points from his five outings.

The final proved a thrilling affair from start to finish, with Denmark and Sweden neck and neck right the way through and sharing 13 of the 20 heat wins between them.

Although Poland and Australia rarely challenged for top spot, just seven points separated the four teams going into the final four heats.

Kildemand’s triumph in 18 looked to have given the Danes the initiative but when Kenneth Bjerre returned pointless in the next, Sweden had a chance and they then fully capitalised on Iversen’s error in the last to snatch the title.