SWINDON Robins youngster Kyle Howarth was unable to qualify for the latter stages at the British Speedway Final as Tai Woffinden retained his title in Wolverhampton.

Howarth, who claimed the British Under 21 title earlier in the season, produced a solid effort at Monmore Green to claim eight points from five rides but his chances of challenging for honours were severely hampered by a fall in his penultimate heat.

Great Britain captain Woffinden was far from his best but still had enough to win a third title on the bounce after showing Craig Cook and Danny King a clean pair of heels in the final, but only after a re-run following a fall for Jason Garrity.

It was a disappointing start to the evening for Howarth as he could only finish third in his first heat as both Cook and Scott Nicholls got the better of him.

There had earlier been a delayed start to the meet as Ben Barker had to leave the stadium in an ambulance after a horrendous crash in heat one, which was eventually won by Carl Wilkinson after two restarts.

There was a huge shock in the heat three as defending champion Woffinden was stunned by Garrity, who made the most of a very bad start for the Great Britain captain, while King romped clear to take heat four.

However, Woffinden swiftly got back to form as he tied the track record on his way to victory in heat five.

Howarth was then able to get in the winners’ enclosure in the next, although he had a big survive a wobble to do it and it only came after King and Chris Harris were excluded following falls.

Garrity then got his second win in heat seven, while Nicholls nabbed his first in eight.

Howarth then had another huge wobble in heat nine but he did excellently to hang on and was able to chase home Garrity all the way as he made it three wins from three.

Cook made it two wins as the meet reached halfway, as did Woffinden in the next, while Harris claimed his first in the 12th. There were then victories for King, Richard Lawson and a third for Cook.

Howarth’s chances of reaching the latter stages were then all-but ended by a fall in heat 16. The Robin took a tumble on the top bend of the first lap as Woffinden went on to take the win.

Nicholls triumphed in 17, swiftly followed by Woffinden in the next for his fourth victory from five.

Howarth needed a victory in his final run to give himself any chance of reaching the latter stages and, although he battled bravely, he was unable to challenge Lawson and could only finish second for eight points overall.

Cook claimed victory in the last heat and that was enough to see him into the semi-final, alongside Lawson, Nicholls and King, as Woffinden and Garrity went straight into the final.

Cook and King were the top-two finishes there as Lawson was excluded but neither were able to live with Woffinden in the final, who powered to his third title in a row.

Rider scores:

Carl Wilkinson (Scunthorpe) – 3+1+1+1+1=7

Andre Compton (Sheffield) – 1+2+0+0=3

Ben Barker (Berwick) – FX=0

Steve Worrall (Belle Vue/Newcastle) – 2+1+1+2+0=6

Craig Cook (Belle Vue/Edinburgh) – 3+FX+3+3+3=12

Kyle Howarth (Swindon/Workington) – 1+3+2+F+2=8

Adam Roynon (Redcar) – F+1+0+0+2=3

Scott Nicholls (Belle Vue) – 2+3+1+1+3=10

Tai Woffinden (Unattached) – 1+3+3+3+3=13

Chris Harris (Coventry) – 2+FX+3+2+2=9

Jason Garrity (Coventry/Sheffield) – 3+3+3+2+2=13

Lewis Blackbird (Wolverhampton/Peterborough) – 0+2+1+2+1=6

Richard Lawson (Lakeside/Glasgow) – 1+2+2+3+3=11

Danny King (Coventry/Ipswich) – 3+FX+2+3=1=9

Edward Kennett (Lakeside/Rye House) – 2+2+2+1+0=7

Leigh Lanham (Somerset) – 0+0+0+1+1=2

Max Clegg – 0+0+0=0

Matt Williamson – 0+0=0