MIDDLESBROUGH BEARS recorded their biggest ever victory against the Oxford Academy at Cowley Stadium last weekend easily winning by 26-10pts.

The Scott Bros Bears won every heat and three of their riders were unbeaten by an opposing rider.

York-based reigning British Grasstrack Champion Paul Cooper impressed with an immaculate unbeaten 9pt maximum. Two of his times were faster than those raced in the main match between Oxford and Buxton. Newcastle Gems rider John Branney and Buxton-based Carl Belfield were also in good form. For Belfield it was something of an achievement as he has missed the past 18 months due to a broken leg. The Bears other rider, Phil Downes, managed to finish on a positive note. He shed a chain in his first ride and then found his route from the outside gate blocked in his second ride. In his third ride he came off the more productive gate 1 and was able to join his teammate Paul Copper for an unexpected maximum 5-1 heat advantage.

For Oxford only 16-year old Ben Barker offered any reasonable challenge. He featured in the two best races of the evening. In his second ride he and Carl Belfield fought a great tussle for the minor placings; Barker taking the inside line whilst Belfield committed himself to taking a wider line whilst looking for the 'dirt'. It was Belfield who got the verdict on the line as the two riders raced past almost together. In his next outing Barker came underneath Belfield in one manoeuvre on the back straight and then repeated it on John Branney. Having done all the hard work he went into the third and fourth bends too tight and almost turned full circle. Fortunately Branney was able to swerve away and avoid a serious accident and Barker was none the worse for his enthusaism.

One of the most impressive features of the match at Oxford was the number of

people who stayed behind to watch the Bears race after the main event had finished. It was a gesture most appreciated by the riders.

SCORERS: BEARS 26 - Paul Cooper 9, John Branney 8,Carl Belfield 7, Phil Downes 2. ACADEMY 10 - Kevin Howse 4, Ben Barker 3, Jason Newitt 3, James Humby 0.

IT was a busy weekend for Paul Cooper. The 21-year old, who has had a host of Premier League clubs chasing his signature this season, guested for Stoke on the Saturday evening in a Premier League match and then on Sunday travelled south to Maidstone, Kent, to take part in a major grasstrack event. Proving that for this season alone, the grass is always greener.

THERE have been a number of changes to the club's fixture list, as follows: Glasgow: Ashfield Giants 11/7; Hull Angels 21/7; Berwick Borderers 24/7; Glasgow: West Lothian Wildcats 25/7; Workington Cubs 7/8 (provisional); Sheffield Prowlers 26/8; Buxton: Crewe Kings 5/9; Scunthorpe Scorpions TBA.

LAST week the club were presented with a cheque for £250 from The Abbey's 'Community Partnership'. Representatives from the Middlesbrough branch in Linthorpe Road met members of the the Scott Bros Bears management team and local rider Ashley Johnson. Steve Harland, the club's director of operations, said: "It's a fantastic gesture from the Abbey to present a club with no home base with this award."