The sport's top track man Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

ARMADALE ON TOP AT THE CONFERENCE

NEWS Sunday 20th November 2011, 4:24pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Armadale has had the honour of being voted PL track of the year for 2011 at the annual BSPA Conference, ahead of Scunthorpe and Sheffield.

Alan Bridgett said ?I'm very pleased but it is a reward for everyone who works on the track.? Doc of course is also responsible for Wolverhampton, runners up at Elite level.

Chairman of Edinburgh and the BSPA, Alex Harkess, hailed this year's Conference (now completed) as ?positive and harmonious'. This is not the first time we have heard that, but it must be an improvement on last winter. The main framework for next season's competitions have been announced, with the unpopular ?phase 2? of the league scrapped.

All teams in both Elite and Premier League are back in action, ending speculation that one or two clubs may drop out. At Premier level, there will be an early season competition with two groups, selecting opponents to give each club racing just 5 home and 5 away matches.

The points limit will stay at 42.5 for three years, and there will be end of season playoffs for the top six and also for the next six. As in the 2007 Premier League (when Rye House beat Sheffield in the final), and as in the 2010 Elite and National Leagues, the Playoff winners will be the league champions.

The draw for the KO Cup pits the Scotwaste Monarchs against Rye House, who we have met a few times in recent years. We beat the Rockets home and away on the way to the final in 2010.