GREAT Britain’s Ice racer Paul Cooper finished third in the Roelof Thijs Bokaal staged at Ice Rink Thialf, Heerenveen, Netherlands.
Cooper, who spent the majority of his speedway career with Sheffield, produced the best performance by a British rider in this competition in nearly 40 years.
In the old GP-style knockout format, Cooper won his first two rides, but fell in his third. He then managed two second places to qualify for the semi-finals.
In his semi, he passed former Ice Speedway Gladiators star Jimmy Hornell (Sweden) on lap two and held on to finish second by a spike’s width to reach the Final.
The Final had to be re-run when Finn Arttu Lehtinen fell, and in the re-run Cooper stalled on the start line, but he was still placed third overall.
The meeting was won by defending champion, Sebastian Reitsma of the Netherlands, who won by default when Sweden’s Melwin Björklin fell.
Cooper will line up as reserve in Final 3 of the Ice Speedway Gladiators on Saturday night.
1st Sebastian Reitsma (Netherlands), 2nd Melwin Björklin (Sweden) 3rd Paul Cooper (Great Britain).
Report and pics: IAN CHARLES