SHEFFIELD skipper Ricky Ashworth has qualified for the British Final after coming through an eventful semi at Owlerton on Thursday.

Ashworth carded nine points to take one of the seven places on offer for Wolverhampton next month, despite a disqualification in his first ride when he fell on the first bend.

But his Tigers team-mate Josh Auty suffered dreadful misfortune, losing third place with mechanical failure in his third ride and then a certain win with a chain breakage in Heat 18 – and that left him one place short of going through.

Five-times champion Scott Nicholls headed the qualifiers, dropping just one point to impressive Tigers asset Richard Hall who also went through comfortably along with Ben Barker, who scored 13.

It was a more nervous night for defending champion Chris Harris, who fell in his second ride but won his last two outings to make sure, and Daniel King and Jordan Frampton completed the qualifiers for the June 6 Final at Wolverhampton.

Seven more riders will qualify from Friday’s second semi at Scunthorpe, and organisers will then allocate the two Wild Card places.

SCORES: Scott Nicholls 14, Ben Barker 13, Richard Hall 11, Daniel King 11, Chris Harris 10, Ricky Ashworth 9, Jordan Frampton 9 (all qualify), Josh Auty 7, Ritchie Hawkins 6, James Wright 5, Kyle Newman 5, Luke Bowen 5, Andrew Tully 4, Derek Sneddon 4, Ashley Birks (res) 3, Paul Cooper 3, Craig Cook 1.