Coventry captain Scott Nicholls has been voted the most exciting rider in the Elite League.

The sport's referees nominate the most exciting rider at the end of each meeting and the man with the most votes wins the Charles Ochiltree Trophy, named after the legendary former Coventry promoter.

Nicholls picked up 26 votes during the season and will be presented with his award at Coventry's home Craven Shield meeting on Friday, a night which is set to be a celebratory occasion as the Bees fans welcome back the Elite League champions.

Coventry co-promoter Colin Pratt said: "Scott thoroughly deserves his accolade and to get 26 nominations is incredible. It is also appropriate that the Bees captain is picking up the Charles Ochiltree Trophy in the season that Coventry win the title."

Pratt took great satisfaction from his club's championship success, which was confirmed on a dramatic night at Belle Vue last Monday.

He said: "Everyone was absolutely tremendous and it's great for Scott to be able to lift the Elite League trophy in his first year with the club. It was a terrific night at Belle Vue and a brilliant atmosphere.

"Last year we were bottom and, of course, it didn't start too well this year either, with poor results early on and then we had to contend with Rory Schlein's injury and Andreas Jonsson having to leave due to his health.

"But as the weeks went on, our riders worked together better and better and we remained positive throughout. We were pushing hard during the run-in and full credit to all the boys, sponsors, mechanics and [ team owner Avtar] Sandhu who just left myself and Peter Oakes to guide the team."

The Bees now have a busy period of three matches in four days as they enter the Craven Shield at the semi-final stage.

They travel to Peterborough tomorrow and then Poole on Wednesday before receiving both teams at Brandon on Friday, as the competition has reached the threeteam tournament stage.

Wolverhampton were eliminated last Thursday, after Oxford somewhat surprisingly took the bonus point from their trip to Swindon - in fact, they won the meeting - which means the Monmore men have just three more team fixtures this season.

In the Midland Cup, Wolves and Coventry will clash for the final time this campaign. The first leg is at Brandon a week on Friday with the return at Monmore Green on Monday October 17.

However, Wolves' Elite League match at Oxford will have to be rearranged again as the date earmarked, Thursday October 14, is now being used by the Silver Machine for their Craven Shield semi-final against Belle Vue and Eastbourne.

Belle Vue, who were devastated to lose the Elite League title against Coventry, should gain some consolation tonight in the second leg of the Knockout Cup Final against Eastbourne. The Aces will have just two points to pull back after losing 46-44 at Arlington in the first leg on Saturday.