Bears make birthday twice as nice

LEANNE Swales couldn't have had a better double birthday present last Friday than victory over league leaders Poole, followed less than 24 hours later by a comprehensive win at recently in form Workington.

- By KEITH MCGHIE

Swales, who was officially confirmed as joining her husband Jamie as co-promoter at the club in midweek, was as thrilled as any Bears followers at the two successes, which lifted the club away from the lower reaches of the Championship and in among the playoff places.

The last heat success over the reigning champions from Dorset was Redcar's first in 13 attempts, since 2021, and came through a succession of battling displays from a Bears' side bolstered with two guests in the absence of the still ill Erik Riss and Jake Mulford.

Mulford was in France and scored two to help Great Britain claim the bronze medal in the European Under-24 team championship behind Poland and Denmark.