CYCLE SPEEDWAY: Dominik lands a first for the city.

POLISH ace Dominik Rycharski last weekend became the first Coventry Devlins Newsagents rider to reach an international final.

Racing in his native country at Bydgoszcz, Rycharski was in brilliant form over three gruelling days of competition in the European championships despite no less than four separate injuries.

The 26-year-old, who has been in superb form for Coventry all season, comfortably progressed from the first round at Bydgoszcz/ Szwederowo, netting 15 points.

Rycharski then moved up a gear to win the second round at Slesin, racing to a fine 18-point haul despite two spectacular first bend crashes, and an assured 14 points from his semi-final at Bydgoszcz/ Szyhounikow, overcoming two further falls and a mounting injury count, took him through his semi- final.

Rycharski proudly lined up in the final at Bydgoszcz/Trzylesie on Sunday evening in front of 2,000 spectators, but hopes of further success were soon dashed when, hampered by hand, arm and knee injuries, he fell in his first two outings while leading before recovering to notch seven points from his remaining three rides. Poland's Damian Zareba won the final with 19 points.

Coventry's colours were carried by brothers Chris and Lewis Osborne in the junior championships.

Fifteen-year-old Chris progressed from the first round before falling at the second hurdle while Lewis, 18, survived three qualifying rounds to make the semi-finals before bowing out to a tapes exclusion.

Coventry return to Premier League action tomorrow when they travel to Oxford to take on the champions (meet Farm House, Earlsdon, 11.30am).

Coventry: 1 Myke Grimes, 2 Ashley Pointer, 3 Dominik Rycharski, 4 Chris Osborne, 5 Lewis Osborne, 6 Ben Davies, 7 Tim Metcalfe, 8 Joe McLaughlin.

Second team - 1 Sam Hardie, 2 Jonathan Davidson, 3 Tom McDaid, 4 Fred Davidson, 5 Sean McGibley, 6 Ben Sangster.