BY DENNIS NEWLYN

Former National Champion Mark Robinson took out a rough and tumble Lord Mayor's Cup at Lismore Speedway on Saturday night.

Robinson overcame a strong challenge from current Australian titleholder Peter Britten – and a number of race interruptions – to score a convincing win over Garry Wathen and Kelvin Hamilton.

The 30-lap final was a race of high attrition as more than half of the field retired from the event.

In the early stages the interest was at the top of the field as an enthralling battle for the race lead between Robinson and Britten unfolded.

Britten gained a slight advantage at the start of the race before a yellow caution light slowed the action. When the race resumed Robinson raced into the lead and literally held dominance from that point in the race.

The pair ran in close company – and at one point had a coming together in what was a torrid encounter. Britten chased hard, but his race came to an end toward the latter stages after his car broke a torsion bar and he slid into the concrete retaining wall.

From that point Robinson was untroubled and raced to a convincing victory. Wathen drove a solid race for his runner-up finish, while Kelvin Hamilton, driving the car formerly owned by multi National V8 Dirt Modified Champion Tim Morse from Victoria, was not disgraced in third.

Meanwhile the Wingless Sprintcar main event was won by Mick Santin, while other feature race winners were Scott Quirk (Street Stocks), Kurt Wilson (junior Sedans), Brock Armstrong (Four Cylinder Sedans and Steve Collins (Dwarf Cars).