After the intended final day was rained off a week ago, the weather in western Småland finally allowed for a decision in the speedway final. That the return was postponed a week was nothing that bothered Oliver Berntzon.
Nice, actually. It felt good to wait for better weather, he says.
Visiting Dackarna quickly made up for the four-point deficit they found themselves in after the first final match on their home track in Målilla.
Cold and nervous
But the gold favorite from Gislaved, who won this year's basic series, quickly responded to Dackarna's lively start. The home team managed three "fives" in four attempts and the gold grip was tightened.
It was cold, nervous, up and down, summarizes Oliver Berntzon the second final match.
Dackarna tried to get back into the gold battle by winning a heat with 4–2 and the following one with 5–1.
After twelve of the evening's 15 heats, Lejonen led by eight points and could decide in the next one. And it didn't take long. The Polish duo Mateusz Cierniak and Kacper Woryna managed a five for the home club and the big gold cheer erupted.
The victory also meant a nice revenge for the defeat in the Swedish Championship final 2022 against Smederna.
A fantastic feeling, both for the club and for me. I've grown up here. This has been a dream for me and ranks on my top three list in my career so far, says Oliver Berntzon, who in 2021 returned home to his parent club after previously competing for, among others, Dackarna.
Large audience in place
The decisive final was watched by 6,375 spectators who created a high atmosphere around the track.
Fantastic, really. A fairy tale ending to the season, says Berntzon.
Mateusz Cierniak, Dominik Kubera, and Oliver Berntzon were Lejonen's three top scorers for the evening.
Lejonen won the second final match with 49–41 and the final total with 96–84. The gold was the club's first in 15 years and third overall. Dackarna, who became Swedish champions as recently as last year, remain at a total of seven Swedish Championship golds.
2024: Lejonen.
2023: Dackarna.
2022: Smederna.
2021: Dackarna.
2020: Masarna.
2019: Smederna.
2018: Smederna.
2017: Smederna
2016: Rospiggarna.
2015: Vetlanda.
2014: Vetlanda.
