Australian Chris Holder, although failing to finish top of the qualifiers at the Speedway Star Welsh Open at the Hayley Stadium, Newport, yesterday, edged his way to glory by a little under a machine length ahead of Reading's Zdenek Sam' Simota.

Simota, from the Czech Republic, topped the charts with 13 points, never out of the top two in his five qualifying heats, while Holder won four races although failing to score in his third ride, the thrilling heat ten.

Ricky Ashworth won his last heat to go through and Jason Bunyan edged into the final line-up on ten points.

Holder, from the Isle of Wight, gained a big hand with local knowledge from fellow Australian Craig Watson, the Wasps' rider recovering from a broken arm, and Holder said: "He was a big help to me." Not only was it a profitable day out for Holder, but it was a useful trip for the Isle of Wight trio, the Islanders riding at Newport on Sunday in a Premier League fixture.

Holder, who has guested for the Wasps this summer, clocked the fastest times of the meeting with two sub-one minute four laps in beating Simota in the second race (59.49) and then Ricky Ashworth in heat five (59.41).

Holder proved a really cool customer in heat 15, which he won after bouncing off the safety fence while remaining in control of his machine and, at the end, making light of the hair-raising incident, remarked: "It was a bit scary, but that's what the fence is for, to keep you on the track!"

Newport's Carl Wilkinson had a disappointing finish, collecting one point from his last two rides after compiling six from his first three, including a heat win first time out, beating team-mate Tony Atkin, Krzysztof Stojanowski and American Brent Werner. But he was involved in one of the best heats of the meeting, finally losing out to Jason Bunyan in heat ten Holder bringing up the rear after leading the way.

Promoter Tim Stone had more problems than usual putting his final field together, and inside 48 hours of the tapes rising he had to call on his skipper, Atkin, when Somerset's Paul Fry, a replacement for team-mate Magnus Zetterstrom, suffered a broken leg in the Rebels Premier League meeting with Berwick on Friday night.

Stone said: "I was pleased with the way things went it was a lovely day and lovely racing."

Atkin, although only scoring three points, said: "I enjoyed the meeting. It was a late call but you always want to ride and I am happy enough. It was a good meeting, good racing and a good crowd."

Results (all five rides unless stated): Ricky Ashworth (Sheffield) 11, Jason Bunyan (Isle of Wight) 10, Troy Batchelor (King's Lynn) 2 (four rides), Kevin Doolan (King's Lynn) 5, Chris Holder (Isle of Wight) 12, Zdenek Sam' Simota (Reading) 13, Mads Korneliussen (Swindon) 9, Leigh Lanham (Arena Essex) 8, Phil Morris (Belle Vue) 7, Adam Shields (Eastbourne) 3 (3), Chris Schramm (Newport Wasps) 8, Andy Smith (Reading) 9, Krzysztof Stojanowski (Isle of Wight) 4, Brent Werner (Eastbourne) 9, Carl Wilkinson (Newport Wasps) 7, Tony Atkin (Newport Wasps) 3.

Reserve, Tom Hedley (Australia) 0 (2).

Final: 1Holder (61.95), 2 Zimota, Ashworth, 4 Bunyan.