PLYMOUTH Devils rider Tom Brown has claimed the coveted NatWest Bronze Helmet in a nail-biting climax to the prestigious individual meeting at Weymouth on Saturday night.

Brown had played a starring role in Devils' emphatic first-leg Conference Knockout Cup victory over Rye House Cobras 24 hours earlier.

The 24-year-old Welshman then capped a rewarding weekend's work on the wheels shutting out home favourite and top-scorer Jay Herne in the final race.

However, it was a close-run affair in the final with Weymouth's Herne making up almost 60 metres on Brown after being squeezed out on the second bend at the Wessex Stadium.

The format of the Bronze Helmet meet, being held for the first time since 2005, saw 13 of the Conferences most exciting riders each have four rides.

The final race – heat 14 – was a showdown between riders finishing second, third, fourth and fifth overall, in a head-to-head with the event's top-scorer.

Herne went into the final in fine form amassing 11 points with Brown and his Devils' team-mate Paul Starke both on nine.

Brown had won heat five, claiming Herne's scalp with an excellent pass on lap three.