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Enjoyable entertaining meeting on Redcar's excellent track. Well done to Workington on a great comeback. Looks like an interesting team with a lot of potential. Great to see Cookie back to something like his old self after the horrible end to his 2023 season. I think making him captain is a good idea, he was a really good captain for Edinburgh the last time we won the League.

Congratulations to the Tigers, well deserved and commiserations to the Pirates. Very much a team effort tonight with all riders contributing and Chris Harris very much the leader. Pleased for Cami Brown, who takes a lot of stick (even from his own team's supporters), but always seems like a genuine speedway guy to me.

Don't know what many on here were moaning about, I thought that was great entertainment with some fine speedway in the later heats. So pleased for Joshie Pickering, the rider of the final in my eyes with two blistering heat 14s. Congratulations to Sheffield and commiserations to Ipswich - two fully committed teams giving it their all in difficult conditions.

Racing not as good as normal at Ashfield due to tricky track conditions and dubious preparation, but still an exciting tense meeting. Glasgow got lucky in heat 12 - why wasn't Complin in it in the first place? Lee the match winner in heat 14 with a brilliant first lap - so pleased for him. Congratulations to the Tigers.

Final match of the season at Armadale. Hopefully not the final match ever at Armadale. After being refreshingly open and transparent last year about the future of Edinburgh Speedway, the promotion have somewhat gone into their shell this season. Probably not helped by a difficult season on and off the track. After Kyle Howarth pulling out of the away match, Justin Sedgmen was injured last night so it's R/R again at #1 for the Monarchs. A dead rubber maybe, but the weather is set fair and hopefully the home team can put up a decent performance against the title favourites. STELLAR MONARCHS: Rider replacement for Craig Cook, Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Josh Pickering (captain), Dayle Wood, Bastian Borke. WESSEX MARINE PIRATES: Richard Lawson, rider replacement for Anders Rowe, Ben Cook, Zach Cook, Steve Worrall (captain), Kyle Newman, Joe Thompson.

A good meeting to finish off 2023, which was closer than the final score made it look and had some fine racing. But more disappointment after the meeting when a very emotional Josh Pickering announced he would not be back with the Monarchs next year. John Campbell announced Armadale is available for next year but there's still a few things to sort out before they can confirm Monarchs will be competing. He also said there were grave doubts over the NDL as a whole never mind the Monarchs Academy's participation. The season has obviously taken its toll on John and Alex, let's hope a new year brings more optimism and we're still able to watch the mighty Monarchs.

Monarchs only need to win their next 3 matches to qualify for the Play-off Final. Hope Sedgy doesn't tire himself out at Glasgow in the afternoon. STELLAR MONARCHS: Justin Sedgmen (guest), Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Josh Pickering (captain), Dayle Wood, Bastian Borke. ATTIS INSURANCE SCORPIONS: Ryan Douglas, Connor Mountain, Simon Lambert, Jake Allen, Michael Palm Toft, Nathan Ablitt, Drew Kemp.

More depressing viewing for Monarchs fans. One of the lowest crowds I've ever seen at a senior meeting at Armadale. Do they deliberately make the track as difficult as possible for the home riders? Track was perfect last night but back to being slippery again tonight. Same for both sides though and Edinburgh are not at the races. Very poor.

A fine win for the Academy to complete their home fixtures in an enjoyable match on a well-prepared track. Season ending too soon for Dayle Wood and Mickie Simpson who both looked confident and stylish while racking up good scores.

Earlier in this thread Mr Blobby said "I’d get rid of the lot for next year. We’ve been nothing short of embarrassing all year." But I'm sure it was just a knee-jerk reaction to a very disappointing team performance.

STELLAR MONARCHS: Justin Sedgmen (guest), Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Josh Pickering (captain), Dayle Wood, Bastian Borke. ATTIS INSURANCE SCORPIONS: Ryan Douglas, Connor Mountain, Simon Lambert, Jake Allen, Michael Palm Toft, Nathan Ablitt, Drew Kemp. With the current weather forecasts I hope they're actively looking at an alternative date.

Pretty depressing viewing for a Monarchs' fan today. The main difference between the respectable 39 we got last time at Scunny and today was Lasse dropping from 13+3 to 1 (I'm sure he's still not fully fit). Picko was outstanding and his battles with Douglas in heats 13 and 15 were epic. Anyone who would want to get rid of Josh from the team wants their head examined.

012.1.1b Championship League Championship League, teams will meet on 2 occasions, 1 home and 1 away. The top 6 clubs qualify for the play offs going into 2 groups of 3. The team who finishes top will select their 2 group members, the other 3 qualifying clubs make up the second group. The winners of each group will contest a 2 legged final home and away with the aggregate winner being crowned the Championship League Champions. A rider who’s team is not in the play offs may only guest for one team in each group of the play offs. Excluding the final. A rider may only guest for one team in any 2 legged tie (home and away).

Monarchs just need to beat Birmingham to qualify for the play-offs. Or, if they beat Plymouth they just need to score 37 against the Brummies. Looks doable with these teams but fingers will be crossed that riders come through their Thursday night fixtures unscathed. STELLAR MONARCHS: Richard Lawson (guest), Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Josh Pickering (captain), Luke Killeen (guest), Bastian Borke. PROWPARK GLADIATORS: Kyle Howarth (captain), rider replacement for Richie Worrall, Jason Edwards (guest), Sam Hagon (guest), Justin Sedgmen (guest), James Pearson, Ben Trigger. CURTIS SPORTS BRUMMIES: Kyle Howarth (guest), Alfie Bowtell, Troy Batchelor, Paul Starke, Justin Sedgmen (captain), Stefan Nielsen, Sam Hagon.

If my arithmetic is correct there is a scenario where Monarchs could lose both matches in the Super Heat and still qualify for the play-offs having just won one home match all season!

Good point. You've saved the reputation of British Speedway!

3rd time lucky? Weather forecast is perfect. STELLAR MONARCHS: Guest or rider replacement for Craig Cook, Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Josh Pickering (captain), Mason Watson (guest), Jacob Hook (guest). WESSEX MARINE PIRATES: Richard Lawson, Anders Rowe, Ben Cook, Zach Cook, Steve Worrall (captain), Kyle Newman, Joe Thompson.

I hope I'm wrong but R/R at #1 and the NDL reserve points to a comfortable Poole victory. Edinburgh seem to be putting all their eggs into the Friday double-header basket, which is risky.

...or ever? Very sad situation. The fact that the 'withholding his services' statement has been given halfway down a preview piece on the British Speedway site with nothing yet on the Edinburgh website and nothing mentioned in last night's preview show is disappointing.

Great ride from Joe Thompson in heat 15. Given all the issues it's been another fine close meeting from Plymouth.

Well they have at least addressed it by reading the SCB statement, but the co-commentator has not made any comment on it.

Like with Nick Morris, when riders are not allowed to ride for failing drugs test, reserves are allowed to take their rides.

A top guest for Cookie (Nicholls/Schlein/Kerr/Wright/King/Riss) and this could be a good close match, but I have a feeling it will be R/R.

Second part of a double header following the Poole match, this is the important one for the Monarchs. STELLAR MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Max Clegg, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Josh Pickering (captain), Dayle Wood Luke Kileen (Guest), Bastian Borke. CURTIS SPORTS BRUMMIES: Richard Lawson (guest), R/R for Stefan Nielsen, Troy Batchelor, Alfie Bowtell, Justin Sedgmen (captain), Sam Hagon, Paul Starke.

After an iffy start turned into a really good pairs meeting with some excellent racing when any of the three top teams met. Well done to Glasgow who thoroughly deserved their victory with Chris Harris the rider of the night. His team riding in the semi was epic and in stark contrast to Charles Wright in the final, who was busting a gut to win the race when he should have dropped back to try to help his partner into third. Also a special mention for young Max Perry taking a fine heat win. And finally - where was Cami?