DavyH

Sorry Young 51 - can't agree, Somerset won the PL over the year, for Monarchs or any other team to win a League over 1 hour in October would be wrong. I know the Play offs encourage crowds, but a team that wins the league is always the best over a season, not just lucky over 1 hour! Having said that, I would have taken another league win just to annoy Paulco lol

Here's my thoughts from the totally unbiased ever Monarchs Chatzone First of all, Well Done to Somerset on becoming Champions although in many eyes they were already champs! Well Done too to the depleted Monarchs on a brave performance. What a season it's been for us - The pleasure of watching Cookie being top PL man again, Captain Deek being so inspirational at times, watching the emergence of not only a great rider but such a friendly respectable young Aussie that is Max. Great rides from Theo despite his injuries and illness at times, Claus for coming in at the last minute and battling like hell and Joe for so many entertaining moments, get well soon! Thanks too for all the guys at reserve who contributed so well, Marcel, it didn't work out, Mitchell, love to see him back, Josh, injury robbed us of a star and Liam for some great performances. As others have said, there was a real improvement on friday nights at the Dale, the promorion deserve thanks too. Back to Somerset - I've been fortunate enough to visit the OTA many times since they came into CL/NL leagues as I have family near the track, they thoroughly deserve this success for all the hard work they have put in both on and off track.

Ignoring the OP lol - here's my thoughts from the totally unbiased ever Monarchs Chatzone First of all, Well Done to Somerset on becoming Champions although in many eyes they were already champs! Well Done too to the depleted Monarchs on a brave performance. What a season it's been for us - The pleasure of watching Cookie being top PL man again, Captain Deek being so inspirational at times, watching the emergence of not only a great rider but such a friendly respectable young Aussie that is Max. Great rides from Theo despite his injuries and illness at times, Claus for coming in at the last minute and battling like hell and Joe for so many entertaining moments, get well soon! Thanks too for all the guys at reserve who contributed so well, Marcel, it didn't work out, Mitchell, love to see him back, Josh, injury robbed us of a star and Liam for some great performances. As others have said, there was a real improvement on friday nights at the Dale, the promorion deserve thanks too. Back to Somerset - I've been fortunate enough to visit the OTA many times since they came into CL/NL leagues as I have family near the track, they thoroughly deserve this success for all the hard work they have put in both on and off track. I was there when Monarchs won on aggregate a few years back to qualify for the EL/PL play-offs - the genuine good wishes from the Rebels fans that night in their bar remain with me and I congratulate them, their team and promoters tonight. Enjoy it, because next year, it's our turn - yet again

If the ref is as bad as Friday's seems to have have been then the ref's box could well be firewood the morning after the meeting - burnt firewood!! Hopefully the weather relents and the meeting goes ahead.

We need photos!!!

Calm doon George!!

Don't be silly Boobs - it never rains at Armadale

My Chatzone ramblings... It was of course Nick Morris who won ht 15 with Josh in 3rd. My mistake, forgot to correct it. These dark nights with washed out helmet colours don't go down well with a blind bat like me First of all well done to Somerset. This was a low key meeting in view of Wednesday's score. Cookie looked unbeatable in his first three races before Morris did well to hold him off in ht 13. Derek did better after a poor heat 1, Theo had a good win over a disinterested Doyle, but otherwise was poor. Jozsef was back to his best with some good gating and determined riding - others please copy!. Claus was missing, very poor, James Serjeant did as expected while Max had a good night apart from missing the gate in an easier looking ht 12. This takes nothing away from a very good Rebels team who look odds-on to clean up this year, even with Doyle and Grajczoneck only winning one each, they never really looked troubled, grabbing a couple of 5-1's when we looked to be getting a decent lead. Morris was impressive again and Davies was much better with Josh chipping in with a decent score too.I don't think we lose the last five heats by 6 points very often! We need a few of the team to improve tomorrow to try and get a point at least at Worky.

Time to start putting some lemonade in the bundy Bryn! Best wishes for a quick and full recovery.

They'd need a few days to do that George

C'mon Paulco young Mr Bates, can't have ridden the Dale often but soon mastered it! But what a fantastic meeting with some great close racing. With the Rebels having such a strong top three, it was imperative that Monarchs paced themselves to get 8 in front. It all went wrong in heat 13 though before Josh and Joe team rode superbly in 14 to get it back to 8 up. Still a twist in the tale as Cook had to come from behind to secure the necessary 3-3 in heat 15. A great contest between two very strong teams with Monarchs strength in depth just winning out over the strong top three of the Rebels. Hope the big crowd is back next week!

Sneddon replaced Davey in blue.

Unfortunately his big points haul came at the expense of an injury to Mitchell Davey - hopefully he will make a speedy recovery, he's not had any luck.

Looks like a Monarchs reunion

I think to be fair that caithglen is merely commenting on a photo rather than apportiioning blame. We should be thankful that both riders got off relatively lightly - worst crash I have seen at Armadale and I was probably the closest spectator to it. I stood on the hill above the pits area about 15 yards from the crash, next to the dressing rooms so that I could hear when doing the Chatzone Updates. I feared the worst tbh, my first move was to get my 8 yr old granddaughter away from the scene as she was obviously upset. Abby was delighted to get my note in the morning saying that Claus was OK and Rob had "only" a sore arm. Hopefully there will be a few £££ handed in for Claus on Friday to help with bike repairs and Rob will be back in the saddle soon.

Calm doon Mr Fire! First of all I don't do twitter and nowhere on here have I saw what you say mentioned. I'm happy to take your word on that and as a result I don't think Cook is right this time. However, if you read what I said, I was merely asking if the reason was financial or otherwise for Cookie turning down the invite. Look at the first word in my third paragraph! It says "perhaps" - it's called offering an alternative view - having debate on a forum. The most important point is that both Cook and Barker settle their differences off track (peacefully!) and get on with their careers safely.

I'll look after it for you George - I am sure Mrs H won't find a few marks in the lounge carpet!!

I can understand why you and many others would think that BigEd but I think Cookie has already shown he can learn from his mistakes - remember he couldn't ride Shielfield until the last year? Also I think we are aware that he had major problems away from speedway a couple of years ago but he got himself sorted out to become the top PL rider. I never commented before on Ippogate but from all reports both riders deserved a fine but Cook lost it in the discussion with the ref - he acknowleged this the next day and indeed apologised for his actions and the fact that he let down his team mates and fans. At the same time Mr Barker was spouting off to the Sun that "it wasn't me, it was a big boy that done it" Perhaps when Cookie said he couldn't afford to be in this GB challenge he meant it not from a financial viewpoint but that it was too soon to get involved with Barker again? There's another one, possibly three Edin v Ippo clashes this year and hopefully both riders will have cleared the air before the first one, after Scunny last Friday and Edinburgh this Friday, we have seen how dangerous this sport can be without riders going on track bearing a grudge. Hopefully by the time they next meet, they will have had enough time to reflect and concentrate only on their racing.

We did try to run it in the spring time but it snowed or rained, tried to run it in summer but too sunny!! (well that's not been brought up for a while!) Will be interesting tomorrow with Monarchs possibly weakened whether Claus rides or not and Tigers hoping their new look team will gel and Mr Screen with a new engine. For Paulco, I think we won the first leg about 100 -0 so hopefully Monarchs can win this much coveted trophy maybe in a race off? On a serious note, there's a subsidised Monarchs bus to Glasgow with the aim of boosting Glasgow's air fence fund - good to see the teams working closer this year!

And the latest I have heard is a dislocated elbow for Rob - after seeing that crash that is still a relief

From official Monarchs site - "http://www.edinburghmonarchs.co/news/article.asp?id=1418

I think such discussions are for another day mick, just now the main concern must be for the riders. It appears from Monarchs facebook that Robert has arm/shoulder/back pain, Claus sore head, both riders being checked over in hospital. Hopefully we'll hear better news tomorrow, thoughts and best wishes to both riders for now.

Tell you what Martin, to avoid you having to change your user name, I'll vote no There again if we go independent Glasgow have a chance of finishing second in the Scottish PL lol

And you wonder why we want Independence!!

England are not riding in the forthcoming meetings though, GB are. You may care to check out Mr Tully's place of birth and where he grew up!