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Congrats to Monarchs on a fine win with the whole team contributing. I do really like watching speedway from Plymouth, seems to be a great atmosphere there. Not a lot of passing tonight, but it makes you appreciate the passes there are like Kye's brilliant outside pass on Danny King in heat 13. Special mention to Jordy, who after a poor ride in what should be his easiest ride in heat 2, then scored 7+2 from his remaining 4 rides.

He said 'skelped' not 'scalped'. It's a Scottish word meaning to slap, smack or spank. As in the phrase 'he had a face like a well-skelped arse'. Stewart Dickson is Scottish, you know 😄

After a disappointing but expected thumping down at Poole the Monarchs return home for a much more competitive looking match against Scunthorpe. Nick Morris guests for injured captain Paco, and Scunthorpe have Dayle Wood guesting at reserve and R/R for Dan Gilkes. Much interest will be on Picko's return for the first time as an opponent and MPT's return after being a Monarch last season. A narrow home win for me.

Update on Connor from Monarchs website: https://www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk/news-centre/article/2026-06-04/connor-coles-returns-home Absolutely fantastic news.

It's mostly the shape, the surface is usually well prepared. It's a small track with tight turns that require riders to turn the bike hard, which many are not used to. If there's a little too much dirt or it's greasy then it can be even more difficult, especially for newbies.

A fair few times in their youth days - in fact I think Cairns rode a few times for one of the Armadale National Junior League sides. And both have been good on NDL visits last year - Cairns with an 18 point maximum. They'll both do well tomorrow, I think.

Friday 15th May: Edinburgh Monarchs v Oxford Cheetahs (Championship, Armadale, 7:30pm) ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Drew Kemp (Guest), Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (capt.), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus. S D TIMMO CAR SALES CHEETAHS: Sam Masters, rider replacement for Erik Riss, Alfie Bowtell (Guest), Luke Killeen, Anders Rowe, Darryl Ritchings, Dayle Wood. Drew Kemp in for Dan for Monarchs. Alfie Bowtell in for McDiarmid (no idea why he's not riding) and R/R for Erik. It will be great to see Sam back at the Dale and he will get a lot of points but it looks to me like it should be a comfortable win for the home men. Hope Paco is getting over the effects of his big off the other week, he's not quite looked himself since his return. Not sure if Luke Killeen will be fit to ride following being withdrawn from Wednesday night's match after a big crash.

Friday 8th May 2026: Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets, Cab Direct Championship, Armadale Stadium, 7:30pm EDINBURGH ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Nick Morris (guest), Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (captain), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus. WORKINGTON GT TYRES COMETS: Jonas Jeppesen, Niklas Holm Jakobsen, Craig Cook R/R, Tate Zischke, Troy Batchelor (captain), Darryl Ritchings (guest), Ryan Ingram (guest). Will Dan Thompson's injury take the edge off the delight in qualifying for the BSN series semis at Glasgow? Nick Morris comes in to guest. Comets run R/R for Cookie and have two guests at reserve - Darryl Ritchings and Ryan Ingram. Will Monarchs' reserve pairing continue their improvement and get a heat advantage in Heat 2? I predict an 8 - 10 point win for Edinburgh as long as Kye's not too tired after his paid 19 from 7 rides at Northampton. What a start to the season he's had!

Friday 1st May: Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits (BSN Series), Armadale, 7:30pm) ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (capt.), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus. R.E.D. BANDITS: Peter Kildemand, Jye Etheridge, Victor Palovaara, Lasse Fredriksen, Nick Morris, Jack Smith, Dayle Wood (guest). Happy (but surprised) that Dan is at Armadale rather than Landshut this Friday. And happy that Paco will be there as well after his trip over the fence last week. There were encouraging signs from both reserves guesting at Workington on Sunday, so hopefully they can shut up the moaners unbelievably calling for changes after only a couple of meetings. Bandits will provide stiff opposition and they have Dayle Wood guesting for the injured Reid Battye. This may help them as, although Reid has started off in sensational form, he may have found difficulty in adapting to the tight environs of Armadale - and Dayle has been showing some pretty sensational form too.

Looking forward to Friday's match but Edinburgh Monarchs Academy captain Connor Coles is uppermost in our thoughts. A gofundme page has been set up for Connor and his family. Link below: https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-connor-coles-and-his-family?modal=share&source=fundraiser%20sticky%20footer&utm_source

Friday 24th April: Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears (Championship Knockout Cup quarter final 2nd leg), Armadale, 7:30pm) ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (capt.), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus. AGILIA BEARS: Nicolai Klindt, Ace Pijper, Jordan Jenkins, Jake Allen, Jason Edwards (capt.), Jake Mulford, Jody Scott. Can the Monarchs pull back a 12 point deficit? They'll need a contribution from reserve to do it. Hopefully giving Mitch Cluff as many practice laps as possible to get the hang of the track.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=954773810245464&set=a.220031680386351&locale=en_GB

New season, new optimism. Edinburgh side looks far better balanced this year to me, so why is everyone tipping us to do poorly? Berwick will provide stiff opposition but I still fancy the Monarchs to start off with a victory. Friday 3rd April: Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits (BSN Series), Armadale, 7:30pm MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (captain), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus. BANDITS: Peter Kildemand, Jye Etheridge (captain), Victor Palovaara, Lasse Fredriksen, Nick Morris, Jack Smith, Reid Battye.

Best wishes to the injured supporters. In the circumstances the result is less important than their welfare but rule 012.1.26 does not say it's the team with most 5-1s, it says it is the team with most heat advantages over the two legs that wins. Which in this case seems to be Redcar (8 heat wins to Glasgow's 7) Actual wording is: Any official team fixture abandoned after heat 10 where the score is level, in either leg and/or on aggregate after the second leg, the extra point will be decided with the count back system using the results of both legs, if appropriate. The team who scored the most heat advantages (5-0, 5-1, 4- 2, 3-2, 3-0 in no particular order) will be awarded the extra match point and/or aggregate point.

A night of high drama and great excitement and entertainment. Edinburgh really missed Paco although Sedgy did great as a stand in captain. Very pleased for Max Perry. Well done to the Tigers and good luck in the final.