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Yes, Kildemand out confirmed on Bandits website. Jason Edwards will guest.

Friday 21st August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits (Championship, Armadale, 7:30pm). ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (capt.), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Ben Whalley. BERWICK R.E.D. BANDITS: Peter Kildemand, Jye Etheridge, Victor Palovaara, Dayle Wood, Nick Morris, Jack Smith, Reid Battye. Important match for both teams. Dan and Nick both down to ride at the moment, but both missing tonight for Leicester, so there must be some doubt that they will make it. Ben Whalley guests for Jordy, and for Berwick Dayle Wood guests for Jordan Jenkins. A close home win for me.

If you look at it on Google Maps you'll see it directly from above. Talking of the track, on his most recent YouTube video Dan Bewley was asked 'outside of Belle Vue, what's your favourite track in the UK?'. His answer might surprise a lot of haters of the 'Dale track.

Here's a video of Armadale from above.

Friday 14th August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Poole Pirates (Championship, Armadale, 7:30pm) ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (capt.), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Darryl Ritchings. POOLE WESSEX MARINE PIRATES: Richard Lawson, rider replacement for Will Cairns, Lewis Kerr, Cooper Rushen, Zach Cook (capt.), Slater Lightcap, Edward Kennett. I thought with Poole replacing Fraser Bowes with Slater Lightcap we'd seen the last of Edward Kennet riding at reserve for the Pirates. I thought wrong.

I was ready to stand by Paco, but that's unforgivable - especially from the captain. He needs to apologise. Such a shame as he's been looking like he's recovering his form recently and was very good tonight - until last lap heat 14.

He only had 3 rides plus a tapes exclusion. Well done to Glasgow on coming back for the draw and getting the bonus point. Some epic riding from Bomber. Nick Morris a slightly better guest for Glasgow than Kemp/Jeppesen! He was unbeatable tonight. Great meeting.

Dayle's average too high now, I think. Kye has declared himself fit to ride for Monarchs.

Friday 24th July: Edinburgh Monarchs v Plymouth Gladiators (Championship, Armadale, 7:30pm) ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, rider replacement for Paco Castagna, Justin Sedgmen (capt.), Jonatan Grahn, Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus. OBM GLADIATORS: Danny King, Joe Thompson, Daniel Klima, Ben Barker (capt.), Scott Nicholls, Anze Grmek, Ben Whalley. Following the match there will be four races of a Vintage Bike display, Scotland v England. The bikes will be displayed prior to the meeting. And of course it is Ed the Monarch's birthday! A full strength Plymouth will be dangerous opponents. They have Ben Whalley at reserve who scored 13 for Monarchs Academy last Friday at Armadale, and Danny King and Scott Nicholls are two of the best visiting riders. Monarchs without Paco (SGP challenge) and go with R/R with no suitable guests available on another busy Friday night. I think Kye, Jonatan and the two reserves can take his rides. Should be a close one.

Saturday 11th July - Ashfield Stadium - 19:00 Glasgow Tigers - Drew Kemp (G), Mario Hausl, Chris Harris, Kevin Juhl Pederson, Leon Flint, Sam Hagon, Freddy Hodder Edinburgh Monarchs - Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Tate Zischke (G), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus

Friday 10th July - Armadale Stadium - 19:30 Edinburgh Monarchs - Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco. Castagna, Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus Redcar Bears - Nicolai Klindt, Simon Lambert r/r, Jake Mulford, Jason Edwards, Jake Allen, Vinnie Foord, Jody Scott Edinburgh at full strength, Redcar have Monarchs Academy rider Vinnie Foord in place of Ace Pijper and R/R for Simon Lambert. Redcar have a very good recent record at Armadale so I think it will be close with the Bears favourites for the aggregate bonus.

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.