THRILLS PLUS NOSTALGIA

NEWS Tuesday 13th May 2008, 1:03pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Monarchs are sixty years old this year, having started in 1948 at Old Meadowbank, so the club's directors decided that it would be a good time to celebrate our history with a special weekend ? and it has arrived.

This Friday's meeting at Armadale will be a four team tournament featuring available current and former Monarchs plus one or two special guests, and the Diamond Jubilee party takes place on Saturday at Tynecastle Stadium's Gorgie Suite. More than 80 former Monarchs' riders will be in attendance over the weekend.

TEAMS FOR THE DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATION MEETING AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 16th May (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

OLD MEADOWBANK: Ryan Fisher, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, James Birkinshaw

COATBRIDGE: James Grieves, Thomas Jonasson, Mark Burrows, Ross Brady

POWDERHALL: Carl Stonehewer, Robert Eriksson, Andrew Tully, A N Other.

ARMADALE: Jason Lyons, Matthew Wethers, Aaron Summers, Trent Leverington

THE VENUES: Friday's teams are named after Monarchs' four longest serving venues.

Old Meadowbank (1948-1954, 1960-67) was the team's first track before it was commandeered for the Commonwealth Games with professional sport then outlawed from the stadium.

Two years at Cliftonhill Stadium, Coatbridge followed.

Monarchs returned to the city at Powderhall Stadium from 1977-1995 before that venue was sold for housing and office buildings.

Somewhat to the city's discredit, this long-running and popular sport could not find a venue around Edinburgh and was forced to go west thereafter but we have had a very happy time in Armadale, now being in the 12th season at the dog track which actually lies between Armadale and Bathgate.

RIDERS HONOURED: The weekend is really paying tribute to all the riders who have worn Monarchs' blue and gold colours since 1948.

Most of Friday's competitors are current or former Monarchs but a number of eligible riders are in action elsewhere, eg Rory Schlein, Christian Henry, Sean Stoddart, Magnus Karlsson and Cameron Woodward.

However the list of names who will be appearing on Friday and Saturday is still impressive ? shown below.

Many more riders have been contacted but have other commitments ? but have sent their regards and best wishes to former team mates and supporters.

TICKETS AVAILABLE: There are still some tickets available for Saturday's party night at Tynecastle, priced ?8. Orders can be emailed to mike.hunter@edinburghspeedway.com

TEAMS MATCHED: Six current and six former Monarchs' riders feature in Friday's teams. The missing name from the current side is William Lawson who will be en route to his World Under-21 semi-final at Zielona Gora, Poland.

It was originally expected that Thomas Jonasson would miss the meeting but in fact he will definitely ride, having he thinks recovered from his rib injuries of last week.

Former Monarchs in the event are Theo Pijper (best score of the season for Swindon this week), James Grieves (flying for Redcar), James Birkinshaw (just back from injury), Mark ?Buzz' Burrows (into his forties at Stoke), Robert Eriksson (flying in from Sweden) and Ross Brady (a huge score for Glasgow last weekend).

Coming in to supplement the teams are Jason Lyons (Birmingham), Carl Stonehewer (Workington) and Trent Leverington (Glasgow), all popular visitors in recent seasons, and there is one further name to be announced.

EX-RIDERS ATTENDING: Many riders from the past sixty years have been contacted. Some are overseas and unable to travel, some have work commitments which can't be broken, but many are going to be at the events. This is the list of riders who expect to be in attendance:

Stefano Alfonso, Jan Andersen, Brian Black, Grant Blackie, Alastair Brady, Billy Burton, Barry Campbell, Jackie Campbell, Wayne Carter, Chris Cobby, Michael Coles, Aidan Collins, Brian Collins, Les Collins, Neil Collins, Sean Courtney, Harry Darling, Barrie Dixon, Steve Finch, Jackie Fortune, Terry Freeman, Paul Gould, Fred Greenwell, Johnny Greenwood, Bert Harkins, Ian Hart, Christian Henry, Neil Hewitt, Rob Hollingworth, Phil Jeffrey, Jonny Jorgensen, Scott Lamb, Kevin Little, Peter Lloyd, Steve Lomas, David McAllan, Stewart McDonald, Paul McHale, Kenny McKinna, Harry MacLean, Mike McLuskey, Gordon Mitchell, Red Monteith, Billy Murphy, Brian Murray, Gary O'Hare, Kenny Omand, Bernie Persson, Tony Rizzo, Guy Robson, Benny Rourke, Blair Scott, Jock Scott, Colin Smith, George Stancl, Alan Stansfield, Sean Stoddart, Jonny Swales, Jimmy Tannock, Doug Templeton, Willie Templeton, Dave Trownson, Brian Turner, Jim Turner, Doug Wyer, Jamie Young, Dave Younghusband.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Monarchs beat Reading 49-43 in an Armadale thriller. Top home scorer was Ryan Fisher (12).

The team also performed brilliant in going down by just 42-48 at Rye House and winning by a record-equalling margin of 60-30 at Mildenhall on Sunday.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: Scunthorpe visit Armadale in a Premier League match on Friday 23rd May.