HONOURING MATTHEW’S TEN YEARS

NEWS Wednesday 15th August 2012, 8:22am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Friday’s meeting at Armadale is the Stormy Wethers Testimonial, a celebration of ten years with the club by our Australian captain Matthew Wethers (27), the only Monarch with three League winners’ medals.

As he said he has “rung his mates” and 16 riders will race for the honour of winning the event. The meeting is sponsored by Keyline Broxburn and has attracted the highest level of sponsorship ever at Armadale when everything is added up. The first race will be at 7:30 with the Grand Parade as soon after 7:15 as possible. Elite Riders’ Champion Rory Schlein and Monarchs’ no. 1 Craig Cook head an impressive field.

COMPETITORS IN THE STORMY WETHERS TESTIMONIAL AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 17th August (parade 7:15, first race 7:30, doors open 6.30) are:

Matthew Wethers (Edinburgh & Australia), Rory Schlein (Belle Vue & Australia), Christian Henry (Newcastle & Australia), James Grieves (Glasgow & Scotland), Joe Screen (Glasgow & England), Ludvig Lindgren (Newcastle & Sweden), Theo Pijper (Edinburgh & Holland), Ty Proctor (Wolverhampton & Australia), Magnus Karlsson (Leicester & Sweden), Max Fricke (Australia), Craig Cook (Edinburgh & England), Kevin Doolan (Redcar & Australia), Aaron Summers (Redcar & Australia), Andrew Tully (Edinburgh & Scotland), Derek Sneddon (Edinburgh & Scotland), Josh Grajczonek (Glasgow & Australia).

COLLEAGUES’ COMMENTS: Monarchs’ officials, team mates and opponents alike have made generous comments about Matthew’s ten years.

Alex Harkess, BSPA and Monarchs’ Chairperson said “Matthew’s ten years happen to be the best in the club’s long history, the three league championships being the highlights, and in all of which Matthew has played a major part.”

Fellow promoter John Campbell said “A truly loyal servant to the Monarchs for ten glorious years, a triple league champion, a massive points scorer for our cause and an all round good guy.”

Fellow Aussie Rory Schlein said “We had some really good races in the junior days. When he came over for Edinburgh in 2003 he was pretty much thrown in at the deep end, and I thought he handled himself very well.”

Former partner and friend Ryan Fisher said “It’s been a lot of fun knowing him and riding with him. He seems to be able to deal with riding with me where a lot of riders can’t!”

Former Glasgow legend Shane Parker said “I think he’s a credit to Adelaide and a credit to Australia. I hope everything goes well for him with his testimonial, he thoroughly deserves it and he has been a bit of an outstanding person I think.”

Long term team mate Andrew Tully said “It would be weird riding in an Edinburgh team without Matthew there. You don’t often find someone who is that loyal to a team.”

Team mate since 2003 Derek Sneddon said “As a rider he has always been Mr Dependable. When the pressure races come up and some riders are hiding behind the curtain, Matthew always wants to ride and nine times out of ten will come up with the goods.”

Glasgow star James Grieves said “On the bike he’s quite a tough cookie, a hard but fair rider. A good all-round bloke.”

ADMISSIONS: Normal Friday admission prices apply for the Testimonial - Adults £16, OAP / Student £13, 12-15 £6, Under 12s £2, Under 5s free. The souvenir match magazine is £3 but for this week there is no discount on the programme for using the car park.

FRICKE DEBUT: All of the competitors are established international riders – except one! 16 year old Max Fricke will make his British debut in the meeting, quite appropriate because the Wethers family have supported the youngster back home.

Max has been in Europe riding in Britain and Denmark but this is his first full meeting in the UK. He has already impressed in second half outings.

LONG DISTANCE TY: There has to be a special mention for Ty Proctor who rides at Swindon on Thursday in Simon Stead’s Testimonial, then after the meeting heads for Eastbourne where he rides on Saturday night for his team Wolverhampton.

Ty said “I’ve got a lot of respect for Matt. There’s not a lot of riders who can do ten years at one club, and I think a lot of youngsters should look at him – that’s the way to be.”

LAST MEETING: Monarchs has a great weekend last week, beating top teams Somerset (56-37) and Newcastle (64-29) at Armadale. Craig Cook scored 15 point maximums in both matches, as he had a day earlier in the away win at Sheffield!

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs have a two week break at Armadale, racing a double header on Friday 31st August against Scunthorpe and Redcar.

They race away at Newcastle on Sunday but next weekend is taken up by the Premier Pairs (Monarchs’ representatives Craig Cook and Theo Pijper) at Somerset on Friday 24th August, and the British Grand Prix at Cardiff on Saturday 25th August.