Young Riders Have Their Night

NEWS Wednesday 18th May 2016, 8:29pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

This week we have an unusual attraction at Armadale as a young Monarchs’ Select side takes on the National League team Belle Vue Colts.

Current senior Monarchs Max Clegg and Jye Etheridge and former Monarchs William Lawson and Mitchell Davey are in the home side, along with juniors Dale Lamb, Kev Whelan and Lewis Millar. Also on display will be the popular 16 year old Dan Bewley who rides for both Monarchs and Belle Vue Colts on a regular basis – on Friday he rides for Belle Vue.

THE PURPOSE: John Campbell explained the reason for wanting to put on Friday’s match, apart from maintaining consistency with Friday night racing which we always like to do.

“I’m aware that we must expect better scoring from Dan, Jye and Max if we are to get anywhere this season. Thankfully Max showed a bit of form last weekend and I’m sure it is just a matter of time before Dan flourishes but we do need Jye to get involved in the action rather than looking good a long way behind.

“Hopefully Friday will launch his career in this country.”

AWAY MATCHES: Having already been to Plymouth, the Border Roofing Monarchs also head for Ipswich (Thursday) and Rye House (Sunday) this week.

The team is below strength for Ipswich with Erik Riss out after crashing in Germany, and as he is incredibly fifth in the team averages, we don’t have a strong rider replacement facility.

Erik will be monitoring his progress for later in the week as he is also due (with Max Clegg) to ride in the World Under-21 at Belle Vue on Saturday.

It’s probably just as well that we don’t have a home league match on Friday – though we did try.

ADMISSION AND HOSPITALITY: To repeat the details we have already advertised:

Adult admission £12, Seniors and Students £9, Children 12 to 16 £4 and Children under 12 free. Online advance advance tickets are on sale now for £1 less for all categories.

Season tickets are not valid for this meeting but special prices will apply to all season ticket holders at their normal admission gate.

We also have a bargain in VIP Hospitality with tickets being priced at £15, basically the price of admission and a programme.

Teams for the Challenge Match at Armadale on Friday 20th May (start time 7:30pm, gates open 6:30pm), are:

MONARCHS SELECT: Max Clegg (capt.), Dale Lamb, Mitchell Davey, William Lawson, Jye Etheridge, Lewis Millar, Kev Whelan.

BELLE VUE COLTS: Matt Williamson (capt.), David Holt, Rob Shuttleworth, Tom Woolley, Lee Payne, Ben Basford, Dan Bewley.

TALKING POINTS: There will be plenty of riders to watch out for on Friday, and the Colts side lives up to the tradition of past junior teams associated with the great Manchester club.

Matt Williamson has proved to be one of the best of this season’s Premier League no. 7s in his outings for Workington, and he did very well at Armadale. He will prove a big test for the best of the home side.

Lee Payne has been scoring double figures remarkably for Redcar, and while he is not a youngster he has not been riding speedway for very long.

Rob Shuttleworth was one of the contenders for a no. 7 place at Armadale this season and of course the man who does play that role, Dan Bewley, has been one of the sensations of the season in the National League in the early weeks of the season.

Unfortunately for Joe Lawlor, originally named in the Belle Vue team, he is only 15 and prevented by the rules from appearing in the meeting. Cradley’s Ben Basford comes in.

LAST MEETING: The Border Roofing Monarchs defeated Plymouth 54-36 in the Knockout Cup, then headed south to complete a 96-83 aggregate victory. Sam Masters scored 27 over the two legs.

NEXT MEETING: On Friday 27th May Newcastle Diamonds come to Armadale in a very interesting Premier League match.

Full Result Details