The Return of Craig Cook

NEWS Wednesday 21st September 2016, 7:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs race against Peterborough Panthers in the Premier League at Armadale this Friday – and that means Craig Cook is back!

Craig left Monarchs last October after five glorious years which culminated in back-to-back league championships and numerous other honours. His clashes with the top Monarchs should be superb. His current team also have top Danes Kenneth Bjerre and Ulrich Ostergaard so everyone will have to be on their toes. One day prior to the Panthers’ visit, Monarchs race their first match in the Premier Playoffs away to Ipswich with the second leg due a week on Friday. Monarchs will be welcoming back their young Champions Erik Riss and Max Clegg who won major titles last weekend.

Teams for the Premier League Match at Armadale on Friday 23rd September (start time 7.30pm, gates open 6.30pm), are:

BORDER ROOFING MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Ryan Fisher, Erik Riss, Mark Riss, Kevin Wolbert, Max Clegg, Ryan Blacklock.

PETERBOROUGH PANTHERS: Craig Cook, Richard Hall, Ulrich Ostergaard, rider replacement for Anders Thomsen, Kenneth Bjerre, Zdenek Holub, Daniel Halsey.

GUESTS FOR DAN: It is obviously an impossible task to adequately replace injured Dan Bewley who had scored 56 points in his last six matches for Monarchs.

His recent performances are not reflected in his average which is based on the last 20 matches.

At Ipswich on Thursday Monarchs will Stoke’s use Ben Hopwood who did a good job at Armadale last Friday, while for the home meeting Buxton’s Ryan Blacklock will ride.

MONARCHS 100 PRESENTATION: At the end of August a number of Monarchs’ supporters walked at least once over the Forth Road Bridge in order to raise funds for the club. This idea was put forward by Scott Wilson and Derek Wilkinson to help reduce the effects of the meetings lost to the weather.

Scott, Derek and as many of the walkers who can get to the right place at the right time will be making the presentation to the promotion during a track grading after heat 7 all being well, and those eligible are asked to gather under the ref’s box at that time.

PREMIER PLAYOFFS: Monarchs’ match at Ipswich tomorrow kicks off this year’s Premier Playoffs which nowadays decide the PL Championship. The second leg of that tie is at Armadale on Friday 30th.

The other quarter final tie is Sheffield v Newcastle which isn’t scheduled for this week.

The winners of the Monarchs v Witches tie will meet Somerset and Glasgow await the other successful quarter finalists.

POWERFUL HEAT LEADERS: There isn’t a Premier League team with stronger heat leaders than Peterborough so they will be coming to Armadale looking for a lot of race winners. Former Monarch Craig Cook needs no introduction – in his time with Monarchs he averaged well over 10 at Armadale.

Even Craig has only ridden in a couple of Grand Prix but his fellow heat leader Kenneth Bjerre has raced in 59! That’s a measure of his level of experience, and he was brought back into Panthers’ lineup with the Playoffs in mind (they haven’t qualified).

Ulrich Ostergaard is the third heat leader and he of course was 2015 Premier League Riders’ Champion. He also has a first class Armadale record.

Anders Thomsen was unfortunately injured in last weekend’s European Championship so rider replacement will be used for him, and the visitors will look to their lower average riders to give some backing to their powerhouse top three.

FANS' TRUST RAFFLE: The Monarchs' Fans Trust, who have been such a fantastic support to the club this season are staging a raffle with a £500 first prize to be drawn in November. If you want to help by selling some tickets, Books will be available to sell from the Gazebo from 6.30pm till tapes up and then in the bar after the meeting.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs beat table-topping Somerset Rebels 50-43 last Friday, with Sam Masters top scoring on 12+1.

NEXT MEETING: Ipswich come to Armadale on Friday 30th September in the second leg of the Premier Playoff quarter final tie.

Full Result Details