Drawn Match in the wind and rain

On a wintry night at Armadale, Monarchs made up lost ground after a disastrous start and finished level with an impressive Scunthorpe side. The match ended with four drawn races, including a nail-biting heat 15, and there were quite a few talking points throughout the evening.

The evening may be remembered most clearly for the weather – it's mid June and we had freezing wind and rain when we deserved better. The dominant riders on the night were Josh Pickering, outstanding for the Scorpions on his Armadale return, and for the home side guest Nick Morris put in an outstanding shift right down to his hard work assisting Kye Thomson to take third ahead of Michael Palm Toft in heat 15. Morris was the only home rider to beat Pickering.

Kye Thomson had to work hard in heats 13 and 15 to subdue Michael Palm Toft, and he said "I thought in mid-meeting we were doing enough to get the win. Conditions certainly made it difficult. We had a good guest in Nick Morris who did an awesome job.

"Dan Thompson was very hard done by with the exclusion in heat 6, it's probably the worst decision I've seen in my time in speedway. But we've got Dan back now and we can kick on from this."

There had already been heavy rain in the afternoon and the track was difficult from the off, with the visitors taking a 5-1 in the opening race, which was followed by further rain. There was another Scunny 5-1 in the reserves' heat, with the home pair all at sea. Morris and Justin Sedgmen managed to reverse one of these, and Kye Thomson took an excellent heat 4 win from the back over Palm Toft.

There was some serious ill fortune over the next two heats for the Monarchs. Sedgmen and Morris gated on a 5-1 over Pickering in heat 5, only for Sedgmen to start slowing down the back straight. Morris did maintain the lead but Sedgmen got slower as the race went on and was pipped for third on the line by Connor Mountain.

Even worse followed as Dayle Wood came down into the fence on bend two of heat 6. Dan Thompson had been nowhere near him but somehow the referee managed to rule that Thompson was to blame and excluded him.

That was a double-edged sword though as it allowed Monarchs to use Morris as a tactical sub, resulting in a 5-1 with Thomson. Equally important was a win for Jonatan Grahn in heat 8, but for the Scorpions Palm Toft took a key victory in heat 9.

Monarchs finally got in front for the only time in the meeting with a 5-1 from Grahn and Thompson in heat 10, but the excellent Pickering-Mountain pair levelled up with a 4-2 over Thomson. So it was level with four heats remaining and was clearly going down to the wire.

Sedgmen won heat 12, then Pickering heat 13 as the home pair squeezed out Palm Toft. Morris came up with a highlight in heat 14, recovering from a bad start to pull off an exceptional double overtake through the middle of Mountain and Nathan Ablitt.

So it was 42-42 going in to heat 15, and Pickering was soon at the front with Palm Toft closely following. Morris got himself into second and spent the rest of the race trying to assist his partner to come in to third, which he eventually succeeded with. Monarchs were certainly indebted to their guest.

Home reserve pair Cluff and Loftus have been improving recently but they didn't cope well with the conditions, and were outscored 13-1 by the visiting reserves. That made life very hard for the home top five but no-one would begrudge Scunthorpe their draw.

Busy Weekend Starts With Scorpions

A busy weekend for Edinburgh Monarchs and Edinburgh Monarchs Academy starts at Armadale on Friday night with the visit of an intriguing looking Scunthorpe Scorpions with both sides looking to continue a positive start to their league seasons.

For the home men it has been two home wins and one away defeat with bonus point gained so far while the visitors are further along in their campaign with five matches raced, home wins over Berwick and Glasgow being coupled with a fantastic away victory at Redcar and narrow defeats at Plymouth and Workington.

This away form in particular perhaps a surprise given for the preseason predictions from some that had the Lincolnshire men to struggle.

These predictions were predicated on the amount of points that had been used up in bringing in number one Josh Pickering but with Pickering reminding everyone that the last time he raced in this division for the Monarchs he topped the average charts and was CLRC champion there is always a platform for a strong result.

Behind Pickering the Scorpions are a solid outfit and there is plenty of Armadale experience and pedigree in the side also.

Michael Palm Toft was seen by most as a solid signing when he joined the Monarchs last year but things didn't quite work out for the likeable Dane as he returned from a nasty leg injury, this year has been a little up and down so far but no one would be surprised with a double digit return in this one.

Luke Harrison is a young up and comer who maybe doesn't get the headlines of others in his age group but year on year there has been progression.

Connor Mountain is as solid a middle order man as you could ask for in this division and with Nathan Ablitt returning to Championship level this year slotting in at reserve there is always a threat from the tail also.

Elsewhere there are a couple of changes to the Scorpions septet with injury and school exams meaning Dan Gilkes and Ryan Ingram miss out. Rider replacement in operation for the former with Dayle Wood stepping in for Ingram.

For the home men it is a case of one in one out as Dan Thompson continues his return to the fold returning from a broken collarbone to top score in the big defeat at Poole on Wednesday night.

The excitement of Dan's return dampened with the news during the week that captain Paco Castagna faces a couple of weeks on the sidelines with thumb ligament damage, a strong guest has been secured in this one with Berwick's Nick Morris stepping in.

Elsewhere the Monarchs are as expected as they look to make it three from three at home in the league this season.

After the Championship exploits on Friday attention turns to the Academy and an away tilt to newly reformed Buxton on Sunday afternoon.

Scott Wilson's men making a dream start to their season with home and away wins over Middlesbrough last month.

There is one change to the Academy line-up in this one with James Shanes having a prior grass track commitment the aforementioned Ryan Ingram steps in having recorded 12 points on his last visit with Leicester.

The home side have a full side to call from in what is their first league match of the season albeit with plenty of track time so far after a trio of challenge matches.

Jack Smith and Alfie Bowtell provide as strong a top two as you will find in the division and there is intrigue elsewhere with Arran Butcher, Luke Harris and Jack Shimelt making up the main body of the team.

A name from the past returns at the bottom end also as Jack Roberts returns to competitive action 18 years since he last turned out with Ryan Ashcroft new to the sport but an experienced motorcyclist his reserve partner.

So, an interesting weekend of fixtures in store across the club as both the Monarchs and Monarchs Academy look to continue strong starts to their title tilts.

Friday 12th June 19:30 Armadale

Edinburgh Monarchs : Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Nick Morris, Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus

Scunthorpe Scorpions : Josh Pickering, Connor Mountain, Luke Harrison, Dab Gilkes R/R, Michael Palm Toft, Dayle Wood, Nathan Ablitt

Sunday 14th June 15:00 Buxton

Buxton Bulls : Alfie Bowtell, Jack Shimelt, Luke Harris, Arran Butcher, Jack Smith, Ryan Ashcroft, Jack Roberts

Edinburgh Monarchs Academy : Jordy Loftus, Jamie Halder, Ryan Ingram, Vinnie Foord, Dayle Wood, Ben Whalley, Anika Loftus