Cheetahs Lift The Pairs

Edinburgh Monarchs tilt at pairs glory fell shy of the semi finals as Oxford Cheetahs took the glory at Poole on Wednesday night.

A tough looking heat draw would come to fruition as the Monarchs would face three of the four semi finalists and both finalists in their four qualifying heats this too much to overcome.

First up was a heat four tussle against the host Pirates, Richard Lawson and Zach Cook strongly away but Dan Thompson able to split the home pair on the first lap. This meaning a 6-3 deficit.

This scoreline repeated in the Monarchs next outing this time against the eventual winners, again Dan well in the mix as he passed Sam Masters for second.

There would be some glory in our third outing, the Monarchs pair strongly away from the gate against Redcar and holding off a strong early challenge from Charles Wright.

Wright would not be denied though and forcibly passed Thompson on the last corner.

This meant a big advantage was needed in our last outing against Berwick for any chance at a semi final place but as it was it would be the Bandits pair who emerged from the first corner in front and that was that,

With light rain haven fallen during the day the track was livelier than usual and some excellent action would ensue in the semi finals.

First up it was Oxford and Glasgow, Sam Masters was away best with all eyes going to the battle for the minor places.

The format of course meaning second and third better than first and last.

Chris Harris would do everything he could to slow down the Cheetahs Anders Rowe but the Former Monarch rode smartly to hold position.

The second semi was even better as Poole and Berwick did battle, again it was all about second and third as Nick Morris, Peter Kildemand and Richard Lawson battled it out behind a checked out Zach Cook. Kildemand just getting the best of Lawson on the line.

So, it would be a Cheetahs Bandits final and again Masters would hit the front, Rowe originally in second until Kildemand would round him, Morris could make no impact thought as the Cheetahs rounded off a disappointing season with something to cheer about.