Edinburgh Monarchs v Redcar Bears

REPORT Friday 21st April 2006, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

With 5 riders paid for double figures, Monarchs made light of Rusty Harrison's absence to beat Redcar 52-40.

Rusty had hoped to ride but eventually decided that recovery from his chest infection was more important. On top of that Henrik Moller had two engine failures while leading, and when he accidentally brought down Derek Sneddon on the last bend of heat 4 it looked as though things might be going badly wrong.

No need to worry though, both Henrik and Derek bounced back well.

We lost a 4-2 in heat 1 and it took some good work by Matthew on the first corner of heat 3, preventing Kevin Little coming round the outside, to let William race clear and ensure a 5-1 to take the lead.

Henrik shot ahead in heat 4 but started spluttering at the end of lap three. He managed to reach the last bend before stopping and straightening right in Derek's path, causing him to fall. He had some attention on the track and in the ambulance, and with rider replacement operating you certainly don't want to lose your star reserve.

Heat 5 was a chance for William to measure his progress against Gary Havelock, and he gave the ex-World Champ a terrific battle, drawing level several times. Havvy just held on but he knew he had been in a race.

Theo recovered from a poor heat 1 to win easily in heat 6, but this time Henrik missed the start. He wasted no time rounding Chris Kerr on the pits corner, and a lap later sliced inside Jack Hargreaves with the minimum of fuss. Quite impressive.

Kevin Little got away from William in heat 7 and gave a fine display of his Armadale quality riding a fairly wide line. This time William wasn't close.

Heat 8 was a routine 4-2 with Dickie Juul splitting our riders, but the next two heats gave us control. Matthew and William easily took 5 in heat 9, which brought Kevin Little out in the black and white hat.

Henrik again whipped to the front with Kevin chasing. Theo was well back early in the heat but gradually worked his way up for a challenge, and with a perfectly judged inside move he squeezed into second on the final corner. That meant Kevin's TR ride produced no additional points.

Havvy took the next TR ride but with Derek harrying him to the first turn, he couldn't catch Theo who made a good start off gate 1.

Derek got the race winning habit back in heat 12 and we were now 16 points up.

Henrik was really fling now and nipped off gate 2 in heat 13 to round Havelock on the first corner. It was an intriguing chase but on the final turn of lap 3, Henrik's chain came off and we were denied an exciting finish.

Kevin beat William again in heat 14, and Havvy closed the evening by cutting inside Henrik off the second bend to win the last race.

All in all a pleasant evening's entertainment, and enough plus points to suggest that when Rusty gets fit we will have quite a formidable side.

HALMOND ENGINEERING MONARCH OF THE MATCH: Henrik Moller.

Full Result Details