GREETINGS FROM UNCLE ‘B’ (LIII)

NEWS Monday 31st March 2014, 9:31pm

by Brian Gray

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Although it was the Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs who won both legs of the Air Fence Challenge at the weekend, there were no losers!

An extremely large crowd at Armadale on Friday evening witnessed some exciting racing in a meeting which was very close until the home side pulled away in the last four heats. Two days later at Ashfield on a chilly afternoon, the fans were treated to some competitive speedway with the visitors emerging worthy winners thanks to some better gating and a fifteen point maximum from Craig Cook – his second in the competition. But as I said, there were no losers. The fans enjoyed seeing their sides in their first home action of the new season, the tracks were able to proudly show the new air fences after a winter of fundraising and the riders were able to blow away any cobwebs and tweak set-ups in readiness for the League Cup. Of course, we all thank the riders of both teams for riding for expenses only and making it all possible.

I had a great weekend which began with meeting you all again after the winter. Your hot gossip took my attention away from the bitterly cold temperature and it was good to talk to you all. Later on, you weren't backward at coming forward to tell me you disliked the new size of the programme. Well, you'll just have to buy a new programme board. You're old one was getting a bit tatty anyway! And a few of you thought some of the colours on the score sheet were a bit dark making it difficult to fill in the scores. I've passed on your thoughts to those who deal with such matters so we'll see what can be done! No promises though! I was told that our old friend the speaker in the bar was poor so we'll see about cranking it up. Perhaps it was difficult to hear with the bar being extremely full with thirsty folk and those just wanting to get in from the cold!

Through at Glasgow I discovered that I had forgotten my gloves for the second time at the weekend and was forced to visit the track food stall to buy a pie and chips with a hot cup of tea to try and warm up! Auntie wasn't at the meeting but told me later that some of the best speedway chips can be found at Glasgow.

Looking forward to this Friday we have a visit from the Berwick Bandits starring our very own Claus Vissing and Matthew Wethers. With Matej Kus also in the team and Liam Carr at reserve the match will be no push-over. Berwick has hit the ground running, thumping Redcar last Saturday at home.

So, until then, keep smiling and as usual, be good!

Uncle ‘B’