GREETINGS FROM UNCLE ‘B’ (LXXVII)

NEWS Monday 15th September 2014, 10:01pm

by Brian Gray

  Edinburgh Monarchs

We've hardly had time to get our breath back after a truly exciting and memorable weekend but we have another mouthwatering three days of speedway to think about!

More in a minute but first I want to talk about last Friday's double-header. Completed in 2 hours, 50 minutes which included a 20 odd minute break, we showed the speedway community how to run a longer meeting! I think we should be invited to run the Fours next year! Of course, many thanks have to go to the riders, the referee, the behind the scenes guys and the track staff for ensuring everything went smoothly. Looking at the scores you would be forgiven in thinking both matches were one-side but far from it. There was some entertaining racing and the crowd went home knowing they had an enjoyable night out.

What about Saturday evening? We nearly slipped on the potential 'banana-skin'!Newcastle fought us all the way and if unlucky Stuart Robson hadn't........ well it doesn't bear thinking about! Another Armadale home win then to ensure we have won all home league matches without dropping a league point! Yet another crowd-pleaser and even Ed the Monarch celebrated with a dance on the centre green! I think he may do another this week!

Did you go through to Glasgow on Sunday? I've got to hang my head in shame as I predicted we would just manage the one league point we needed to top the table never thinking we'd grab all four! Hey, what about Craig Cook's last to paid win in heat 5 when he broke the tapes and went off 15 metres? Top drawer. My day was completed when I caught sight of Pop Idol winner and celebrity Michelle McManus passing in front of the Monarchs contingent. I'm sure she winked at me but maybe she had a bit of track in it!

So, as we rub our hands in anticipation, we now have Berwick Bandits home and away this Friday and Saturday in the Mini-League. I suppose that will mean another superb burger roll and chips down at Shielfield to expand the waist-line! Then on Sunday I'm heading down south to Sheffield to support Cookie and Steve in the Premier League Riders' Championship. It'll also be a bit of Owlerton track time for them in advance of our re-arranged fixture on the 25th. I also hope that ex-Monarchs testimonial man Theo Pijper does well.

So, I can't wait for Friday to come round. We're now into the serious part of the season and, of course, we are still in all competitions. Can't be bad. Take care.

Uncle ‘B’