That's All Folks

PREVIEW Thursday 6th October 2016, 7:43pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

And now, the end is near. And so I face the final curtain. My Friend, I’ll say it clear. I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that’s full. I travelled each and every highway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

Ok so self indulgence aside there is a certain relevance to the lyrics above as we face our final match of the 2016 season welcoming as we do once more the Glasgow ‘Allied Vehicle’ Tigers.

For my weekly readers (once again Hi Dad) you will know that I am on my bones when it comes to things I have left to say about the individual riders of the Tigers being as this is the tenth time we have been scheduled to face them this year so I’ll differ from the norm a little this week. It has to be said though that it is a shame that the 3 times we have actually raced at Armadale (as long as tomorrow goes ahead) you could argue that all 3 have been relatively meaningless, if a Scottish derby ever can be. In the League Cup Glasgow had already qualified from the group, in the Knock Out Cup the Tigers had an almost unassailable lead from the 1st leg and now in the league the playoffs are already at the Semi final stage.

That is not to say that the Tigers will be heading East willing to lie down as the competitive juices start flowing. It would be hard to hold it against them though should they have one eye on the larger tasks ahead with the Tigers still battling for all 3 of the main prizes available at PL level in what could turn out to be the best season in the Tigers history.

One change to each line-up as Nike Lunna continues to recover from injury with rider replacement the only available facility. For the Monarchs now that we are into October the options to deputise for Dan increase and we welcome Workington’s Matt Williamson into the team for one night only.

From a Monarch’s point of view the biggest story of tomorrow night is the final showing of a club legend Flyin’ Ryan Fisher!

We all know the story of Ryan’s time with the Monarchs including two league championships and some of the most exciting races I for one have ever seen. My overriding memory of Ryan though will be the commitment to the cause he showed each and every time he pulled on that Monarchs race bib. Sometimes this could be to his detriment but when the Fish was on form and things were clicking he was something else. I will never forget visiting Scunthorpe in 2010 as Ryan rode the ride of his life round the boards his whooping and hollering audible to the fans on the back straight as he rounded the Scorpion riders to take the chequered flag.

I’m sure I speak for everyone involved in Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway (and to be fair a vast proportion of British Speedway fans although getting some to admit it may be difficult) when I wish Ryan and his family all the best back in the states an all time Monarchs great who will not be forgotten. In fact it seems fitting to end the preview the same way I started it with no self indulgence and purely for Ryan who can truly say.

And now, the end is near. And so I face the final curtain. My Friend, I’ll say it clear. I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that’s full. I travelled each and every highway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

Mon The Fish!