Big Win Takes Monarchs Into Second Spot

REPORT Saturday 12th August 2017, 2:07am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Parsons Peebles Monarchs ran out comfortable winners by 58-32 against a Peterborough team which was expected to provide a much greater threat at Armadale tonight.

Alex Harkess said "That was a much better night on a tricky track. I'm happy with the way all of our riders got stuck in with great displays by Ricky Wells, Erik Riss and especially Josh Pickering, very much improved."

This returned Monarchs to second spot in the table and is a big boost to their chances of making the end-of-season Playoffs (for the top four), especially as rivals Redcar were beaten at home tonight by table-topping Sheffield.

If was Sheffield who burst the Monarchs' home record last week on an unlucky night for the Armadale side, so tonight's fixture was viewed as a difficult one. Rain during the afternoon made the track heavy and grippy and not everyone's cup of tea, but it was the Monarchs who showed much more heart for the fray.

All of the home men could take something from the evening but Ricky Wells was especially good with a series of dominant first corners. His recent form is quite excellent, and he only lost his maximum in heat 15 when Chris Harris got clear.

Erik Riss wasn't gating so well but he showed great determination as he attacked the track;. Guest Ludvig Lindgren also was in bold mood and lost only to Harris.

Reserve Josh Pickering looked more comfortable than he has for a while and finished with 10+3, his highest score of the season. Both Max Clegg and Theo Pijper won races, and while Mitchell Davey struggled his persistence brought him a couple of early points.

Chris Harris had done well guesting for Sheffield last week and he again impressed, recording three victories, but he came off spectacularly in his second ride and lost out when he came out as a TR, led home by Wells and Pickering in heat 11.

Of the other Panthers, Starke and late arrival Holder won races but were not consistently convincing.

Monarchs now head for a very tough away fixture at Glasgow on Saturday evening.

Unfortunately Tom Bacon, who led heat 2 but fell on the last corner, pulled out of the meeting with a shoulder injury after one further race.

Full Result Details