The latest instalment of the Scottish Rivalry

NEWS Wednesday 24th April 2019, 7:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs face up to local rivals Glasgow – and Craig Cook – at Armadale this Friday. Both sides have had one win and one loss in the Championship Shield, and both are looking for as many points as possible over the weekend to put pressure on section leaders Berwick.

Glasgow captain Cook has made several Armadale appearances since his glory, trophy winning, years with the Monarchs 2011-15, but Friday will be his first appearance in an official fixture at the track as a Glasgow Tiger. With the home heat leaders in great form last week there should be some tremendous clashes.

Monarchs' team manager Alex Harkess is calling for the home team to improve standards now that the season is in full swing. He said "Glasgow will be a difficult match at home this week, they will be a difficult match over two legs, they always are. There are no easy fixtures because we are not riding well enough to be dominating anyone. It's up to us to start dominating."

Josh Pickering has continued to entertain royally so far this season, but he denied making any special provisions for the Tigers visit. "I don't try to rise to the occasion I treat every match the same. My individual performance needs to be strong, I need to race every race the same and go for a win each time. If you start treating other matches differently, that's not how it should be."

Josh has been practising in Poland this week and flies in on Friday.

On Sunday Monarchs race the return fixture at Ashfield.

THIS WEEK'S MEETINGS:

Friday 26th April: Staggs Bar Monarchs v Glasgow (Championship Shield), 7:30pm

STAGGS BAR MONARCHS: Ricky Wells (capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Josh Pickering, Joel Andersson, Cameron Heeps, William Lawson, Luke Ruddick.

GLASGOW ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Craig Cook (capt.), James Sarjeant, Rasmus Jensen, Claus Vissing, Paul Starke, Luke Chessell, Kyle Bickley.

Sunday 28th April: Glasgow v Staggs Bar Monarchs (Championship Shield), 5:00pm.