Final outing for Staggs Bar Monarchs

NEWS Thursday 3rd October 2019, 12:16pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

This Friday will be the last chance this season to see the 2019 Staggs Bar Monarchs in action, racing the last Championship match of the year against the Newcastle Diamonds.

This fixture has been the unfortunate victim of the weather twice but has often been a season highlight between teams who have been in opposition for over 70 years.

Monarchs need the victory to finish the season in eighth place in the Championship, an outcome well below what was hoped for at the start of the season. However what has been achieved is the return of Sam Masters to the side, and increased averages for him and fellow Aussies Cameron Heeps and Josh Pickering.

Monarchs will be at full strength for the match while Diamonds will use rider replacement for Thomas Jorgensen, and American Broc Nicol as a guest replacement for Lasse Bjerre who is injured. Broc scored a dozen points recently for Sheffield at Armadale. The October averages mean that Ulrich Ostergaard moves into the top five with former Monarch Max Clegg going back into a reserve berth.

We know how effective Max can be at Armadale, along with other ex-Monarchs Steve Worrall and Matthew Wethers. Newcastle still have the KO Cup Final against Redcar Bears to contest before the end of the season.

Team manager Alex Harkess says "I hope we will bring the team's season to an end with a good meeting against our old rivals. There has been nothing at all wrong with our home form this season, it's on the road we have come up short."

Supporters are asked not to park in the neighbouring Birkdale Park and Mallace Avenue estates.

Big announcements to come

Make sure to hang on at the end of the match for the end of season awards and interviews, as well as some big announcements.

Friday 4th October: Staggs Bar Monarchs v Newcastle (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm

Teams:

STAGGS BAR MONARCHS: Sam Masters, James Sarjeant, Josh Pickering, Ricky Wells (capt.), Cameron Heeps, Connor Coles, William Lawson.

NEWCASTLE BTS DIAMONDS: Steve Worrall (capt.), rider replacement for Thomas Jorgensen, Broc Nicol (guest), Ulrich Ostergaard, Matthew Wethers, Max Clegg, Danny Phillips.

There is one further meeting at Armadale this season, the Northern junior League Riders Championship on Saturday 12th October at 6pm.

Full Result Details