Sam second in the Bonanza

NEWS Sunday 27th March 2022, 6:22pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The sun shone (eventually) on the twelfth staging of the Benevolent Fund Bonanza at Peterborough this afternoon, and likewise the racing warmed up substantially after a slow start to provide a good afternoon's entertainment.

Similarly Monarchs' captain Sam Masters started rather slowly with two third places off the unfavourable wide gates, before being involved in some excellent racing later in the meeting and finally grabbing second place in the Grand Final behind Ryan Douglas.

Fellow Aussie and Wolf Ryan Douglas proved a tricky opponent on the day for Sam, and the two staged perhaps the race of the day with their tussle in heat 11. They were neck and neck for virtually all four laps before Douglas nicked it.

Sam dropped a point also to reserve Jordan Palin in heat 15 before gaining his first win against the same opponent in heat 19. His total of 9 points was enough to make the semi final, and second place in that behind Richard Lawson (after passing Danny King) took him into the 5-man final.

Again Sam looked determined as he swept round Richard Lawson in the final, setting up a challenge on that man Douglas, but he couldn't find a passing line.

It was a continuation of good early season form for Sam, and the whole event proved a success with a decent crowd and some eventful racing.

Our other representative James Sarjeant was having his first meeting following his crash last October, and after a couple of heats to find his way round James got his first point over Auty in heat 9. However he then pulled out of the meeting, reporting that he had pulled his hip a little in his first race. He added "I'll be fine and I've got a couple of meetings next week to get back into it."

Virtually all the riders made a contribution to the entertainment, with particularly eye-catching performances from Tom Brennan and Ben Barker. If that's the machinery Barker is using this season then he will be a force.

Glasgow fans will have been delighted with the performances of their trio, and it looks like his injuries last year will have no effect on Ostergaard.

Scorers: Ben Barker 12, Ulrich Ostergaard 7, Sam Masters 9, Nick Morris 4, Danny King 10, James Sarjeant 1, Tom Brennan 12, Scott Nicholls 8, Steve Worrall 6, Josh Auty 1, Paul Starke 2, Richard Lawson 9, Ben Basso 5, Simon Lambert 6, Lewis Kerr 6, Leon Flint (res) 3, Jordan Palin (res) 5

Semi: Lawson, Masters, King, Nicholls

Final: Douglas, Masters, Lawson, Barker, Brennan