NEWS Wednesday 12th October 2022, 9:32pm
Edinburgh Monarchs
If Saturday night's meeting at Armadale, the Ratho Coaches Scottish Open Championship, is indeed to be the final senior speedway at the venue, it should be a truly memorable event with a strong field of riders trying to lift the historic Jack Young Trophy. Start time for the event is 6:30 with gates open at 5pm, and 22 heats will be raced before the winner is known.
There can't be much doubt about the top name because we will be delighted to welcome British Champion and World no. 6 Dan Bewley back to Armadale. Dan was a Monarch in 2016 right at the start of his career and we have watched admiringly as he has rocketed to the top of the sport, whilst remaining the same friendly and modest young man.
But even Dan can't say that he will definitely be victorious in a field including home stars Sam Masters and Josh Pickering, reigning Scottish Open champion Richie Worrall, Richard Lawson, Chris Harris and the one and only Craig Cook who enjoyed so much success in his time with Monarchs.
Promoter John Campbell looked forward to the event and said "It's hard work putting a field together with so many riders' commitments to consider but I believe we have done justice to the occasion and got a great lineup. I hope everyone has a great night.
"If our time at Armadale comes to an end on Saturday then it will mean that we will be homeless next season and the Monarchs will have to sit out for a year. Please be aware that the battle to bring the Monarchs back to track has already started and will continue until the Blue and Gold returns to the shale. Our determination to do that is unlimited."
Joining the current riders in the stadium will be many former Monarchs, including the oldest surviving Monarch Harry Darling (93), Bert Harkins from the sixties and some of the men who did so much to ensure speedway's success at Armadale, including Kenny McKinna and Peter Carr.
Saturday's meeting will be Live Streamed. Streaming Details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.
SATURDAY'S MEETING:
Saturday 15th October: Ratho Coaches Scottish Open Championship, Armadale, 6:30pm. Riders:
1. Josh Pickering (Edinburgh), 2. Chris Harris (Berwick), 3. Aaron Summers (Oxford), 4. Sam Masters (Edinburgh), 5. Justin Sedgmen (Birmingham), 6. Craig Cook (Glasgow), 7. Dan Bewley, 8. Lasse Fredriksen (Edinburgh), 9. Leon Flint (Berwick), 10. Richard Lawson (Poole), 11. Richie Worrall (Leicester), 12. Max Clegg (Leicester), 13. Jacob Hook (Edinburgh), 14. James Sarjeant (Edinburgh), 15. Theo Pijper (Berwick), 16. Kye Thomson (Edinburgh). Reserves Ace Pijper and Gregor Millar.
There will be one further speedway meeting this season after Saturday, and that will be the last National Development League match, Armadale Devils v Leicester Cubs on Friday 21st October at 7:30pm.