Monarchs Downed At Poole

REPORT Wednesday 16th July 2025, 9:34pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Stellar Monarchs started brightly before collapsing going down 53-37 to table topping Poole on Wednesday night.

On a night where gating was at an absolute premium on a difficult track the Monarchs adapted best early and were two up with seven heats gone before a string of home heat advantages swung the match in favour of the Pirates.

Monarchs team boss John Campbell left to rue, 'After such a good start it's disappointing what the final score was. We did really well in the first seven heats but we weren't good in the last eight, so it is a disappointing evening and end after a promising start.'

As mentioned the Monarchs started strongly with heat wins in each of the first three heats for Paco Castagna, Jonatan Grahn and Justin Sedgmen respectively and with their teammates slotting into third in the first two of these it was a four point lead for the visitors.

This was wiped out by a home maximum in heat four but the Monarchs wouldn't back down and when Kye Thomson and Sedgmen took a 4-2 in heat seven the lead was back in the Blue and Gold favour.

That would be as good as it got for the Monarchs though as the hosts would then turn the screw with a trio of maximums.

This would set the scene the rest of the way as the home men now dialed into conditions would take further advantages in three of the last five races, a heat 15 chain snap for Lewi Kerr the only thing stopping this from being four.

So, a frustrating ending to a match that showed promise but the Monarchs will know that a more complete performance is required to challenge the current cream of the division.

Positives can be taken for Castagna who top scored with ten and there were moments for most of the rest but consistency is required.

Full Result Details