Mitch Cluff stars in a comfortable win

REPORT Friday 15th May 2026, 11:45pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Monarchs ran out handsome winners in the end against Oxford, and while it was far from a classic match there were some favourable signs for the home team, none more so than Aussie reserve Mitch Cluff who only dropped one point in his four rides and looked faster and more confident than in previous matches.

A delighted Mitch, whose birthday was the previous day, said "Great night! I expect this from myself most weeks, probably not that high but being in amongst it in every race. That's what I'm capable of and it's just about doing that week in week out now. Only dropping one point to Sam's not a bad night! I've just got to turn up next week and try to replicate the same thing."

Big guns Sedgmen and Thomson were firing once more and they were able to carry captain Paco Castagna who was out of touch and seemed to be having bike problems most of the night.

Oxford were missing several of their normal side and did well to put a serviceable team together given that no guests at all were available from Championship sides. As expected Sam Masters and Anders Rowe scored well but they were well backed up by former Monarchs' reserve Dayle Wood who is performing heroics for his new club.

The match started with a first bend pileup as Masters came down trying to get the better of Monarchs' guest Drew Kemp and Jonatan Grahn, and there were a few riders struggling in the early stages. Some extra track grading was requested at the usual break after heat 4.

Sedgmen became the first Monarch to defeat Masters at Armadale for a while and there was usually a home man to step up at any stage when an Oxford fightback was threatened. Grahn beat both Rowe and Wood in heat 8 and even though Cheetahs took a 5-1 in heat 9, this was quickly reversed by Grahn again along with Kemp.

Cheetahs' guests Bowtell and Morley have both had their moments at Armadale but are probably too rusty at the moment whilst restricted to National League racing to really threaten the home riders.

Monarchs led by a dozen into the big heat 13, won by Masters, but Kemp and Thomson kept Rowe at the back, and after Cluff had taken an excellent heat 14 win, the match finished with a Sedgmen-Thomson maximum advantage over Masters. The former Monarchs' captain could have made life awkward for Thomson as he raced into second down the back straight but Sam left room and Kye's bold move paid off.

The 18 point advantage gives Monarchs, at the very least, a good chance of the bonus in the away match at Oxford which is their next fixture on 27th May.

Full Result Details