Monarchs unbeaten at home

REPORT Saturday 22nd August 2026, 0:01am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Monarchs duly won their crunch league match against Berwick at Armadale tonight, completing the home league season undefeated and taking a big step towards the Playoffs. They rode well enough on a night that was long and over-eventful in the wrong way, but the lasting impression of the match was of the extreme bad luck suffered by Berwick, not just tonight but over the whole week.

Jordan Jenkins was injured in the Premiership on Monday, then Peter Kildemand was ruled out later in the week. Tonight Jye Etheridge after making a great start to the match was injured in a first bend tangle in heat 8, then in heat 10 Victor Palovaara slid off and under the fence and also pulled out of the match.

So with four of their key riders injured, Bandits did extremely well to keep scores close and finish on 41 points. Had they had their full seven, it would have been a completely different match and borders fans will no doubt have their own thoughts on what the outcome might have been.

Monarchs' most consistent rider Kye Thomson top scored with 13 but admitted that it wasn't easy. He said "It was tougher than we thought it was going to be. They had a team full of guests and it's happened to us many times where you probably relax a bit more than you should and they give you a fair run. They pushed us for three-quarters of the meeting, they were great out of the gate and made it tough. It was a stop-start meeting tonight, dragged on, and I hope everyone's OK after their crashes.

"In next week's away matches we have to put our heads down and do the best we can to make the Playoffs. I was happy with my score tonight, I was feeling under the weather and still have a few issues from my crash at Poole a couple of weeks ago. My mum was over from Australia so I was happy to put a performance together for her."

Even though their guest number one Jason Edwards had a poor night and was pointless in his first two heats, Bandits really pushed the home side and stood level pegging after eight heats. Etheridge had been ruled out of heat 8 after Mitch Cluff and Reid Battye tangled and left the unfortunate Jye with nowhere to go as the bikes came towards him.

Paco Castagna beat Nick Morris in heat 9 to put his team ahead, then Palovaara suffered his misfortune in heat 10 as Monarchs went six up. Monarchs still were not closing the match out and shared the next two heats, but heat 13 clinched the home victory.

It was the race of the night with Kye Thomson ahead and a great battle between Dan Thompson and Morris behind him. Thompson had to twice pass Morris but he eventually did it and his team were home. Thompson and Morris had a further tussle in heat 15 but this time Thompson spun off attempting a similar pass on his Leicester team mate.

Monarchs were solid with three riders on 8 backing Thomson and Thompson. There should be a special mention for guest reserve Ben Whalley with paid 5, heading home Battye twice. Fellow reserve Mitch Cluff had a very poor night and hit the deck a few times.

Bandits were forced to rely on the flying Morris and the battling Battye but they both performed admirably. It now remains to be seen what sort of side the unlucky Bandits can put together for their own last two home matches, with Redcar still in the Playoff picture and visiting Shielfield tomorrow. Also important will be the bonus point when Monarchs head down next week.

Full Result Details