Premier League Fours Northern Group Qualifier 3rd Leg

Final aggregate score: Edinburgh 118: Newcastle 103: Glasgow 84: Berwick 79

Lothian Arena, Armadale

Wednesday, 12th August 1998.

Edinburgh held off a strong challenge from Newcastle to edge the re-staged Armadale leg of the Northern Fours Qualifiers with the outcome that both the Monarchs and the Diamonds qualify for the Peterborough finals. Berwick put up a good performance but Glasgow had a disastrous night that has probably ended their chance of a wild card place in the finals. This must have been particularly galling for the Tigers as they led the original meeting and had scored 16 points by Heat 8 when it was abandoned.

Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle were at full strength while Berwick has a new look line-up with David Walsh and James Grieves joining Martin Dixon and Scott Robson. Paul Gould was reserve for Edinburgh, Will Beveridge for Glasgow, Jonathan Swales for Newcastle and Peter Scully for Berwick.

The track was very slick following the recently rain and offered no encouragement to outside passing. The weather was cool and windy with the threat of rain. A brief light shower hit Armadale shortly before the 8.00 start and with this in mind the parade was dispensed with and the meeting went straight into heat 1.

Werner was first away from gate 1 and although McKinna appeared to be on his way with an outside sweep from gate 3, the American hit the third bend ahead and was not troubled after that. Martin Dixon retired with engine failure when last.

(2-1-3-0)

Grieves continued his recent Armadale form with a good win ahead of Dalle Andersson while namesake Marcus continued his miserable run.

(2-3-4-3)

Kevin Little gated and was followed by Jesper Olsen. The Dane tried a big outside charge on the third bend and appeared to be taking the lead when he went too wide allowing Scott Robson through to second. Olsen retired on his second lap.

(5-4-4-5)

In the first run Carr missed the start but cut inside and was well placed when Pedersen and Walsh hit the second bend fence. Surprisingly Dave Steen was excluded although most of the third bend spectators thought Pedersen was the primary cause. Pedersen made the most of his escape by winning the re-run from the gate. Peter Carr trailed him for a couple of laps before making a slip to allow Walsh through to second.

(6-4-7-7)

McKinna edged it from the gate while Olsen stopped with engine failure once more. Dalle Andersson also stopped with engine trouble on his last lap and took so long to push around the half lap remaining that the tractor was on the track to regrade it before his finally ambled over the line for a point.

(9-5-7-9)

This was shaping up to be a great battle between Pedersen and Powell until the Glasgow skipper fell on the second bend but remounted to finish.

(10-5-10-11)

James Grieves won without difficulty but there was an interesting battle for second between Werner and Little. On two or three occasions it appeared that Little had got past Werner on the outside but each time the American managed to stay ahead.

(11-5-12-14)

Peter Carr made a start for once and was not unduly troubled.

(14-6-14-14)

This was the crunch meeting between the unbeaten Pedersen and Grieves and McKinna. The home rider inched ahead from the tapes and managed to hold off Pedersen and Grieves.

(17-6-16-15)

Paul Gould fresh from a win in the second reserves race over Peter Scully was drafted in to replace the out-of-touch Marcus Andersson. He was rather unlucky in that despite a poor start he ended the first lap well in front after the others got themselves into a tangle when the race was stopped as Dixon hit the fourth bend fence. In the re-run, with Dixon excluded, Jesper Olsen (on Nicki Pedersen's bike) won from Steen and Gould.

(18-8-19-15)

Mick Powell recorded the first win for Glasgow ahead of Swales and Little after David Walsh fell.

(19-11-21-15)

Beveridge replaced Dalle Andersson (probably exhausted after his slow motion push around) and surprised everyone by making the gate. Peter Carr was last away from gate 4 but cut inside and took the lead by the first bend of the second lap. Beveridge held on for some time but was finally passed by Robson and Werner.

(22-11-22-17)

After a delay due to problems with the starting light and the start gate electrics with the 10.00pm curfew approaching this heat was run and Walsh won.

(22-12-24-20)

McKinna from Robson and Swales brought Monarchs back level with the Diamonds.

(25-12-25-22)

Berwick put in reserve Peter Scully for the hapless Dixon and were rewarded with a second place behind Pedersen as Newcastle took the lead.

(26-12-28-24)

Heat 16: Peter Carr, James Grieves. Mick Powell [59.1]

The big showdown between the number 1 riders of each team was marred when Jesper Olsen fell on the fourth bend and was excluded. This gave Edinburgh the chance to pinch the meeting if Carr won the re-run. This chance was taken and Carr managed to hold off an early challenge from Grieves before pulling ahead.

(29-13-28-26)

Glasgow had a nightmare evening with an exclusion, and engine failure and a fall contributing to a poor score. Mick Powell was the only Tiger to look competitive but his score of 5 must be his lowest ever at Armadale.

Newcastle with four Armadale specialist were good value and would have won but for the misfortunes of Jesper Olsen with two engine failures and on fall/exclusion. Pedersen continues to be virtually unbeatable around Armadale while Werner and Swales both contributed well.

Berwick gave a good account of themselves and had Scully been used more instead of Dixon they could well have won the meeting.

Most exciting rider: Peter Carr gets the nod for his win from the back in Heat 12 in a meeting almost bereft of passing.

John Lowe
 
 

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