Premier League Cup; Northern Group Qualifier

Shawfield Stadium, Rutherglen

Sunday, 17^th May 1998.

After their virtual walk-over wins on Friday and Saturday, Monarchs received a real going-over at Shawfield today. The key incident occurred in the second attempt to run Heat 5 when Peter Carr hit the fence very heavily after trying to squeeze between Mick Powell and Sean Courtney. Carr was ruled out for the meeting with arm and shoulder injuries. That added up to five falls and the fifth heat had not yet been completed. A long delay occurred while the track was re-graded and it seemed at one stage that it would not be completed because of concerns by the Edinburgh riders.

Edinburgh were at full strength while Glasgow used rider replacement for the injured Dalle Andersson with David Stokes at Number 8. The track had been heavily watered due to the hot conditions and was very patchy. Of particular concern was a spot on the second bend which caused the visitors a lot of problems and also and similar problem on the fourth bend.

Gate position A was used.

Carr was first away while Larsen tried a big outside sweep but was trailing. He went too wide around the fourth bend and hit the fence. Although he was up fairly quickly and moved his bike to the centre green, the race was stopped. Carr won the re-run from rider replacement MacDonald while Beveridge fell but finished.

(3-3) (3-3)

Blair Scott gated but got into trouble on the second bend allowing Turner and MacDonald past. On the last lap Scott hit the perimeter fence on the fourth bend. This required some work before the next heat.

(5-1) (8-4)

Kevin Little made a fair start but seemed to go backwards round the second bend allowing Powell and Courtney to go well ahead.

(5-1) (13-5)

A surreal heat in which Brian Turner passed a tentative Kenny McKinna while Barry Campbell held off an even more tentative Dave Steen

(3-3) (16-8)

In the first attempt Larsen gated but Powell swept round him and the Dane fell. He was somewhat harshly excluded given the start of the track. On the re-run, Carr was behind out of the gate but tried to go between Powell and Courtney and fell heavily and was out of the meeting. Carr was not excluded, neither were Powell or Courtney. Could this be fourth bend bunching? After a very long delay the heat was re-run and Barry Campbell came in to replace Carr but trailed.

(5-1) (21-9)

McKinna won from rider replacement Courtney but Blair Scott was last for another drawn heat.

(3-3) (24-12)

A great ride by Kevin Little coming from behind to pass Dave Steen on the back straight.

(3-3) (27-15)

Kenny McKinna came in as a tactical substitute for Campbell. McKinna and Larsen gated although the Dane again hit trouble and slowed down and the two Tigers passed him. Kenny McKinna then stopped with ignition failure while way ahead.

(5-1) (32-16)

Mick Powell gated but Kenny McKinna went around him and held on until the last lap when Powell edged inside and seemed to be set for a win until McKinna, very wide out of the fourth bend picked up extra drive to pass just before the flag.

(3-3) (35-19)

Brian Turner came in as rider replacement and won from the start ahead of Kevin Little and preserved his paid maximum. A fascinating battle between Paul Gould and Will Beveridge ended when Gould re-passed Beveridge.

(3-3) (38-22)

Barry Campbell again replaced Peter Carr. Macdonald won from the gate and although Barry Campbell at one stage got past Dave Steen he could not sustain this.

(5-1) (43-23)

Powell won from Little while Turner passed reserve replacement Barry Campbell for third place.

(4-2) (47-25)

Grant MacDonald came in as rider replacement while Kevin Little was tactical substitute for Peter Carr. Little edged ahead of a ferocious battle for second between Steen and McKinna with MacDonald just behind. Steen repulsed McKinna and took him wide to allow MacDonald through and the tiring McKinna could find no way past.

(3-3) (50-28)

Paul Gould jumped at the start and stopped with engine failure. MacDonald and Courtney proceeded to another maximum.

(5-1) (55-29)

The bizarre rules prevent Glasgow using Mick Powell (11 points from 4 rides) in the nominated heats. Grant MacDonald swept ahead of McKinna and Little to gain a paid 18 score.

(3-3) (58-32)

Kenny McKinna worked hard and seemed tired for his last two races. Kevin Little had a good meeting but without Carr, Edinburgh always faced an uphill run. Of the other riders only Barry Campbell did himself justice with a gutsy display and a track he always struggles. Paul Gould, normally a good performer around Shawfield had a bad evening with only one point. Robert Larsen suffered two exclusions and seemed very wary of the track thereafter. Blair Scott had a bad fall and also was very tentative.

This result really opens up the Northern Group with Edinburgh needing to win at Hull to have much of a chance of retaining the Cup. It is not known yet if Peter Carr will be fit for this fixture.

Man of the match: Grant MacDonald/Brian Turner

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