Lothian Arena, Armadale

Friday 4^th September 1998

Edinburgh recorded their first League victory over the Diamonds at Armadale and also collected the bonus point that could prove critical as both teams battle for a play-off place. The match, in keeping with recent encounters between the two teams, was very tight. The score was probably a fair representation of the racing.

 Edinburgh introduced Stefano Alfonso back in place of Marcus Andersson and Paul Gould returned after injury to his new Reserve place. Barry Campbell moved up to Number 2. Peter Carr sustained an eye injury when hit by a stone during the parade and carried on with only one eye open! Newcastle welcomed back Nicki Pedersen but used Chris Readshaw in place of Jonathan Swales at Reserve.

 The track was quite slick and proved very tricky, particularly for Armadale debutante Alfonso. Edinburgh won the toss and surprisingly opted for gates 2 and 4 in the first heat.

Heat 1: Nicki Pedersen, Peter Carr, Barry Campbell [58.1]

A gate for Nicki Pedersen proved enough despite some hairy slides into the fourth bend. Barry Campbell had little difficulty in passing James Birkinshaw for third place before the ex-Sheffield rider retired.

(3-3) (3-3)

Heat 2: Paul Gould, Blair Scott, David McAllan, Chris Readshaw [59.9]

An easy maximum for the Monarchs Reserves with Readshaw falling when last but restarting.

(5-1) (8-4)

Heat 3: Brent Werner, Kevin Little, Stuart Swales, Stefano Alfonso [59.1]

The Newcastle riders gated as Alfonso lifted at the start. Kevin Little battled past Stuart Swales but Werner was well away.

(2-4) (10-8)

Heat 4: Jesper Olsen, Kenny McKinna, Paul Gould, Chris Readshaw [58.1]

Kenny McKinna fell and the referee invited all four back. McKinna sustained an arm injury in the fall but did well in the re-run when outgated by Olsen. Paul Gould had to pass Readshaw for third.

(3-3) (13-11)

Heat 5: Nicki Pedersen, Kevin Little, James Birkinshaw [58.6]

Pedersen made another incredible start to lead Little. Alfonso stopped after the bike prepared for him by Kenny McKinna nearly burst into flames!

(2-4) (15-15)

Heat 6: Peter Carr, Jesper Olsen, Barry Campbell, David McAllan [58.3]

Peter Carr gated and was never challenged as Olsen, for once, looked very uncomfortable on the Armadale track.

(4-2) (19-17)

Heat 7: Kenny McKinna, Brent Werner, Stuart Swales, Blair Scott [59.2]

McKinna won from the front but Blair Scott was kept last by the excellent Newcastle pairing.

(3-3) (22-20)

Heat 8: Barry Campbell, Paul Gould, James Birkinshaw, Chris Readshaw [59.9]

This heat always looked likely for a Monarchs' maximum although Paul Gould was made to fight all the way for second by Birkinshaw and took a tight verict on the line.

(5-1) (27-21)

Heat 9: Kevin Little, David McAllan, Stefano Alfonso [59.7]

Stefano Alfonso came out on the Kenny McKinna 'beast' but struggled once more. Kevin Little made his first (and only) start of the night and was well in control when Olsen fell and retired. David McAllan held on for a good second.

(4-2) (31-23)

Heat 10 Peter Carr, Brent Werner, Stuart Swales, Barry Campbell [58.4]

Carr gated once more to win but Campbell, like Alfonso and Scott before him, found Werner and Swales hard to beat.

(3-3) (34-26)

Heat 11: Kenny McKinna, Jesper Olsen, Blair Scott [59.7]

Jesper Olsen came in for Birkinshaw as a tactical substitute to join Nicki Pedersen. McKinna won after Pedersen retired.

(4-2) (38-28)

Heat 12: Brent Werner, Kevin Little, Stuart Swales, Paul Gould [59.8]

Tactical substitute, Stuart Swales replaced McAllan to recreate Newcastle's best partnership who gated once more. Kevin Little came from behind to pass Swales and limit the damage.

(2-4) (40-32)

Heat 13: Nicki Pedersen, Kenny McKinna, Jesper Olsen [awarded]

Pedersen led from Carr and McKinna with Olsen trailing. Peter Carr fell on the second bend, gifting another heat advantage to Newcastle.

(2-4) (42-36)

Heat 14: Stuart Swales, Blair Scott, Paul Gould, David McAllan [61.4]

The heat advantage in the previous heat worked against Newcastle in that it reduced the margin to 6 and prevented the Diamonds from bringing in Pedersen and Werner as Tactical Substitutes and a near certain 5-1. Instead then brought in David McAllan as a Reserve Replacement. Swales gated with the other three riders in close attention but locked up on the fourth bend causing Reserve replacement Paul Gould and Blair Scott to fall. Amazingly the referee rules 'fourth end bunching' and failed to exclude anyone. Stuart Swales capitalized on his luck by winning the re-run.

(3-3) (45-39)

Heat 15: Kenny McKinna, Brent Werner, Kevin Little [59.9]

With the eye injury and the fall ruling out Carr, Kevin Little joined McKinna for the top scorers heat. Nicki Pedersen missed the gate for once and tried to pass McKinna on the outside through the fourth bend. Anyone familiar with Kenny's wide riding style would agree that to try that inevitably means going into the fence. Pedersen duly hit the fourth bend fence, stayed down, and was excluded. The re-run was notable for an easy win for McKinna and an excellent race for second. Werner passed Little on the first lap and Kevin stayed on his tail throughout and nearly pinched it on the line.

(4-2) (49-41)

While the Edinburgh three heat leaders did well despite Carr's eye trouble and McKinna' fall, it was the bottom end that proved crucial. This particularly was particularly the case with Barry Campbell in the difficult No 2 position (not too difficult against Newcastle as some others) and Paul Gould at Reserve. Alfonso is clearly going to take a little time to come to terms with the Armadale track and get his equipment sorted out.

For Newcastle, neither Pedersen nor Olsen made their usual double figure scores. However, Brent Werner just gets better and better around Armadale as does Stuart Swales. The bottom three collected little more than gift points.

 Man of the match: Brent Werner/Kenny McKinna

 Most exciting rider: Kevin Little never gave up.

Next fixture: v Berwick 11^th September 1998

John Lowe