Monarchs have another try for a national trophy at Peterborough today when they line-up for the National Fours tournament at Peterborough this afternoon.

For this first time in years, Monarchs do not go down as one of the favourites for a competition they have consistently done well. Monarchs have won the tournament twice, the most recent being in 1993 and were runners-up in 1997 and 1998. Also this year Monarchs have not qualified as winners of the Northern Group since the BSPA abolished them and determined qualification on averages of the top four riders of each team.

Monarchs won the Northern group in 1997, 1998, and 1999. You have to go back to 1996 to find a year when Monarchs didn't qualify. That was in the days of the combined league and with most of the traditional northern tracks: Glasgow, Berwick, and Newcastle not running, Monarchs had to contend with the likes of Bradford and Hull. Monarchs did win the Northern Group in 1995 in the combined league ahead of Hull, Glasgow and Middlebrough.

Monarchs are represented by Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, Kevin Little and Ross Brady with Blair Scott as reserve. The track is not ideal for the Edinburgh team being essentailly an oval with no real bends. The trick is to ride the white line flat out with a front wheel on the grass. Robert Eriksson confesses that he dislikes the track:

I hate the Peterborough circuit. It has long straights and wide bends. It's like going round in a big circle. It's completely the opposite of what I like. I know I will struggle. Ross Brady learned much of his speedway on the Peterborough track but it is hardly suited to his 'round the boards style. The same can be said of Blair Scott expected to line-up at reserve. Peter Carr and Kevin Little have scored points there in the past. Peter carded a four ride maximum in the 1997 fours. Kevin was the solitary success for Monarchs last year when they crashed out at the semi-final stage.

The favourites are likely to be from the big track teams. Holders Sheffield have a strong line-up including two former Peterborough riders (Simon Stead and Paul Lee) plus Sean Wilson and Robbie Kessler. With Stead and Lee both involved in the World Under-21 semi-finals on Saturday, they face a rush t get back to Peterborough on time. Kessler has recently recovered from injury and was toiling in Sheffield's 61-29 thrashing at Arena Essex on Friday.

Another team who are expected to do well are Workington with Stonehewer, Werner, Powell and Karlsson. The fiormer of the Comets side were in the Long Eaton team that pipped Monarchs to the 1997 fours title. League leaders Exeter should also make an impression.

Monarchs face an eight-heat semi-final against Exeter, Berwick, and the Isle of Wight. Edinburgh have the misfortune of drawing the black and yellow helmets. This can be a major disadvantage in the curtailed semi-final.

If Monarchs get into the top two from this semi-final, they face a final against the winners of the other semi-final of Workington, Sheffield, Newcastle and Swindon.