Monarchs have now completed three home and three away matches. This triggers the issue of new averages. This will affect riding order and also the provision for guests and rider replacement to cover absent riders.
While the team may have Green Sheet averages issued, such has been the extent of injuries to Monarchs this year that only three riders have completed all six matches. Peter Carr and Derek Sneddon have been free from injury. Jan Andersen was forced to withdraw from the match at Newcastle but has still cleared his three matches. Blair Scott and Christian Henry have both missed an away match and will complte their six at Hull on Wednesday. Ben Shields missed one home and one away match and it will be next Friday at home to Sheffield before he is eligible. Robert Eriksson crashed on in his first ride and will remain on his 2000 average for some time.
Only Premier National Trophy group qualifiers and subsequently Premier League matches count toward the averages. Cup matches and Premier National Trophy knock-out stage matches do not count. Equally the Fours or Challenge matches are not included.
Full details are tabulated below:
|
1 |
Robert Eriksson |
M |
R |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
NSR |
Pts |
BP |
TP |
CMA |
|
Home |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
Away |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
|
|
Overall |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
2 |
Blair Scott |
M |
R |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
NSR |
Pts |
BP |
TP |
CMA |
|
Home |
3 |
13 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
25 |
2 |
27 |
8.31 |
|
|
Away |
2 |
9 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
11 |
3 |
14 |
6.22 |
|
|
Overall |
5 |
22 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
36 |
5 |
41 |
7.45 |
|
|
3 |
Ben Shields |
M |
R |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
NSR |
Pts |
BP |
TP |
CMA |
|
Home |
2 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
10 |
5.00 |
|
|
Away |
2 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1.14 |
|
|
Overall |
4 |
15 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
12 |
3.20 |
|
|
4 |
Jan Andersen |
M |
R |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
NSR |
Pts |
BP |
TP |
CMA |
|
Home |
3 |
16 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
34 |
3 |
37 |
9.25 |
|
|
Away |
3 |
12 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
19 |
2 |
21 |
7.00 |
|
|
Overall |
6 |
28 |
8 |
12 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
53 |
5 |
58 |
8.29 |
|
|
5 |
Peter Carr |
M |
R |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
NSR |
Pts |
BP |
TP |
CMA |
|
Home |
3 |
15 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
39 |
0 |
39 |
10.40 |
|
|
Away |
3 |
14 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
38 |
10.86 |
|
|
Overall |
6 |
29 |
25 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
77 |
0 |
77 |
10.62 |
|
|
6 |
Christian Henry |
M |
R |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
NSR |
Pts |
BP |
TP |
CMA |
|
Home |
3 |
15 |
0 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
20 |
7 |
27 |
7.20 |
|
|
Away |
2 |
11 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
12 |
1 |
13 |
4.73 |
|
|
Overall |
5 |
26 |
2 |
10 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
32 |
8 |
40 |
6.15 |
|
|
7 |
Derek Sneddon |
M |
R |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
NSR |
Pts |
BP |
TP |
CMA |
|
Home |
3 |
14 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
14 |
1 |
15 |
4.29 |
|
|
Away |
3 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
2.55 |
|
|
Overall |
6 |
25 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
10 |
2 |
20 |
2 |
22 |
3.52 |
|
|
8 |
Rory Schlein |
M |
R |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
NSR |
Pts |
BP |
TP |
CMA |
|
Home |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
|
|
Away |
2 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1.33 |
|
|
Overall |
2 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1.33 |
The impact of these new averages is that Jan Andersen will move up to heat leader with Ben Shields, still on his seven point assessed average moved to second string from next Friday. Andersen will presumably take the number three racejacket with Shields moving to number four or number two. When Scott, Henry and Shields have completed their six matches, Shields will almost certainly drop to reserve with Henry moving to second string.
The encouraging thing for Edinburgh is that all three riders with a new average have recorded an increase. Peter Carr has achieved the impossible an clocked a 6% increase despite his two exclusions against Newcastle. Jan Andersen, as expected, has increased his average dramatically with a 45% rise. This would most likely have been more but for the injury that forced him to quit the match at Newcastle without scoring a point. He turned out in the return against Newcastle at Armadale when far from fit. This almost certainly cost him points. Derek Sneddon may the the rider with most cause to be delighted with his start to the season. He has exceeded his assessed three-point average by over half a point, a 17% increase. With a bit more luck and experience he could be looking at a four-point plus average.
Better news could come when Christian Henry and Blair Scott complete their third away match. Both are currently looking at 50% increases on their starting averages despite suffering injuries.
The one Monarchs' rider not to maintain his starting average is Ben Shields. A seven-point assessed average is a tall order for any new rider as others have found out in the past including current Elite League riders Craig Watson, Brett Woodifield, and Nigel Sadler. More recently Adam Shields and Rusty Harrison have also found seven points a bit beyond them. Ben has struggled on the wet tracks so far this season but last Friday on a relatively dry track he gave a glimpse of what he is capable of with a paid score of eight points.
The key to success is improving on starting averges. Last season three of the Monarchs side, Ross Brady, Kevin Little, and Blair Scott saw their averages fall. Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson and Christian Henry all showed small increases. With Brian Turner coming nowhere near his starting average and his replacement Will Beveridge also showing a big drop, the reasons why Monarchs failed to win anything last year are clear.
Full details of Edinburgh averages are given in the following location:
Thse figures will be updated as the remaining riders obtain new Green Sheets.