The season is coming towards its end. Votes are invited for the Monarch Web Site 'Rider of the Year' awards. These should be sent by e-mail to: johnlowe@callnetuk.com by Sunday 17th October 1999. The final results will be posted on the 'Awards' section of the Web Site by Monday 18th October.
The awards will be in a number of categories including:
Rider of the year
Heat leader of the year
Second string/reserve of the year
Young rider of the year
Guest of the year
Reserve replacement of the year
Votes (and suggestions) are also requested for other categories such as:
Best visitor to Armadale
Best match performance
Ride of the year
Heat of the year
The full list of categories and some suggested nominations are given on the Awards section of this Web Site. This can be accessed by the following link: Awards and clicking on the 'Rider of the Year' link.
Votes will be welcomed from supporters of other teams as well as from Monarchs' fans. This will help give credit to performances on away tracks as well as at home.
While Ross Brady will probably start as hot favourite for rider of the year, a strong case can be made for Peter Carr. Also James Grieves has turned in some great contributions as has Blair Scott. The contribution of Captain Kevin Little should not be overlooked especially early in the season when James was still finding his feet and Peter was injured. Kevin and James were both unlucky with injuries. James's rib injury and Kevin's wrist injury certainly affected their performance later in the season.
Mick Powell seems a likely contender for the best guest award having appeared twice for Monarchs and scored two maximums! The first was a 10 paid 12-point maximum aginst future club Berwick while second was a 15-point full maximum against former club Glasgow. Frank Smart also turned in a match-winning show at Stoke and don't forget Paul Pickering's heroics at Sheffield in the Cup Semi-Final.
Gary Phelps has turned in some fighting performances at number six recently deputizing for Brian Turner and is a contender for reserve replacement of the year. Jon Swales also did his best while subbing for David McAllan.
The front runner for heat of the year has to be the final of the Scottish Open in which Peter Carr came from third place to overtake both David Walsh and Carl Stonehewer.
One candidate for ride of the year has to be Stewart McDonald's epic in heat 14 of the home Cup Tie against Newcastle. Stewart fell and restarted yet managed to catch and pass Steven Jones on a wet track just before the match was stopped.