Premier National Trophy
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 16th April 1999
Monarchs had another crushing victory at Armadale. It had many parallels with the win over Berwick last week. Glasgow were also rather short on match practice. Glasgow had two really competitive riders in Paul Bentley and Mick Powell compared to one for Berwick last week.
Tigers battled on and never gave up but Monarchs, in particular Carr and Brady, had too much firepower. There were six 5-1 heat advantages tothe Monarchs.
The day was dry but cold and overcast. The track was rather slick.
Monarchs Captain Kevin Little won the toss for the first time at Armadale this year. Gate position A was in used with Glasgow off 2 and 4 for the first heat.
Heat 1: James Grieves, Mick Powell, Blair Scott, Will Beveridge [58.8]
James Grieves made the gate and held off a determined challenge from Mick Powell with Blair Scott in close attendance. Will Beveridge did appear to have got round Scott on the first bend but slid off and remounted.
(4-2) (4-2)
Heat 2: Ross Brady, David McAllan, Stuart Coleman [60.8]
McAllan and Coleman tangled on the second bend as Brady was rounding Courtney but all four were invited back. In the rerun, Scott Courtney surged through the tapes and was excluded. Brady and McAllan gated for an easy maximum.
(5-1) (9-3)
Heat 3: Paul Bentley, Kevin Little, Brian Turner, Stewart McDonald, [60.2]
Paul Bentley made a blistering start and withstood everything that Kevin Little could throw at him. Stewart McDonald missed the start and was unable to catch Brian Turner.
(2-4) (11-7)
Heat 4: Ross Brady, Peter Carr, Sean Courtney, Scott Courtney [59.8]
Ross Brady made the start and Peter Carr covered his back as they left the Courtneys way behind.
(5-1) (16-8)
Heat 5: Mick Powell, Kevin Little, Stewart McDonald, Will Beveridge [60.1]
The best heat of the night and featured two great races. Mick Powell withstood a fierce assault by Kevin Little after the Monarchs captain appeared to have got past. Meanwhile, Beveridge and McDonald were riding almost side by side battling for third place. On the last lap, McDonald appeared to be about to pass on the second bend when he was hit by Beveridge. McDonald somehow managed to recover and just pinched the result on the line
(3-3) (19-11)
Heat 6: James Grieves, Blair Scott, Sean Courtney, Stuart Coleman [59.7]
A predictable heat maximum for Monarchs after Grieves and Scott gated.
(5-1) (24-12)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Paul Bentley, Brian Turner, David McAllan [59.3]
Bentley gated once more but Carr cut inside him on the second bend to win by a huge margin.
(3-3) (27-15)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Ross Brady, Will Beveridge, Scott Courtney [59.6]
Ross Brady was finally outgated, by Blair Scott! Another untroubled maximum.
(5-1) (32-16)
Heat 9: Paul Bentley, Kevin Little, Sean Courtney, Stewart McDonald [60.3]
Paul Bentley came in as a tactical substitute for Coleman. He resumed his winning habit from Little. McDonald was attempting to pass Courtney but fell and remounted.
(2-4) (34-20)
Heat 10: Paul Bentley, Blair Scott, Brian Turner [Awarded]
Bentley made the gate yet again but was put under pressure by Grieves. The race was halted after Grieves broke a primary chain and fell on the backstraight. Blair Scott did well to avoid Grieves and held on for second.
(2-4) (36-24)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, Mick Powell, Wil Beveridge, David McAllan, [59.5]
Carr made it all look ridiculously easy with another win from Powell and Beveridge.
(3-3) (39-27)
Heat 12: Ross Brady, Kevin Little, Paul Bentley, Stuart Coleman [60.5]
Paul Bentley was outgated for the first time by Ross Brady. This held up Bentley and allowed Little to join Brady in front.
(5-1) (44-28)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, Mick Powell, James Grieves, Sean Courtney [58.6]
Carr left the field standing once more. Powell stayed ahead of Grieves until the former Tiger had a major slide on the backstraight and only just recovered to stay ahead of Sean Courtney.
(4-2) (48-30)
Heat 14: Mick Powell, Ross Brady, Stewart McDonald, Brian Turner [60.1]
Mick Powell was brought in as a tactical substitute for Scott Courtney while Monarchs made a reserve change with Brady in for McAllan. For the second week in a row, Brady was denied a paid maximum by a tactical substitute. McDonald came back strongly to pass Turner and close in on Brady.
(3-3) (51-33)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Kevin Little, Paul Bentley, Mick Powell [59.3]
Carr and Little gated from Powell with Bentley trailing. Powell spun on the exit from the first bend causing Bentley to take avoiding action.
(5-1) (56-34)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|||||
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
F |
1 |
|
|
= 7 |
|
Blair Scott |
1 |
2* |
3 |
2 |
|
|
= 8+1 |
|
Kevin Little |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2* |
2* |
= 10+2 |
|
|
Stewart McDonald |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1* |
|
|
= 2+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
2* |
3 |
3 |
|
=14+1 |
|
David McAllan |
2* |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
= 2+1 |
|
Ross Brady |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
= 2+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|||||
|
Mick Powell |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
= 12 |
|
Will Beveridge |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
= 2+1 |
|
Paul Bentley |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
= 13 |
|
Brian Turner |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
= 3 +1 |
|
Sean Courtney |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
= 3 |
|
Stuart Coleman |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
= 1 |
|
Scott Courtney |
T |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
= 0 |
Peter Carr was totally dominant winning all his races by massive margins on the way to a second paid maximum. Grieves looked set to follow suit by hit problems in his last two rides. Little was consistent throughout finishing second five times.
Blair Scott had another impressive meeting with sharp gating and determined riding. Stewart McDonald isn't really making any starts and is finding it difficult to come from the back. Stewart continues to suffer from tactical substitutes facing Bentley and Powell in his last two rides.
Ross Brady is displaying form that many heat leaders would be pleased with. A paid 14 from five rides says it all. David McAllan had a good ride in heat 2 but found things hard going after that.
Glasgow were well served by their top two but are missing a third heat leader as Courtney, Beveridge and Turner appear unable to cover this position. The latter two may feel that their scores do not do justice to the effort put in. The Glasgow reserves both look raw and weren't on the pace. They also lack match sharpness that may come.
Glasgow are probably one rider short of being a good team.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Most exciting rider: Ross Brady
Next meeting: v Newcastle, Premier National Trophy, Brough Park on Sunday 18th April 1999
John Lowe