Edinburgh Monarchs 57: Exeter Falcons 32
Premier League
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 15th September 2000
Edinburgh completed their home Premier League season with a 100% record after beating Exeter easily. For a time it looked as if Monarchs were on their way to collect the bonus point. However Exeter managed to tie heats 12, 13, and 14 to clinch the bonus and keep their own title challenge on track.
Exeter suffered a setback in heat 2 when Bobby Eldridge looped and broke his collarbone putting him out for the match (and most likely for the season).
Edinburgh were at full strength while Exeter were operating rider replacement for the banned Roger Lobb. The use of rider replacement plus the injury to Eldridge probably helped Exeter as it gave them the option of using more tactical substitutions and to give extra rides to the more competitive Graeme Gordon.
Peter Carr won the toss for the second week running and opted for gate position B with Monarchs off 2 and 4 in heat 1.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Blair Scott, Chris Harris, Mark Simmonds [57.4]
Robert Eriksson stormed ahead from the tapes but Blair Scott found himself stuck behind Simmonds and Harris. Unusually Blair rode the inside line in the style of Peter Carr. He first took Chris Harris and then swept inside Mark Simmons for a very convincing paid win.
(5-1) (5-1)
Heat 2: Christian Henry, Graeme Gordon [Awarded]
Christian Henry and Will Beveridge made the gate and seemed assured of another 5-1 until Beveridge pulled up with a puncture as Gordon challenged him on the home straight. Then Eldridge had a spectacular fall on the back straight looping over. He recovered sufficiently to walk back but was excluded and took no further part in the meeting. The race was awarded as Henry was way ahead of Gordon.
(3-2) (8-3)
Heat 3: Peter Carr, Chris Harris, Seemond Stephens, Ross Brady [58.2]
Chris Harris came in as rider replacement. Brady made a fair start but was at the back by the second bend and made no impression as Peter Carr won with ease.
(3-3) (11-6)
Heat 4: Kevin Little, Michael Coles, Will Beveridge, Graeme Gordon [59.3]
This looked like a heat advantage for Exeter as Coles and reserve replacement Gordon made the gate. Kevin Little had a good second bend to move into a challenging position behind Coles as Beveridge stalked Gordon. A the race went into the final lap, most attention was focussed on Beveridge's attempts to take third place when Little caught Coles napping and slipped through on the inside of the back straight. Beveridge also managed to pass Gordon to turn the heat around.
(4-2) (15-8)
Heat 5: Peter Carr, Chris Harris, Ross Brady, Mark Simmonds [57.6]
Peter Carr won with ease from Chris Harris while Ross Brady took third despite looking rather laboured.
(4-2) (19-10)
Heat 6: Robert Eriksson, Michael Coles, Blair Scott, Graeme Gordon [57.8]
Eriksson inflicted a second defeat on Michael Coles with Blair Scott solid in second position.
(4-2) (23-12)
Heat 7: Kevin Little, Christian Henry, Seemond Stephens, Graeme Gordon [59.5]
Graeme Gordon came in as rider replacement. The two Falcons certainly made the start in this heat. Kevin Little wasted no time in carving his way through the field passing Stephens to take the lead. Christian Henry took a little longer but achieved the same result as he passed first Gordon and then Stephens to the acclaim of the crowd.
(5-1) (28-13)
Heat 8: Michael Coles, Blair Scott, Chris Harris, Will Beveridge [58.6]
Exeter threw in Michael Coles as a tactical substitute for the injured Eldridge to join the impressive Chris Harris. Coles made the start ahead of Blair Scott. Beveridge held third place for much of the race until Harris passed him. Beveridge tried to come back but Harris held on to give Exeter their first heat advantage.
(2-4) (30-17)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Graeme Gordon, Ross Brady [57.8]
Coles shot out of the start and for once Carr was struggling to pass after a couple of laps Carr edged inside Coles but the former Monarchs captain came back. The two went into the final lap almost side by side and the outcome was still in doubt when Coles fell on the last bend. This gifted a point to the toiling Ross Brady.
(4-2) (34-19)
Heat 10: Robert Eriksson, Blair Scott, Mark Simmonds, Seemond Stephens [58.9]
Mark Simmonds came in as a tactical substitute for Eldridge. Blair Scott made a good start and was aided by Eriksson who took Stephens wide on the second bend. From then on a home 5-1 was a formality.
(5-1) (39-20)
Heat 11: Kevin Little, Mark Simmonds, Christian Henry, Chris Harris [58.4]
The Exeter riders gated once more but simultaneously Little passed Simmonds and Henry passed Harris. This kept Monarchs on track for the bonus point as the margin increased to 21 points.
(4-2) (43-22)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Seemond Stephens, Graeme Gordon [57.3]
Carr was leading easily from Stephens with Beveridge battling with Gordon for third place. Beveridge swept past Gordon on the first bend as the Exeter rider hit the fence. The race was stopped and Beveridge was rather unlucky to be excluded. Carr won the re-run but this put the pressure on Eriksson and Little in the next heat.
(3-3) (46-25)
Heat 13: Michael Coles, Robert Eriksson, Kevin Little, Mark Simmonds [58.5]
Eriksson and Little seemed to have made the start but Coles came sweeping around from gate 4 and had the speed to move ahead on the back straight. He withstood everything that Eriksson and Little could do. Monarchs now needed noting less than two 5-1 heat advantages to take the bonus point.
(3-3) (49-28)
Heat 14: Ross Brady, Seemond Stephens, Chris Harris [59.6]
Exeter used two tactical substitutes. Seemond Stephens came in for rider replacement and Chris Harris for the overworked Graeme Gordon. Brady was obviously unhappy with his machinery and came out on Peter Carr's bike. This change did the trick and he made the start from gate 4 to win the heat. Christian Henry missed the start and was trying to repeat his feat in heat 7 and come from the back. He did his best but fell on the second bend. Just as he was pushing his bike away, Chris Harris fell on the third bend but remounted to finish third.
(3-3) (52-31)
Heat 15: Robert Eriksson, Kevin Little, Michael Coles, Seemond Stephens [58.8]
Carr sat out the nominated heat since the bonus point was away. This ensured that Carr achieved the second highest home league average by a Monarch. Kevin Little's brilliant form was rewarded with a rare place in heat 15. In a near repeat on heat 13, Coles made the start and held on seemingly set for a third heat win. Eriksson had other ideas and came hard inside Coles on the second bend and also created enough room for Little to come through. Coles then settled for third place.
(5-1) (57-32)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
14 |
|
Blair Scott |
2* |
1 |
2 |
2* |
|
|
|
7+2 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
Ross Brady |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Kevin Little |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1* |
2* |
|
|
12+2 |
|
Christian Henry |
3 |
2* |
1 |
F |
|
|
|
3+1 |
|
Will Beveridge |
R |
1 |
0 |
X |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exeter |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Mark Simmonds |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
3 |
|
|
Chris Harris |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1* |
|
7+1 |
|
Seemond Stephens |
1* |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
6+1 |
|
Roger Lobb |
Rider replacement |
|
|
|
5 |
|||
|
Michael Coles |
2 |
2 |
3 |
F |
3 |
1 |
|
11 |
|
Graeme Gordon |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1* |
|
5+1 |
|
Bobby Eldridge |
X |
N |
N |
|
|
|
|
1+1 |
Peter Carr has broken a number of records for Monarchs but his home form in the Premier League has been phenomenal. He has lost to an opponent in only four races in thirteen Premier League matches. He won his first three races easily but was made to work very hard by Coles in his last ride. Eriksson had a typical meeting and dropped only one point to Coles. Kevin Little was the real revelation in his best meeting of the season. Like Eriksson he was only beaten by Coles in heat 13 and his total included three wins and one paid win. He came from behind in three of those heats, passing Coles twice and Simmonds once.
Blair Scott had an excellent meeting and was another home rider who was only beaten by Michael Coles. His paid win from the back in heat 1 demonstrated how he has learned to ride the inside line. Ross Brady toiled in his first three rides and wasn't really on the pace. He looked a totally different proposition on Carr's bike in heat 14. Peter Carr did four laps after the meeting on Brady's bike obviously trying to find what the problem was. Christian Henry continues to improve although his score was spoiled by his heat 14 fall. Will Beveridge just had no luck. He had a puncture when on a paid win in heat 2 was followed by a harsh exclusion in heat 12. He certainly deserved more than a single point.
Michael Coles was as competitive as ever at Armadale and might feel hard done by when he was on the wrong end of some hard riding by Carr in heat 9 and by Eriksson in heat 15. He secured the only two heat wins for the visitors. Chris Harris had a good meeting and was always competitive although he only managed to beat Brady and Beveridge of the home riders. Seemond Stephens improved on his pointless visit with Swindon last year but was slightly flattered by his paid 7 points. Graeme Gordon battled hard but many of his points were gifted.
Man of the season: Peter Carr
Man of the match: Kevin Little
Most exciting rider: Christian Henry
Next home meeting: v Sheffield, Premier League, Owlerton on Thursday 28th September 2000
John Lowe