Edinburgh Monarchs 49: Swindon Robins 41
Young Shield Second Leg
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 6th October 2000
Edinburgh were denied a semi-final place in the Young Shield in the cruelest manner after Swindon went through in a runoff with the scored tied at 90-90 after thirty heats. Peter Carr, unbeaten at Armadale for nearly two months was cruising to victory over Martin Dixon when his engine blew on the fourth bend of lap two. This left Dixon with the task of completing four laps to take Swindon through.
It had been a rather dull match with the track not conducive to passing due to the effects of the rain. The scoreline was nip and tuck between the two sides with Edinburgh unable to establish a lead for any time. Monarchs did edge ahead with a 5-1 from Scott and Carr in heat 3 and again through Eriksson and Scott in heat 6 but were pegged-back both times. An engine blow-up suffered by Robert Eriksson on the start line in heat 10 cost Monarchs the chance to move ahead.
The scores were locked together on 36-36 after twelve heats when the match burst into life. Monarchs were running out of heats to establish the required 8-point margin when Paul Fry suffered an engine failure leading heat 13. Kevin Little had passed reserve replacement Oliver Allen joined Robert Eriksson for a maximum to halve the Swindon advantage. Monarchs missed out on a heat advantage in heat 14 when Kristensen beat Kevin Little. This left Carr and Eriksson (riding Blair Scott's bike) needing a 5-1 in heat 14 to force a runoff. This was achieved easily and the match swung in the direction of Edinburgh until that was shattered by Carr's engine failure.
Edinburgh were without Ross Brady and used rider replacement. Swindon used Robbie Kessler as guest in place of the banned Frank Smart. The weather was dodgy and light rain started during the parade and continued for the rest of the meeting.
Peter Carr once more lost the toss and Paul Fry opted for gate position B with Monarchs off 2 and 4 in heat 1.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Robbie Kessler, Martin Dixon, Blair Scott [58.1]
Eriksson was not particularly quick out of the gate but cut back to beat Kessler to the third bend. Blair went around the outside but failed to pass Kessler. The Swindon guest appeared to let Eriksson go and concentrate on blocking Scott to give Dixon a chance. This worked out and Dixon cut inside Scott and tied up the heat.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Oliver Allen, Christian Henry, Mark Steel, Will Beveridge [60.8]
The two Monarchs were first away but Beveridge fell on the second bend and restarted. Christian Henry led for a lap or so with Allen in pursuit. Henry went rather wide on the second bend and Allen nipped though on the inside.
(2-4) (5-7)
Heat 3: Blair Scott, Peter Carr, Neil Collins, Claus Kristensen [59.3]
Blair Scott came in as rider replacement and shot out of the gate. Peter Carr joined he in front and he pair team rode to put Edinburgh ahead.
(5-1) (10-8)
Heat 4: Paul Fry, Kevin Little, Mark Steel, Will Beveridge [59.6]
The Swindon pair gated with Kevin Little making a dreadful start. Kevin passed Beveridge and had a go at Mark Steel. He found passing quite difficult despite appearing to have got inside the Swindon reserve on a couple of occasions. Kevin had a go off the last bend and took a tight decision on the line.
(2-4) (12-12)
Heat 5: Peter Carr, Robbie Kessler, Martin Dixon, Christian Henry [58.2]
Christian Henry came in as rider replacement. Carr won ahead of the Swindon pair and the scores remained level.
(3-3) (15-15)
Heat 6: Robert Eriksson, Blair Scott, Paul Fry [58.9]
Eriksson and Scott gated and won easily. Oliver Allen fell on the first/second bend but to his credit cleared his bike away despite Monarchs being on a 5-1.
(5-1) (20-16)
Heat 7: Claus Kristensen, Kevin Little, Neil Collins, Christian Henry [60.1]
Kevin Little made a fair start but Claus Kristensen had enough momentum from an outside sweep from gate 4 to pass on the back straight. Little won out after a good battle with Collins to take second place.
(2-4) (22-20)
Heat 8: Martin Dixon, Blair Scott, Mark Steel [60.3]
Martin Dixon won from the gate ahead of Blair Scott. Will Beveridge fell at the second bend and retired when in fourth place. This heat levelled the scores.
(2-4) (24-24)
Heat 9: Peter Carr, Paul Fry, Oliver Allen, Christian Henry [59.8]
Christian Henry came in for another rider replacement outing. Peter Carr won with Henry at the back.
(3-3) (27-27)
Heat 10: Blair Scott, Neil Collins, Claus Kristensen [60.7]
Eriksson's engine blew up spectacularly with a pyrotechnic display on the start line. Blair Scott gated and held off a challenge by Neil Collins.
(3-3) (30-30)
Heat 11: Martin Dixon, Kevin Little, Christian Henry [61.5]
In what is traditionally Edinburgh's weakest heat, Kevin Little gave the home supporters some hope when he found a gap between Dixon and Kessler on the first bend. In doing so he pushed Kessler very wide and it was no surprise when the German went down like Jurgen Klinsman. Christian Henry was just behind and ploughed into Kessler. To the surprise of many referee McLeod excluded Kessler from the re-run. Dixon made the gate in the rerun to keep the scores level.
(3-3) (33-33)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Neil Collins, Oliver Allen, Will Beveridge [61.1]
Beveridge made a fair start but was hit on the first bend and slipped to last place. Carr won as usual but Beveridge fell yet again on the second bend when trying to get back on terms but restarted to finish.
(3-3) (36-36)
Heat 13: Robert Eriksson, Kevin Little, Oliver Allen [61.7]
Robbie Kessler withdrew from this heat due to his injuries and Oliver Allen came in. Paul Fry gated ahead of Robert Eriksson on a Blair Scott bike. Allen led Little until Kevin forced his way through. Allen got into problems and slipped way off the pace. As Eriksson close in on Fry, the Swindon man suffered an engine failure gifting Monarchs a maximum and reviving their fading hopes of progress.
(5-1) (41-37)
Heat 14: Claus Kristensen, Kevin Little, Christian Henry, Oliver Allen [60.5]
After the cancellation of the two minute lights, Swindon replaced Steel with Allen. This looked a fair prospect for Monarchs to extend their lead with Little in as rider replacement but Kristensen made the start. Oliver Allen nearly fell after going too wide but eventually recovered. Little could make no impression on the Dane.
(3-3) (44-40)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Robert Eriksson, Martin Dixon, Paul Fry [59.4]
Peter Carr and Robert Eriksson made the gate to level the match on aggregate.
(5-1) (49-41)
Runoff: Martin Dixon [61.7]
Peter Carr had a great second bend to lead Dixon and was heading for certain victory when his engine blew on the fourth bend of the second lap.
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
3 |
E |
2 |
2* |
|
|
11+1 |
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
3 |
2* |
2 |
3 |
|
|
10+1 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
15 |
|
Ross Brady |
Rider replacement |
|
|
|
(5) |
|||
|
Kevin Little |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2* |
2 |
|
|
10+1 |
|
Christian Henry |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1* |
|
|
3+1 |
|
Will Beveridge |
0 |
0 |
F |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swindon |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Robbie Kessler |
2 |
2 |
X |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Martin Dixon |
1* |
1* |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
9+2 |
|
Neil Collins |
1* |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Claus Kristensen |
0 |
3 |
1* |
3 |
|
|
|
7+1 |
|
Paul Fry |
3 |
1 |
2 |
E |
0 |
|
6 |
|
|
Oliver Allen |
3 |
F |
1* |
1* |
1 |
0 |
|
6+2 |
|
Mark Steel |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
Monarchs were effectively a four-man team with the reserves not really in contention. Peter Carr was never challenged and Robert Eriksson also unbeaten apart from when his engine blew despite having to use borrowed equipment for two rides. Kevin Little failed to win a heat and was gifted some points and only beat Mark Steel, Neil Collins and Oliver Allen on the track. He was flattered by his paid 11 points.
Blair Scott was excellent value for a similar score. He dropped only one point to Dixon in four rides after trailing in heat one. This included an impressive win in heat 10 under pressure after Robert Eriksson never made it off the line. Will Beveridge struggled on the greasy surface and fell three times in four rides. Christian Henry found the going tough against the strong Swindon middle order.
Swindon again proved very able visitors at Armadale despite none of their heat leaders ever getting going. The three of them won only one heat between them. This was compensated by the excellent form of their second strings. Martin Dixon and Claus Kristensen both won a couple of heats each. With the impressive Oliver Allen also having a heat win and Mark Steel scoring with every ride, Monarchs were made to work very hard.
Man of the match: Peter Carr
Next meeting: Scottish Championship, Individual, Armadale on Friday 13th September 2000
John Lowe