Glasgow Tigers 46: Edinburgh Monarchs 44
Scottish Masters Challenge
Saracen Park, Ashfield
Sunday 8th July 2001
This match was plunged into controversy when the 13-heat format was changed at the last minute to a more conventional 15-heat pattern with the addition of two nominated heats. The second-half individual knock out event was scrapped. Apart from the confusion created with supporters trying to amend their programmes it lost the Challenge its credibility. Many blamed the Glasgow riders, particularly James Grieves, for undermining the agreed format by refusing to appear in the second half event.
How can an event be run with 13 heats in one leg and 15 heats in the second? Even worse, the minimum ride rule was changed from two rides at Armadale to three rides at Ashfield. In a format where reserves were only programmed for three rides and others for four, it severely restricted Edinburgh's tactical options at Ashfield. Only two tactical substitutions (for second strings) were possible and reserve changes were almost impossible. By contrast at Armadale Glasgow were able to use four tactical substitutions and also made several reserve changes. Arguably this cost Monarchs the match as they had no option to bring Rory Schlein in as a reserve change in heat 13 rather then the much faster Ben Shields.
Monarchs looked like going down to a big defeat as the home heat leaders dominated the early races. Ben Shields in heat 2 was Monarchs only winner in the first seven heats as Glasgow opened an 8-point lead. As the meeting went on Monarchs fought back as Adrian Rymel and Jan Andersen started to get the measure of the track. Tactical substitutions were used to effect in heats eight and nine. Monarchs closed the gap and levelled in heat 12. After swapping heat advantages in 13 and 14 it was set up for a last heat decider on 42-42. Sanchez and Collins delivered the required 4-2 for Glasgow to win.
Edinburgh had no problem in winning the challenge by 91 points to 77 despite the movement of the goalposts. This was ignored by the Glasgow meeting presenter who only mentioned the second leg win.
The evening was dry and warm. The track was in good condition. The racing was processional in the early heats but improved as the meeting went on.
Glasgow tracked the same team as for the first leg with Henning Bager continuing at number two. Edinburgh were again without Peter Carr and Dalle Andersson. Adrian Rymel and Rory Schlein came in. Ben Shields had recovered from his fall at Armadale and competed after being discharged from hospital on Saturday.
Gate position A was in used with Glasgow off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Les Collins, Robert Eriksson, Christian Henry, Henning Bager [60.3]
Les Collins shot out of the gate and was away. Christian Henry burst around the outside of Henning Bager on the first bend and team-rode with Robert Eriksson to keep the Dane at the back.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Ben Shields, Derek Sneddon, Simon Cartwright [60.6]
Ben Shields made a fast start and pulled away from the field in an impressive win. Rory Schlein made a fair start but was at the back by the second. He tried to come back with a series of inside line surges off the fourth bend but couldn't quite get in touch with Cartwright and fell on the last bend having one last try.
(3-3) (6-6)
Heat 3: James Grieves, Aidan Collins, Jan Andersen, Blair Scott [61.6]
Jan Andersen gated ahead of Grieves and Scott. Grieves soon passed Andersen and Collins got the better of Scott before setting about Andersen. It seemed like it was going to finish that order when Andersen nearly lost on the fourth bend of the last lap. He recovered but Collins took advantage of the lapse to pass.
(5-1) (11-7)
Heat 4: Emiliano Sanchez, Adrian Rymel, Ben Shields, Simon Cartwright [61.7]
Sanchez won in impressive style ahead of Rymel while Shields had few problems in staying ahead of Cartwright.
(3-3) (14-10)
Heat 5: James Grieves, Robert Eriksson, Aidan Collins, Christian Henry [61.3]
Grieves got the better of Eriksson and Aidan Collins beat Christian Henry to put Glasgow six points up.
(4-2) (18-12)
Heat 6: Les Collins, Adrian Rymel, Henning Bager, Rory Schlein [61.0]
Les Collins won another heat ahead of Rymel and Bager.
(4-2) (22-14)
Heat 7: Emiliano Sanchez, Jan Andersen, Blair Scott, Simon Cartwright [61.8]
Sanchez won again ahead of Jan Andersen. The out-of-touch Blair Scott had a better ride to stay ahead of Cartwright.
(3-3) (25-17)
Heat 8: Robert Eriksson, Henning Bager, Ben Shields, Derek Sneddon [62.1]
Robert Eriksson came in as a tactical substitute for Henry. Eriksson and Shields gated and it looked like a Monarchs 5-1 until Henning Bager passed Ben Shields on the back straight.
(2-4) (27-21)
Heat 9: Jan Andersen, Adrian Rymel, Aidan Collins [62.5]
Jan Andersen came in as a tactical substitute for Rory Schlein. Andersen and Rymel made the gate. James Grieves tried and outside pass on the second bend but hit the fence. He was excluded from the re-run that was won easily by Andersen and Rymel.
(1-5) (28-26)
Heat 10: Les Collins, Jan Andersen, Henning Bager, Blair Scott [62.4]
This looked like a tied heat with Andersen out in front ahead of Collins and Bager. Les had other ideas and pulled off a trademark surge off the last bend to pass Andersen just before the lines.
(4-2) (32-28)
Heat 11: Emiliano Sanchez, Robert Eriksson, Christian Henry, Derek Sneddon [61.8]
Sanchez and Sneddon gated but Eriksson burst past Sneddon on the back straight. Christian Henry also passed Sneddon with an outside sweep off the fourth bend.
(3-3) (35-31)
Heat 12: Adrian Rymel, Jan Andersen, Les Collins, Aidan Collins [61.5]
Monarchs' guest Rymel was starting to find some form. He gated alongside Andersen and produced a second successive 5-1 for the pairing as the scores were level.
(1-5) (36-36)
Heat 13: Emiliano Sanchez, Robert Eriksson, James Grieves, Rory Schlein [62.2]
Edinburgh had no choice but to replace Blair Scott with Rory Schlein to give the Australian his third ride. Eriksson gated and led for much of the race until Sanchez passed him on the third bend of the last lap. Grieves showed his usual petulance by trying to run Eriksson off the track after the flag.
(4-2) (40-38)
Heat 14: Adrian Rymel, Henning Bager, Ben Shields, Aidan Collins [61.7]
Rymel and Shields gated but Henning Bager showed his passing skill to split the Monarchs pairing.
(2-4) (42-42)
Heat 15: Emiliano Sanchez, Jan Andersen, Les Collins, Robert Eriksson [61.5]
Edinburgh won the toss for gate position and took 1 and 3. Andersen and Eriksson made the start but Sanchez swept past to lead. Les Collins won the match for Glasgow with another burst off the last bend that somehow took him past Eriksson.
(4-2) (46-44)
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|
||||
|
Les Collins |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
11 |
|
Henning Bager |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
6 |
|
Emiliano Sanchez |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
Aidan Collins |
2* |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
4+1 |
|
James Grieves |
3 |
3 |
X |
1 |
|
|
7 |
|
Simon Cartwright |
1* |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
Derek Sneddon |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
|
Christian Henry |
1* |
0 |
1* |
|
|
|
2+2 |
|
Adrian Rymel |
2 |
2 |
2* |
3 |
3 |
|
12+1 |
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
1* |
0 |
|
|
|
1+1 |
|
Jan Andersen |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2* |
2 |
12+1 |
|
Rory Schlein |
F |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Ben Shields |
3 |
1' |
1 |
1 |
|
|
6+1 |
For once Edinburgh lost at Glasgow due to lack of heat winners. Edinburgh riders won only five heats, two from Rymel, one each from Eriksson, Andersen and Shields. In past defeats, it has usually been nearer ten heat wins. The absence of Peter Carr and Dalle Andersson goes a long way to explain that. The Monarchs lower orders, especially Ben Shields contributed more points than usual.
Rymel proved a good choice of guest dropping only two points and finishing strongly. Eriksson wasn't quite at his best Ashfield form. Jan Andersen had a fairly good meeting apart from a dreadful first ride but did look rather vulnerable from the back.
Christian Henry did little wrong but missed out on heat eight due to a tactical substitution. Blair Scott was again disappointing. Ben Shields looked very sharp out of the gate and clocked a fast time winning heat two. He scored in all four of his rides. Rory Schlein was always in touch but failed to make a start.
Emiliano Sanchez was very impressive taking a 15-point maximum. Les Collins also did well as did Henning Bager and Aidan Collins. James Grieves was let down by his attitude and seemed more concerned with pursuing personal vendettas against Eriksson and Andersen. It is not hard to see why his average has plummeted since his controversial departure from Armadale.
Neither Cartwright not Sneddon impressed and only gained points at the expense of Rory Schlein in heat 2.
Man of the match: Emiliano Sanchez
John Lowe