Glasgow Tigers 45: Edinburgh Monarchs 44
Premier National Trophy
Saracen Park, Ashfield
Sunday 6th May 2001
One point winning margins are very rare in speedway. Having lost by 45 points to 44 to Glasgow in the Premier National Trophy last year and followed this up with a 47-46 defeat in the Premier League, the odds of it happening for a third time must have been reduced. Well it did happen again after the obligatory last heat decider.
The match had a moment of controversy in heat two when Scott Courtney was awarded two points despite not being under power when the race was stopped. Whether this had any impact on the outcome is unclear as Edinburgh did use Jan Andersen as a tactical substitute subsequently.
There were suggestions that Grieves stopped on the line deliberately in heat 13 to ensure that Monarchs could not use Carr and Eriksson as tactical substitutes in heat 14. If this was the plan it failed as the previously uncompetitive René Aas pulled off a shock win over Mark Courtney. Arguably Monarchs lost because Robert Eriksson experienced engine troubles in his last two rides.
However the real reason for the loss was that Monarchs' middle and bottom end failed to provide sufficient support for Peter Carr and Robert Eriksson. Monarchs' riders won ten of the fifteen heats but once more missed out on the minor points.
The weather was warm and bright. The track was well watered and slick.
Both teams were at full strength with Glasgow having Les and Aidan Collins in the teams despite recent injuries.
Gate position A was in used with Glasgow off 1 and 3 for the first heat.
Heat 1: Robert Eriksson, Les Collins, Stuart Swales, Blair Scott [59.5]
Robert Eriksson burst from gate 2 and never gave Les Collins a chance. Blair Scott was well adrift in fourth place.
(3-3) (3-3)
Heat 2: Christian Henry, Scott Courtney [Awarded]
Derek Sneddon led for two laps until Aidan Collins tried to pass and knocked Derek off. The race was stopped and Collins excluded. In the re-run, Christian Henry and Derek Sneddon led initially but Scott Courtney passed Sneddon. Then Sneddon fell and Courtney stopped. In a bizarre ending both riders eventually tried to push home but by then the race had been stopped and Sneddon excluded. Scott Courtney was not under power at the time when the heat was stopped yet was not excluded by referee Peet. When a similar thing happened in heat 13 of the Armadale leg, Robert Eriksson was excluded.
(2-3) (5-6)
Heat 3: Peter Carr, Emiliano Sanchez, Mark Courtney, René Aas [59.6]
Emiliano Sanchez gated but Peter Carr surged past to lead by the second bend and won by miles. René Aas was well behind.
(3-3) (8-9)
Heat 4: James Grieves, Jan Andersen, Derek Sneddon [61.7]
Scott Courtney fell when lying thing and caused the race to be stopped and was excluded for his trouble. In the re-run, Grieves won from Andersen in a processional race.
(3-3) (11-12)
Heat 5: Robert Eriksson, Emiliano Sanchez, Mark Courtney, Blair Scott [61.7]
Sanchez took an obvious 'flyer' but was not called back. In any event Robert Eriksson was ahead by the second bend to win as he pleased. Blair Scott was well out of things again.
(3-3) (14-15)
Heat 6: Les Collins, Stuart Swales, Jan Andersen, Christian Henry [60.7]
Jan Andersen tried to move Les Collins over but only succeeded in letting Swales through. This put Glasgow into the lead for the first time.
(5-1) (19-16)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, James Grieves, Aidan Collins, René Aas [61.2]
Peter Carr was untouchable once more. René Aas gated and was with Peter until he was easily brushed aside by first Grieves and then Aidan Collins.
(3-3) (22-19
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Stuart Swales, Christian Henry, Scott Courtney [62.3]
Christian Henry replaced Derek Sneddon as a reserve change. Blair Scott partially atoned for his first two rides with a sharp gate and four good laps to beat Swales. Christian Henry passed Scott Courtney to take third place.
(2-4) (24-23)
Heat 9: Mark Courtney, Emiliano Sanchez, Jan Andersen, Derek Sneddon [61.4]
Jan Andersen missed the gate and was well beaten as Monarchs slipped behind again.
(5-1) (29-24)
Heat 10: Peter Carr, Les Collins, Stuart Swales, René Aas [60.1]
Peter Carr took his third straight win but had to ride a bit harder to keep Les Collins out.
(3-3) (32-27)
Heat 11: James Grieves, Robert Eriksson, Aidan Collins, Blair Scott [62.1]
Grieves gated and held off Robert Eriksson. Blair Scott back to earlier form.
(4-2) (36-29)
Heat 12: Peter Carr, Jan Andersen, Emiliano Sanchez, Scott Courtney [61.1]
Jan Andersen was introduced as a tactical substitute for Christian Henry and backed up Peter Carr to a 5-1 holding off Sanchez after a good start and a keeping a tight line.
(1-5) (37-34)
Heat 13: Les Collins, Robert Eriksson, Jan Andersen [61.7]
James Grieves stopped on the line as Eriksson gated from Collins. Jan Andersen slowed but got going again. Robert Eriksson was clearly toiling with engine problems and Les Collins came through to win.
(3-3) (40-37)
Heat 14: René Aas, Mark Courtney, Christian Henry, Aidan Collins [62.3]
René Aas finally produced his first win after an excellent ride to beat Mark Courtney. Christian Henry had a good third ahead of Aidan Collins to set up the last heat decider with both the match and the aggregate bonus point at stake.
(2-4) (42-41)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Les Collins, James Grieves [61.3]
Edinburgh won the toss for gate position and took 1 and 3. Carr and Eriksson took advantage of this to gate and appeared to be set to deliver a win for Edinburgh. However Eriksson's engine problems struck with his engine on the point of seizing. He was passed by both Collins and Grieves before retiring on the last lap.
(3-3) (45-44)
|
Glasgow Tigers |
|
|
|
||||
|
Les Collins |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
12 |
|
Stuart Swales |
1' |
2' |
2 |
1' |
|
|
6+3 |
|
Emiliano Sanchez |
2 |
2 |
2' |
1 |
|
|
7+1 |
|
Mark Courtney |
1* |
1' |
3 |
2 |
|
|
7+2 |
|
James Grieves |
3 |
2 |
3 |
R |
1' |
|
9+1 |
|
Aidan Collins |
X |
1' |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
2+1 |
|
Scott Courtney |
2 |
X |
0 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
R |
|
10 |
|
Blair Scott |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
René Aas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
Jan Andersen |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2' |
1' |
|
7+2 |
|
Christian Henry |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
5 |
|
Derek Sneddon |
X |
1' |
0 |
|
|
|
1+1 |
Once more Peter Carr came up with an immaculate maximum. Only Robert Eriksson was able to offer consistent support. Or at least he did until his bike started playing up in heats 13 and 15. Jan Andersen failed to win a heat and was on the wrong end of a couple of 5-1s.
Blair Scott and René Aas both toiled finishing last in each of their races apart from pulling off wins in heat 8 and 14 respectively. Christian Henry won heat 2 and also won a couple of good points from the back. Derek Sneddon was knocked off with heat 2 within his grasp and struggled a bit after that.
The Glasgow riders scored consistently across the board apart from their two reserves although no one came near to beating Carr.
John Lowe with thank to Mike Hunter for heat comments