Edinburgh Monarchs 59: Stoke Potters 30
Premier National Trophy
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 30th March 2001
Edinburgh recovered from the blow of losing Robert Eriksson in a heat one crash to secure a big win over Stoke. The Potters also lost Paul Pickering in the same incident and were hampered by machine problems suffered by top rider Jan Stæchmann for much of the meeting.
Jan Andersen and Peter Carr picked up routine maximums but it was the Monarchs lower order that starred with Blair Scott, Christian Henry, and Derek Sneddon all picking up big scores. Scott and Henry scored plenty of points from the back and produced some memorable passes.
The scoreline may give the impression of a one-sided meeting but the racing was superb especially when Blair Scott, Christian Henry, Tony Atkin and Mark Burrows were on the track.
Monarchs' reserves were overworked following the injuries to Eriksson and the withdrawal of Ben Shields. Stoke had less problems covering Pickering's rides with tactical substitutions being available.
Stoke were at full strength while Edinburgh used rider replacement for the injured Ben Shields.
Gate position B was in used with Edinburgh off 2 and 4 for the first heat after Peter Carr lost the toss.
Heat 1: Blair Scott, Jon Armstrong [61.6]
Robert Eriksson was quickest away and went around the outside of Paul Pickering on the first bend. Blair Scott was also well away from gate 4 and looked set to challenge Pickering for second place. Eriksson hit trouble coming out of the first bend and was hit by Pickering and the other two riders. Pickering lay trapped under the fence for some time and a long delay followed while the fence was repaired and Robert and Paul received treatment from the doctor. Eventually they were transferred to the ambulances and Robert was sent to hospital for checks.
The heat was re-run with Eriksson excluded and Neil Painter replacing the injured Pickering. Scott appeared to be on his way when he gated from the outside trap and swept past Armstrong only for Painter to hit him in virtually the same spot that Eriksson came to grief and they went down. Painter was excluded and Scott recovered from being brought down twice to win the second re-run.
(3-2) (3-2)
Heat 2: Derek Sneddon, Christian Henry, Dean Felton, Neil Painter [61.1]
Derek Sneddon made a great start with Christian Henry in close attendance. Neil Painter made an attempt to get amongst them but fell and remounted. Dean Felton was unable to mount a challenge.
(5-1) (8-3)
Heat 3: Blair Scott, Jan Andersen, Tony Atkin, Mark Burrows [60.8]
Blair Scott came in as rider replacement and blasted ahead and backed up by Jan Andersen secured a second home 5-1. Mark Burrows fell and restarted.
(5-1) (13-4)
Heat 4: Peter Carr, Jan Stæchmann, Derek Sneddon, Neil Painter [59.5]
Peter Carr made was untroubled from the start but it was Derek Sneddon who surprised by outgating Jan Stæchmann and staying ahead for a lap before the Dane came trough to chase Carr.
(4-2) (17-6)
Heat 5: Jan Andersen, Christian Henry, Dean Felton, Jon Armstrong [61.2]
Christian Henry replaced Ben Shields as rider replacement. Jan Andersen made a fast start to win by a big margin. Christian Henry made a very poor start but set off after Armstrong and eventually passed him. Dean Felton looked certain to take second until Henry pulled of an outrageous pass off the last bend to take a paid win to earn the acclaim of the crowd.
(5-1) (22-7)
Heat 6: Blair Scott, Dean Felton, Jan Stæchmann, Derek Sneddon [61.1]
Derek Sneddon came in for Eriksson as a reserve change. It was the Stoke riders who made the gate with Felton ahead and Stæchmann protecting his back from the challenge of Blair Scott. A Stoke 5-1 looked inevitable with the team riding pairing ensuring that there was no way through for Scott. Then on the back straight of the last lap Scott managed to get past the Dane but there seemed no way that he could also pass Felton. However in a move that may have even exceeded that of Henry in the previous heat, Blair blasted past Felton just before the line.
(3-3) (25-10)
Heat 7: Peter Carr, Tony Atkin, Mark Burrows, Christian Henry [59.1]
Carr was away from the start with Henry at the back. Christian had a go a Burrows but could make no progress.
(3-3) (28-13)
Heat 8: Blair Scott, Tony Atkin, Jon Armstrong, Derek Sneddon [60.6]
Tony Atkin came in as a tactical substitute for Painter. The Stoke pairing made the start once more but Blair Scott picked them off to take his fourth straight win.
(3-3) (31-16)
Heat 9: Jan Andersen, Christian Henry, Dean Felton, Neil Painter [59.7]
Christian Henry came in as rider replacement. Jan Stæchmann was excluded under two minutes and replaced by Painter. Andersen and Henry took yet another home 5-1 against the visiting reserves.
(5-1) (36-17)
Heat 10: Mark Burrows, Blair Scott, Derek Sneddon [61.6]
Derek Sneddon came in to replace Eriksson. Blair Scott gated and seemed sure to collect a 15 point full maximum. However Mark Burrows reeled him in and passed on the third lap to secure the first race win for the visitors. Derek Sneddon pressed Atkin all the way and was rewarded when Atkin lost things going into the last bend. Derek was forced to lay down but was awarded third place.
(3-3) (39-20)
Heat 11: Peter Carr, Christian Henry, Jon Armstrong [58.5]
Peter Carr won again while most of the attention was focussed on Christian Henry's attempt to pass Jan Stæchmann who was in as a tactical substitute. Eventually Henry passed on the back straight but the Dane looked to be in trouble and slowed down and retired.
(5-1) (44-21)
Heat 12: Jan Andersen, Mark Burrows, Dean Felton, Derek Sneddon [60.5]
Jan Andersen took his rider replacement heat and took yet another heat win. Mar Burrows pushed hard as Dean Felton passed the tiring Sneddon to tie the heat.
(3-3) (47-24)
Heat 13: Peter Carr, Mark Burrows, Jon Armstrong [58.7]
Christian Henry replaced Eriksson while Burrows came in as a tactical substitute for Pickering. Jan Stæchmann looked to be in danger of being two minuted once more when he was replaced by tactical substitute Jon Armstrong. Carr was an easy winner as the crowd were enthralled by the battle for second place. Henry appeared set to join Carr in front until he made a mistake allowing Burrows and Armstrong to pass. Henry came back and passed Armstrong and set off after Burrows. Henry and Burrows has a 'wall of death' style battle lasting more a lap with Henry appearing to have passed on the outside when his engine blew.
(3-3) (50-27)
Heat 14: Jan Andersen, Tony Atkin, Derek Sneddon, Neil Painter [60.4]
Derek Sneddon replaced Christian Henry as a reserve change presumably because of his engine problems. Jan Andersen took another win ahead of Tony Atkin while Sneddon in his seventh ride held off Neil Painter.
(4-2) (54-29)
Heat 15: Peter Carr, Jan Andersen, Tony Atkin [60.9]
Carr and Andersen faced Atkin and Burrows with the Monarchs pair on gates 1 and 3 making the start. Burrows fell on the second bend and was excluded. Carr and Andersen made no mistake in the re-run to complete personal maximums.
(5-1) (59-30)
|
Edinburgh Monarchs |
|
|
|
|||||
|
Robert Eriksson |
X |
N |
N |
N |
|
0 |
||
|
Blair Scott |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
14 |
|
|
Ben Shields |
Rider replacement |
|
(10+2) |
|||||
|
Jan Andersen |
2* |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2* |
|
16+2 |
|
Peter Carr |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
15 |
|
|
Christian Henry |
2* |
2* |
0 |
2* |
2* |
E |
|
8+4 |
|
Derek Sneddon |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1* |
0 |
1 |
6+1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stoke Potters |
|
|
|
|||||
|
Paul Pickering |
N |
N |
N |
N |
|
|
0 |
|
|
Jon Armstrong |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
5+1 |
|
|
Mark Burrows |
0 |
1* |
3 |
2 |
2 |
X |
|
8+1 |
|
Tony Atkin |
1 |
2 |
2 |
X |
2 |
1 |
8 |
|
|
Jan Stæchmann |
2 |
1* |
M |
R |
N |
|
3+1 |
|
|
Dean Felton |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1* |
|
6+1 |
|
|
Neil Painter |
X |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
The heat one crash took the gloss off what was a tremendous match with riders of both teams gave their all. Edinburgh had only five riders but all did all that could be expected of them and more. Peter Carr was never threatened on his way to a five ride full maximum. Jan Andersen produced a six-ride paid maximum in only his second Armadale meeting. Blair Scott was really close to a 15-point full maximum in arguably his finest ever performance in his sixth season as a Monarch. Even the injured Ben Shields had a paid maximum in absentia. His four rides produced two wins for Scott and Andersen and two paid wins for Christian Henry
Christian Henry also had much is best meeting for Edinburgh. His paid 12 score could easily have been much more but for his engine blow in heat 13 as he was poised to take second place behind Carr. This also deprived him of a heat 14 outing where he would have fancied himself to score points against Tony Atkin and Neil Painter. Derek Sneddon also produced a great display although tiredness took its toll and undoubtedly cost him points.
Stoke were obviously suffering from the injury to Pickering and the bike troubles for Jan Stæchmann. The Dane was two minuted once, stopped once, and replaced once when it seemed that an exclusion was coming. The rest of the team buckled down and all got amongst the points with the exception of Painter. Atkin looked the pick of the visitors but Burrows came through strongly especially when passing Scott to rob him of a big maximum.
Man of the match: Blair Scott
Most exciting rider: Christian Henry
John Lowe