THE WITCHES ARE BACK – WITH BEN!

NEWS Tuesday 10th September 2013, 11:46am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs race an unusual home Tuesday meeting tonight as they face table-topping Ipswich Witches at Armadale – first race 7:30, complete with a sensational comeback from Ben Barker!

And just as good, Max Fricke will also be back after missing recent matches with his back injury. Liam Carr for Monarchs and Joe Jacobs for Witches will guest at reserve, otherwise the teams are at full strength for one of the key matches of the season.

It's the restaging of the rain-off from last Friday of course, and the match will be completed at the speediest possible pace to allow any schoolchildren with school next day their good night's sleep!

Yes, Ben Barker will be there – as many will have read by now, the diagnosis on his back injury sustained at Birmingham seems to have been inaccurate and any further treatment needed has been postponed. It's a huge boost for his table topping teams, Ipswich and Birmingham, as well as for the rider himself.

Ipswich are currently top of the table with Monarchs third, and the prize for teams making the top two is a chance to select the teams you want to race in the Playoffs which will decide the Premier League title.

Please remember to bring your programme from Friday if you bought one, because it will be re-used tonight, though there will be some on sale.

Also we will be holding the collection for the injured Mitchell Davey, with collecting buckets at the gates.

After tonight, the next meeting at Armadale is on FRIDAY, The DEREK SNEDDON TESTIMONIAL, with a 7:15 parade in order to ensure that we can pack everything in to an eventful night. Full details of the event to follow. Also please remember, SEASON TICKETS DO NOT APPLY TO TESTIMONIAL EVENTS, ie everyone has to pay admission on Friday. Advance tickets giving £1 discount still available this evening but NOT on line.