Tigers will be tough as the season opens

NEWS Wednesday 8th April 2026, 6:14pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

After last week's disappointing double washout of the matches against Berwick home and away, Monarchs start up at Armadale on Friday with a visit from Glasgow Tigers who in the last few years have been there or thereabouts for virtually all the honours at Championship level.

This season should be no different for them as they once again have a strong side and it will be a test for the Monarchs. It should be two full strength teams and it will be the first match of the season for both sides though some of the riders have had meetings, notably the new Monarchs' number one Dan Thompson who won the Ben Fund Bonanza individual event at Glasgow.

Monarchs' captain Paco Castagna rides on Thursday night at Ipswich for his Premiership team King's Lynn and will then head up the road to lead the way for the Monarchs on Friday. It will be a first meeting in Monarchs' colours for Thompson and also for Mitch Cluff at reserve but the other home men are well known to the fans and very experienced on their own track.

Tigers appear to have no weak links other than the fact that their two highly-rated new second strings Mario Hausl and Kevin Juhl Pedersen have not ridden at Armadale before.

Monarchs team manager Alex Harkess comments "I'm sure Glasgow will bring a fair crowd and I hope the weather is much better than it's been. Glasgow's team will depend a lot on their two new riders in the middle of the team, and certainly the Danish lad Pedersen looked very good round their place in the Bonanza.

"But it's up to us to perform as we are capable of, that's what it is all about. Hopefully that will happen. The man that won the matches for them here last year is on our side this time!"

Friday's match will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 10th April: Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers (BSN Series, Armadale, 7:30pm)

ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (capt.), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Jordy Loftus.

ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Chris Harris (Capt.), Mario Hausl, Leon Flint, Kevin Juhl Pedersen, Kyle Howarth, Sam Hagon, Freddy Hodder.

Following the senior match the first Northern Junior League match of the season will be staged, West Lothian Wildcats v Ashfield Giants. Anika Loftus and Rocco Webb race for the Wildcats for the first time.

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