Victory grabbed at the last gasp

REPORT Friday 29th May 2026, 11:23pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

After a very hard-fought match in which all fourteen riders played their full part, Monarchs stormed to a heat 15 5-1 to grab a narrow 46-44 victory. That was the only time the home side had led, indeed they faced a six-point deficit in mid-match, but showing great resilience they clawed it back and forced a last heat decider.

Justin Sedgmen and Kye Thomson were the last heat heroes, with Sedgy just making the start and Kye sweeping around everyone after being at the back out of the second bend. There seemed precious little room with Sedgmen already on the wide line but Thomson managed to get round the Poole boys and squeeze inside his partner in a barnstorming ride.

Reserve Mitch Cluff was voted Monarch of the Match for the second match running after totalling 8 and winning the crucial heat 14. And yet he nearly didn't make the match!

Mitch said "I woke up yesterday with bad 'flu, I couldn't breathe, had a sore throat and I actually didn't want to be here earlier today. But I got on with the job and I knew if I put the kevlars on then I'd go for it.

"I had a good meeting, just one bad race, and I made a final change for 14 and it worked really well. Anything can happen in the second leg"

Scores were level after four heats with two race wins apiece, but Pirates then seemed to rake a grip on things with four of the next five race winners, holding a six-point lead after 9 heats.

Jonatan Grahn had already won two heats and got in front of unbeaten Lewis Kerr in heat 10. Guest Chris Harris and Kerr were battling for second when Kerr spun off, Harris doing well to swerve into the fence avoiding any serious damage to the fallen rider.

The rerun was the race of the night to that point, Harris having to pass the spirited Kyle Newman three times before clinching a paid win behind Grahn. That put a different complexion on things and a 4-2 from Thomson and Cluff over Lawson and Zischke levelled the scores!

Sedgmen got his first win in heat 12, but a 5-1 to the visitors' top two of Lawson and Cook in heat 13 put them in front again.

Cluff's win backed by Castagna in heat 14 cut the gap to two, setting the stage for the thrilling final heat by Sedgmen and Thomson.

Monarchs take their narrow advantage down to Poole on 10th June and while Poole will be favourites for the aggregate victory, Monarchs are a team of fighters and can't be counted out.

Full Result Details