High Five For Monarchs Academy

REPORT Thursday 6th August 2026, 10:30pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

Edinburgh Monarchs Academy made it five out of five on the year so far extending their lead at the top of the National Development League table as they ran out 16 point victors at Kings Lynn on Thursday night.

The result all the more remarkable given a frantic last 24 hours that saw both Jordy Loftus and James Shanes need to withdraw after picking up knocks elsewhere.

Such is the spirit in the Academy camp though that what looked like a potential banana skin turned into another powerful victory leaving Dayle Wood who recorded a hat trick of heat wins on the night to say after, "I think we were maybe underestimated a little tonight without Jordy and James but we all got together, worked together, we made really good starts and we showed what we can do.

"Scott (Wilson) does really well and never lets us get down, he worked his butt off to get the team together but also he told us he had the faith in us that we could cover the rider replacement for Jordy.

"I have to give a thanks to Ashton (Vale) as well for stepping in he was excellent and came into the team like he was a part of it but yeah we all rode really well, we kept the winning streak going and it is onto the next one."

As has been the case in all matches so far it was a true team effort with five of the six riders on show for the Academy recording paid double figures and Annika Loftus chipping in in heat two the only time she came up against opposing counterpart Dylan Huthwaite.

In fact it was this Loftus third place in heat two backing up a Jamie Halder win that gave the Monarchs a lead they would never relinquish.

This coming after a heat one spill for former Academy man Kyran Lyden that saw the Teesider need to withdraw, hopefully a speedy recovery for the likeable Lyden.

Heat maximums from excellent guest Ashton Vale and top scorer Vinnie Foord in heat three and Foord and Ben Whalley who's move into the main body of the team had no impact on his scoring in heat five gave the visitors an eight point lead at this point and the stage had been set to take the spoils.

Home number one Simon Lambert was in excellent form though and he would keep his side in it as he raced to victory in each of his first four races, however with only Jake Mulford offering any consistent back-up things always felt in hand for the Academy.

Heat eleven would all but confirm the victory as Wood and Whalley combined for another Monarchs maximum handing Mulford his first defeat of the night, this meaning a 14 point lead.

Lambert and Mulford would get a consolation maximum of their own in heat 13 but boss Scott Wilson has built a ruthless outfit this year and they would not let up finishing with another pair of heat advantages with Wood taking the final word ruining Lambert's maximum hopes in the last.

As it stands Wilson and his side now face a few weeks off before a busy September that will include a pivotal looking home and away double header against second placed Leicester.

Kings Lynn Young Stars 37 : Lambert 14, Lyden 0, Simpson 4+1, Ingram 2+1, Mulford 9+1, Huthwaite 0, Roberts 8

Edinburgh Monarchs Academy 53 : J Loftus r/r, Whalley 9+3, Vale 9+3, Foord 13, Wodd 12, A Loftus 1, J Halder 9+2

Full Result Details