Best win of the season

REPORT Saturday 15th August 2026, 0:13am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Monarchs scored their best victory of the season tonight against the Champions and League leaders Poole. Boosted by a strong start, and perhaps mindful that they have let a few points slip recently, Monarchs showed a steely determination to finish the job this time.

Captain Paco Castagna was the man who actually clinched the points by winning heat 14. He said "Feels amazing, a lot better than last week! I feel we could have won by more but we needed the win and I'll take that every day of the week. They are a strong side, I know they didn't have a full side but we didn't either – we missed Jordy who had been doing so well at home.

"I feel it was a very good meeting. We got to a stage where they got a tactical and came back at us but we had a team talk, we put our heads down and kept plugging away. I feel that in the heats we have struggled in the past like 12,13,14 we went out and did well.

"I'm fairly happy about myself tonight, 9 points on an engine that nearly went on me in heat 14. I feel like I've got confidence back that was missing a couple of months ago. Very proud, blue and gold, another win!"

The home side made such a strong start that they went ten points up by heat 4. Jonatan Grahn as he so often does won the opening race with a great start, and Dan Thompson skilfully worked his way past the Pirates' pair to settle in behind him.

Poole's new reserve pair of Slater Lightcap and Eddie Kennett looked like levelling up until the very impressive American ground to a halt in heat 2. After a Sedgmen – Castagna maximum in heat 3 there was another Pirates' gremlin with Kennett dropping out of heat 4. Monarchs' guest Darryl Ritchings was the beneficiary of these two stoppages, completing the heats to score two vital points.

Lightcap showed how good he is by backing Zach Cook to a 5-1 over Monarchs opening pair in heat 6, and Kye Thomson made it two wins out of two in the next one.

The visiting reserves were paired up again for heat 8 but this time Grahn and Mitch Cluff were sharply away to deliver a 5-1 which restored the 10-point lead. That brought in the inevitable Lawson tac sub ride, and the 5-1 from Lawson and Cook narrowed the gap again. When Lewis Kerr won heat 10, then Lawson and Kennett took a 4-2 from Thomson in heat 11, Monarchs' four-point lead was looking precarious.

Once again Cluff was involved in a decisive heat 12, backing the fast gating Sedgmen for a 5-1. With an 8-point lead, victory was now in sight but it was crucial that Lawson and Cook did not get the better of heat 13, and it was Dan Thompson who ensured that with a great tapes-to-flag win in spite of the Pirates' s strong efforts.

All that was needed now was a second place in heat 14, and Paco Castagna led from the start. Edward Kennett chased so determindly, and actually passed the home man going in to the last turn, but Paco turned back and raced hard for the line to get the race win.

Poole had the aggregate bonus by then, and they finished with a 5-1 from their top two, but the result was a boost for the home fans who saw their team really fight for victory.

There was much attention on the visiting reserves and in truth, both were worth more than they finished with. Lightcap looks an excellent prospect, and the way Kennett was throwing his machine round the Armadale turns was quite amazing, considering he hadn't been there for over 10 years. His only problem is the gating part of the game – and that does matter.

Dan Bewley was a welcome visitor assisting Lightcap and he spoke fondly of his early days at Armadale.

Full Result Details