Academy still at 100 per cent

REPORT Friday 4th September 2026, 11:49pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

The Monarchs Academy maintained their perfect record in this year's National Development League by beating Oxford Chargers 51-39 at Armadale. There were good performances throughout the side as usual though they were pushed perhaps harder than they expected by a visiting side deprived of the services of Darryl Ritchings, called away for a Longtrack commitment.

Home number one Jordy Loftus showed himself to be fully recovered after his recent concussion absence with a paid 12 score and he enjoyed his battles with visiting star Jody Scott. He said "It's always good to get a win. We all had mechanical issues but we got through it, we worked hard and kept pushing. I got a good jump on Jody in heat one and got the win, but in heat 13 I had an uncontrollable wheelie! In heat 15 I didn't expect him to cut back under, he surprised me going in to turn three. Fair play to him he's a good racer, but we're happy to stay unbeaten."

In the circumstances Oxford, brilliantly led by Scott with 14, did extremely well with Ashton Vale providing best backup but also plenty of potential shown by youngsters Senna Summers, Harry Fletcher and NDL debutant Casper Kluczniak, who was actually a guest for the Chargers.

There was plenty of entertaining racing. The opening heat saw quite a few changes of position after Summers initially led, and Scott came from last to finish close up with Loftus.

Jamie Halder was robbed of a heat 2 win by a bike problem when leading, which allowed Kluczniak to win what was his first ever National League race. There were also gremlins during the evening for Vinnie Foord who missed heat 5 when his time allowance ran out, and Dayle Wood who pulled out of heat 13.

There seemed to be some disagreement between Vale and Foord after heat 3, but the cause was not obvious. Vinnie's exclusion in heat 5 gave Scott and Summers the opportunity to record a 5-1 which reduced the Academy lead to 2 points, and it stayed that way until heat 8 which was a race win for Summers.

The Academy then asserted themselves with two successive 5-1s, heat 10 being the race of the night. Ashton Vale had led but Jordy Loftus swept past down the back straight. Ben Whalley then took up the chase on Vale and brilliantly took him on the outside, with Vale just missing out in his attempt to use the same line on the final turn.

Over the closing heats the Academy had too many strong men for the visitors other than Scott, and the final result wasn't in much doubt. Foord (Monarch of the Match) and Wood were strong along with Loftus, while Whalley and reserve Jamie Halder were more than useful.

Jody Scott did get the better of the home heat leaders in heats 13 and 15 though, and while the spoils went to the home side Chargers can be very satisfied with their display.

Full Result Details