Double delight takes Academy close to title

REPORT Saturday 12th September 2026, 0:23am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

The Edinburgh Monarchs Academy performed majestically at Armadale tonight winning both matches in their double header, beating closest rivals Leicester by an astonishing 65-25 and then Buxton by 59-31.

Team manager Scott Wilson said afterwards "It was beyond my wildest expectations. Obviously I have so much belief in this team but I could not have imagined that. The determination that they rode with tonight, nobody was beaten when they were behind. I'm so, so proud of them.

"To get a score like that against a good side, and then have the energy to go again and almost put up 60, I don't have the words to describe how proud and happy I am."

The whole team rode brilliantly and Wilson was not keen to highlight any one performance out, but he did have a special word for guest rider Ashton Vale who scored maximums in both fixtures. "It was a full team effort tonight but you have to single Ashton out. For a guest to come in and to ride with such determination and aggression, when he isn't riding for his own team, I can't speak highly enough of him, on and off track he just slotted in to the team."

It had been disappointing to learn pre-match that Leicester would be under strength for the big showdown between the top two sides, but in all honesty the Academy overwhelmed Leicester so totally that it's hard to see that the missing men would have made a significant difference.

The home team gated superbly, and when they didn't gate they fought so hard to come from the back. Even riders as experienced at this level as Ben Morley and Max Perry had virtually no answer. Ben Whalley had a tremendous ride from the back to pass Mosley in heat 6, Ashton Vale rode an almost unbelievable wide first turn in heat 9 to also round Morley, and Whalley was irresistible again passing Perry in heat 10.

Perry did manage to win one race when he beat Dayle Wood in heat 7, but that was the only chequered flag the Lion Cubs took all night. The Academy had four paid maximums (Loftus, Whalley, Vale and Foord) and Dayle Wood dropped just one point. The most disappointing moment of the night came in heat 15 when Jamie Halder, such a hard working contributor, stopped on the final lap to miss out on being the fifth paid maximum scorer.

Everyone knew from the start of the season that the Academy team was very strong, but to that they have added immense determination and team spirit. Armadale has not seen many more complete team performances in its 30 years of racing than this one, totally memorable.

Full Result Details