Perfect Ten For Academy

REPORT Saturday 17th October 2026, 9:52pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

Monarchs Academy completed a historic season making it ten wins out of ten in running out 53-37 victors at Leicester on Saturday evening.

The magnitude of this achievement not lost on team boss Scott Wilson who when asked his feelings after beamed, "It feels amazing, obviously we knew we had won the league a couple of meetings ago and the goal immediately became can we go unbeaten.

"Everybody was really motivated and we saw that tonight. Leicester are a very very good team but we did it convincingly.

"All the way to heat 15 we were still passing and we were just so driven. To win the championship and go unbeaten I'm just very proud of the entire group."

With the league title wrapped up prior to last month's visit to Oxford and this trip to Leicester it is a testament to the winning culture instilled by Wilson that the foot was not taken of the gas and this was on show from the off in this one as the Academy took charge from the get go.

Heats wins in each of the first three races from guest Jake Mulford, Jamie Halder and James Shanes with heat advantages in two of these meant the lead was six already.

A further heat seven five one from Shanes and Ben Whalley increased the lead to eight and the Academy were stretching their legs.

There were further heat wins for Jordy Loftus who became the youngest ever to captain an Edinburgh side at any level, Mulford and Vinnie Foord meaning six of the seven Academy riders had taken at least one checkered flag on the night had the gap at 12 prior to a heat 13 that was probably the race of the night.

Home number five Ryan Ingram was away best and untroubled but the action was all behind the 16 year old as partner Dan Gilkes settled into second place.

Loftus was hot in pursuit getting into second entering the last lap, the action not done yet as Foord would then pip Gilkes on the line for third.

A shared heat 14 confirmed second place in the table for the hosts but final word would go as it has done all season to the Armadale side as Loftus and Foord would take a maximum to mean a 16 point win on the night.

So, the end of a truly remarkable season for Edinburgh Monarchs Academy as they finish with an unblemished record and an astounding average margin of victory of over 20 points per meeting, a year of dominance that would be hard to find a comparison to.

Leicester Lion Cubs 37: Gilkes 10, Perry r/r, Morley 10+1, Norman 5+2, Ingram 8, Betty 3+1, Meadows 1+1

Edinburgh Monarchs Academy 53 : J Loftus 11+1, Mulford 9, Shanes 8+1, Whalley 9+1, Foord 10+2, A Loftus 0, Halder 6+1