Speedway – Monarchs washed out

The Staggs Bar Monarchs were due to race their first match in the Championship Shield on Friday, writes Mike Hunter, with Workington Comets providing the opposition, but the match was postponed because of heavy rain.

It’s a much changed Comets’ lineup from last season with only captain Ty Proctor remaining from the team which visited last September.

Joel Andersson who took a heavy knock and missed his final ride last week is intending to ride. He is practising in Poland on Thursday and is due to fly in for the meeting.

Matt Williamson (Monarchs) and Dan Bewley (Comets) will line up against their former clubs and New Zealander Bradley Wilson-Dean is a strong guest replacement for the injured Mason Campton in the visiting side. The teams also race at Workington on Saturday with Shield points again at stake.

New Monarch Matt looked forward to the matches, saying: “I had a great time at Workington but we have moved on to pastures new now,

STAGGS BAR MONARCHS: Ricky Wells, Max Ruml, Mark Riss, Joel Andersson, Erik Riss (captain), Matt Williamson, Josh Pickering.

WORKINGTON: Rene Bach, Rasmus Jensen, Ty Proctor (captain), Dan Bewley, Nicolai Klindt, Kyle Bickley, Bradley Wilson-Dean (Guest).

Following the senior match, there will be a Northern Junior League match between the Dale Devils and Workington. Theo Pijper’s son Ace (Devils), and Carl Stonehewer’s son Beau (Comets), race in this 6-heat event.