MATCH REPORT: Super strong Monarchs defeat Wolves

East Park’s track is looking good, dry and super smooth ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend’s Euro Club Championships – before that, the Wolves hosted the powerful Birmingham on Sunday. Four matches took place, great value for all the riders, as three matches were stretched to four on a chilly late-April day.

In Midland League Division 3, the East Park juniors managed 29 points. Captain John Walsh brought home 7 points, also did Chaviv Coleman and Alicia Gdowska. The mini Monarchs of Birmingham scored 51 and were the better team, with maximum scores from captain Connor Steel, Charlie Buet-Gannon, and a paid maximum from Rebekah Humphries on her brand new bike.

After a couple of scratch races, there was an challenge extra match for the juniors. The same riders mixed up to be “home team” versus “visitors”. Visitors won 46 to 34 in a closer match with no maximums scored. As East Park is a club with many juniors, the extra fixture went down well.

In Division One, the main event, East Park won the toss but unfortunately not one of the 18 races. The best rider on parade for the homeside was top scorer, with 12+1 was the ever green, wylie Bob Prince. A good display of riding the right line to keep the younger lads at bay.

Birmingham are a strong side any day, but today they were super strong. Five of the Monarch riders were unbeaten by the home side Nathan Groves, Chris TImms, Ewan Hancox, Mark Winwood (race of the day) and Paul Timms.

The rider who scored most points on the score sheet for Birmingham was rider number 8, and returning to his old track, Josh “Joshman” Hill, who surprised many riders. The final score was East Park 59, Birmingham Monarchs 121.

The Division Two encounter, the final match of the day, was by far the most exciting. Captain Brendan Sidebotham won the toss, his team won heat ,1 and by heat 5, East Park were leading by 8 points.

The lead changed hands several times. The turning point being Billy Winwood, who came from a poor start to record 3 fine wins. And on the home side, unfortunatly Callum Ferguson had to with draw after 3 rides, which left East Park with only one rider in two of the last heats.

In the end, the sides drew 74-74, but after Ben Ferguson’s points were adjusted due to his appearance in division one, it was another victory for Birmingham.