NO ARMADALE MEETING THIS FRIDAY

NEWS Tuesday 15th April 2008, 10:09am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Due to an unfortunate combination of circumstances there will be no home meeting for the Scotwaste Monarchs at Armadale this Friday (18th).

This is probably the first time since the sport came to West Lothian that there has been a blank Friday during the season, other than the British Grand Prix weekend, and the Monarchs' promotion are as disappointed as the fans will be.

?We had hoped to bring Newcastle back for a restaging of last Friday's postponement,? said promoter John Campbell, ?but they are unavailable.?

Due to a fixtures mix-up the originally scheduled fixture against Stoke was cancelled some time ago, as the Potters are at Scunthorpe on Friday.

Monarchs were then involved in a disagreement with Thomas Jonasson's club Vetlanda over his availability for this Friday. A British League match takes precedence over a Swedish friendly fixture, but the Swedish club argued that because the UK fixture was being rearranged at short notice, this didn't apply.

The rider was simply awaiting a ruling as to where he was ordered to ride. The governing bodies BSPA and Svemo were involved and eventually the Swedish viewpoint was upheld.

Nevertheless Monarchs were willing to race without Jonasson, but by the time all this was resolved, we understand that Newcastle's Josef Franc had accepted a booking elsewhere.

This is understandable and Monarchs thank Newcastle for initially being willing to come to Armadale this week. With just four days remaining no suitable fixture can be organised.

Monarchs are at King's Lynn this Wednesday in the Premier League, and then have a break until they race three matches in three days next weekend ? Berwick in a KO Cup tie at Armadale on 25th April, the away leg against Berwick the next day followed by a Premier Trophy match at Glasgow on Sunday 27th.