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Hurry up for Harry 29 August 2026 News George Dodds A late change to the teams for this evening’s derby clash but… What on the face of it looks like a Bandits’ stroll to an unbeaten home league campaign in reality was anything but. A dogged Edinburgh side, led by the superb Kye Thomson took full advantage of some early home misfortune to hit the front in heat two and hold it for a further five races. But while Thomson ploughed a lone furrow with only sporadic support, notably from Jonatan Grahn, the home side dug in and scored freely from top to bottom. Reserve Reid Battye produced another eye-catching performance with paid 16 while Nick Morris looked set for back-to-back home maximums until future brother-in-law Thomson beat him to the flag in heat 13. And, 16-year-old Harry Fletcher, not far off the pace but out of the points on his Championship debut, aside the rest of the home side were paid for double figures. But it certainly didn’t go according to script, Peter Kildemand, who had received a huge ovation on his first appearance since announcing his intent to retire at the end of the season excluded from heat one after being a little too forceful as he attempted to pass Dan Thompson. Jye Etheridge, who led the first running, repeated his lightning gate in the rerun and, after Battye was surprisingly beaten by Mitch Cluff in two, looked to be cruising to a second heat win as Victor Palovaara’s rider replacement in three only to shed a primary chain and fall heavily entering the last bend. His tumble came a split-second after team-mate Jordan Jenkins hit the deck as he was passed by Grahn, a nailed-on Berwick 4-2 turned into an Edinburgh 5-0 and the Bandits seven points adrift. Four were dragged back immediately as Battye shot from the gate and Morris produced his trademark turn two cutback to account for Thomson. He was out again in the following heat and, for the first time in weeks, found himself under pressure as Thompson forced a way past only to overcook the second bend and gift the Australian an opportunity that he grabbed with both hands. Shared heats saw Edinburgh still a point ahead going into heat eight but any hopes of a shock win were blown out of the water in a cracking heat eight. Cluff gated well but Etheridge roared around him and then Battye produced a forceful pass which relegated his countryman to third place and put Berwick ahead for the first time on the night. Thomson continued to prove a handful but his support dropped away Kildemand and Etheridge racing to the easiest of 5-1s in 10 and Morris then blunting the visitors’ tactical sub throw of the dice by easily accounting for Thomson and Thompson. Even when they hit the front, the Monarchs were picked off, Sedgmen and Cluff leading 12 until Battye forced his way into second and then sailed past the stand-in Monarchs’ captain, Jenkins accounting for Cluff and putting Berwick ahead in the search for the aggregate bonus for the first time. Thomson was away and gone in 13 but even if Grahn hadn’t handicapped himself by getting caught jumping the tapes he was still unlikely to have laid a finger on either Battye or Jenkins who roared off into the distance. He may be winding down his career but there is no question that Kildemand is going to be anything other than ultra-competitive in his remaining outings. Or that he was going to let Thomson beat him three times in a night. Along with Jenkins he made a lightning start and the duo roared to what was on the face of it the unlikeliest of the Bandits’ five maximum heat wins on the night. By any stretch of the imagination this was an impressive home victory and one which must put the Bandits in a positive frame of mind as they prepare for next week’s BSN Series semi-final second leg against Redcar. They need 58 points next Saturday – five more than they managed on an evening when the speedway gods didn’t exactly shine on them – to reach a second cup final. In a season where they have regularly had to dig deep to get the job done who outside of Cleveland are betting against them. Bandits: Peter Kildemand 10, Jye Etheridge 9+2, R/R Victor Palovaara, Jordan Jenkins 8+2, Nick Morris 12+2, Harry Fletcher 0, Reid Battye 14+2 Monarchs: Dan Thompson 5+1, R/R Paco Castagna, Justin Sedgmen 6+2, Jonatan Grahn 7+1, Kye Thomson 13, Mitchell Cluff 4, Jordy Loftus 1