Tuesday, September 29, 2026
OXFORD SPEEDWAY
ChargersOxford Speedway

REPORT: Chargers battle away, but lose out to champions Edinburgh Monarchs Academy

RPOxfordSpeedway

REAL MINI COMPANY Oxford Chargers gave their all, but lost out to a very strong Edinburgh Monarchs Academy side at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium yesterday (Sunday). Edinburgh – already crowned 2026 WSRA National League Champions – won by 49-40 and are now just one meeting away from completing a 100 per cent record this season.

Chargers did become the first team to score 40 points against Edinburgh at this level in 2026. Monarchs Academy had scored at least 51 points in their previous five home matches and three away meetings.

Rain in the lead-up to the start of the meeting left the circuit a little tricky, especially in the opening stages. Both team lost points due to falls in the first few races, including a tumble for Edinburgh’s Dayle Wood on the very last turn while leading Heat 3.

Monarchs Academy moved 18-12 ahead after five races, but skipper Jody Scott and Harry Fletcher pegged back a 4-2 for Chargers in Heat 6. But Edinburgh pulled away with a 4-2 and a 5-1 in the next two races to extend their lead to 10 points.

Scott produced a daring ride to go around Wood in Heat 10, as Scott and Fletcher again pulled back a 4-2.

Darryl Ritchings roared around Vinnie Foord to win Heat 11 and then Senna Summers jetted out to defeat Wood in Heat 12, as the gap between the two sides remained at eight points.

Both Ritchings and Foord were excluded after a messy third bend in Heat 13. In the re-run, Scott re-passed Jordy Loftus in an early battle for the lead.

Edinburgh clinched the meeting with a 5-1 in Heat 14. Scott and Summers completed the afternoon by taking a 4-2 in Heat 15, after Scott overtook Jordy Loftus on the opening lap.

Scott ended as Chargers’ top scorer on 13+1 – dropping a single point to Foord in Heat 1 and coming from behind in his final three races – while Summers totted up 10+1. Ritchings posted seven points before his exclusion, while both Fletcher (5) and Ashton Vale (4+1) deserved more for their efforts.

Unattached guest 15-year-old Casper Kluczniak battled away, while he fell In Heat 2 when he was in second place.

Chargers’ skipper Jody Scott said: “We always knew it was going to be tough today – Edinburgh are the champions for a reason. The boys put in maximum effort, but it didn’t pay off for us.

“The track conditions were quite tough after the rain, but it was the same for everybody. They took the advantage early on – they seemed to sort out their set-ups before we did. The track developed nicely and there was some good racing with a nice dirt-line.

“Some of the boys didn’t have such a good day, but the full name of this league is the National Development League for a reason. It’s here to develop riders and to learn things.

“I struggled a bit in my opening outing, so I switched bikes which I don’t do often in the National League. Once I changed bikes, I knew that was the one to stick with and I finished the day well. For some reason, I couldn’t get off the starts as I normally do. It was a bit hairy at times, but I like a nice dirt-line and I used that to my advantage. I was enjoying out there and I could entertain the crowd.

“We aim to win all the meetings throughout the season. But, of course, it would be even nicer to win at Oxford on Friday for our final meeting of the season against Buxton. They have a decent side too and we lost up there, but hopefully we can show them the way around Oxford.”

The final speedway meeting of the season at the BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium is on Friday (October 2) at 7.30pm, when the Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers take on Buxton Bulls in the WSRA National League. Tickets are on sale on the Oxford Speedway website at: https://oxfordspeedway.club/tickets/

Real Mini Company Oxford Chargers 40: Jody Scott 13+1, Harry Fletcher 5, Senna Summers 10+1, Ashton Vale 4+1, Darryl Ritchings 7, Casper Kluczniak 1, Max Broadhurst 0.

Edinburgh Monarchs Academy 49: Vinnie Foord 6+1, Ben Whalley 9+1, James Shanes R/R, Dayle Wood 10, Jordy Loftus 12, Anika Loftus 3+2, Jamie Halder 9+2.

PHOTO: The first bend in Heat 15, featuring Jody Scott, Ben Whalley, Jordy Loftus and Senna Summers. Chargers took a 4-2 (pic: Steve Edmunds)