DOUBLE SIGNING FOR MONARCHS

CRAIG Cook is to return to Cab Direct Championship racing with Edinburgh next season.

The former British Champion left Workington during the most recent campaign but is now set to rejoin the Monarchs, with whom he was a league title winner in 2014-15 and where his last spell was three years ago.

Cook said: “Since I finished with Workington I have kind of put my head down and got myself into the gym. I have lost a substantial amount of weight and I feel the fittest I have probably since 2015.

“I thought I might need to wait and see what happens with regards a team spot, but after all the work and effort I have put in I thought it would be a shame if I didn’t end up with a club, so I sent John (Campbell) a message and things came about quite quickly. We came to an agreement pretty easily and it is great that I am back, and I am looking forward to it.”

Edinburgh have also announced the signing of Ben Whalley at reserve, who steps up from their NDL title winning team after picking up Championship experience with Plymouth.

He said: “I wanted to come to a club where I could build up from the NDL to the Championship. The call to go to Plymouth came earlier than I expected and it was tough, especially coming in when others had started from the beginning, so next year I am looking forward to having a team spot from the start of the season.”