BRITISH INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP - PREVIEW

GREAT WEEKEND IN PROSPECT AT COVENTRY – posted 31 January 2013

 

All roads lead to Coventry this weekend (4th and 5th January) when the Midland region hosts the delayed 2013 national indoor championships at the Connexion sports centre.  A hectic weekend will see racing in all categories, both individual and team.

 

By its sheer nature indoor racing is unpredictable, amazingly fast and at timessimply frightening.  It has no respect for reputations and can make stars overnight. That's its attraction and the reason why organisers are expecting a bumper crowd on both days.

 

Indoor racing has developed its own specialists who have indelibly carved a niche for themselves in this demanding and courageous version of the sport – men like defending champion Ryan Hoyland and former number one Mike Morgans.  Although they would be first to admit they are not headline acts on the individual outdoor scene, they have adapted their remarkable bike-handling skills and sheer courage to the demands of indoor racing.

 

HORSPATH BID FOR FIFTH TITLE

 

Probably the biggest question being posed this weekend is can Horspath defend the team title and continue their outstanding record in this competition.  Having won the team event four years on the bounce, Horspath will be going all out to make it five on the trot.

 

Amazingly the Oxford outfit have finished in the top two every year since 2004, winning the title a record-breaking seven times in nine years.  Only Wednesfield in 2006 and 2008, have managed to break that remarkable sequence.

 

But Horspath face a stern test this time round.  After their humiliating defeat at the hands of Wednesfield in the British outdoor team last season, questions are being asked about the team’s confidence and resilience.  In any event it will be a much changed side to the one that won last time.  Minus the simply irreplaceable, inspirational Steve Harris who has since moved to Poole, Mark Carmichael, now back at Newport and Lewis Bates retired, the Hammers will have a distinctly changed look about them.

 

Horspath hope to persuade the talented and spectacularly unpredictable Mike Morgans (pictured below) to make a return to the boards but his inclusion is far from certain which will put enormous pressure on the likes of Mark Boaler, Shaun Rudman, Dave Carmichael and Zac Payne.

 

Despite the emergence of Sheffield as an indoor tour-de-force, coming within a point of topping the champions last year, Horspath’s biggest challenge once again looks like coming from Wednesfield.

 

The Aces totally dominated the corresponding outdoor championship but they will be without former indoor winner Lee Aris, visiting relations in Sydney, and Paul Heard who is not a lover of the indoor scene.  Chris Jewkes, Craig Marchant and Ben Mould will form the nucleus of the team, supported by Scott Doherty and Ricki Johnson.

 

Sheffield’s performance will be governed by which team they field.If they can track quality riders like Jono Birks, Ryan Hoyland and Matt Smith (pictured below) and young Richard Hudson can step up to the plate and replace Andy Angell from last year’s squad, the Stars have a realistic chance of taking the title.

 

The tournament begins with two enthralling semi finals.  With just two teams from each round progressing to the final, competition is bound to be fierce and some great racing is anticipated.

 

The first qualifier brings together two finalists from last year, Horspath and Stockport.  Both should have enough firepower to see of the challenge of East Park, Leicester, Norwich and Elite League newcomers Newport.

 

The second semi features four Elite League clubs, Ipswich, Poole, Sheffield and Wednesfield together with two of the country’s most improved side, Exeter and Hethersett.  Wednesfield’s pedigree is undeniable.  With the advantage of several training sessions at the Connexion already under their belts, it would be a major surprise if the Aces didn’t qualify for the final.  The remaining qualifying place looks too close to call.

 

JUNIOR TEAM DIFFICULT TO PREDICT

 

The junior team is notoriously difficult to predict as riders adapt to the unfamiliar indoor scene with varying degrees of success.

 

The last three finals have been real classics, going down to the wire with tie-breaks and last heat deciders the order of the day.  On each occasion Poole emerged victorious and the South coast side are expected to be pacesetters again this time round.  
















However they will be without kingpin Tom Reed who featured heavily in each of their previous three victories but has now returned to his home club, Exeter and is ineligible in any event, having moved up a tier. That said, the remaining three from last year’s victorious team, Wil Bristowe, Leyton Glover and OliSidwick, are all still eligible, giving the Dorset side a sound foundation.

 

Stockport also retain the nucleus of their 2012 silver medal winning team.  Mathew and Jack Lush and Jake Read provide a formidable base but much will depend on the performance of the fourth rider, brought into replace Ben Higham and Dylan Radcliffe who, like Reed, have also moved up to the men’s ranks.

                                                                

MEN’S TITLE WIDE OPEN

 

As we said earlier, indoor racing has produced its own specialists.  Never has this been better illustrated than by scanning back over recent winners.  Chris Finnigan (2003), Ben Scranage (2004 and 2009), Tom Reed (2010), Mike Morgans (2011) and Ryan Hoyland (2012) didn’t have any real pedigree at the highest outdoor level before their indoor successes but each have adapted brilliantly to the indoor scene, so it’s hardly surprisingly that the likes of Hoyland (pictured above), Morgans and Reed are expected to be front-runners again this time round.

 

Reed (pictured above), now in the colours of home club Exeter, will start as many people’s favourite.  What a magnificent achievement it would be if he could do the double, men’s outdoor and indoor champion in the same year, a feat achieved only once before, by Lee Aris in 2006.

 

Having finished runner-up three times in the past three years, Mark Boaler, champion in 2006, has been desperately unlucky not to have more titles against his name.  With is all-action style, Boaler is always a joy to watch.  If he could shake of his bridesmaid tag, Boaler would be a popular winner.

 

The big names face a strong challenge from several indoor specialists waiting in the wings including evergreen Craig Marchant, competitive Chris Jewkes, Ben Higham and Mark Carmichael.

 

DAVIES ABSENCE OPENS THE DOOR

 

With reigning champion Lauren Davies now concentrating on mainstream cycling and not returning to defend her title, the chase for the women’s championship is wide open.  With one gold and two silvers already under her belt, statistically at least, Lucy Whitehead (pictured below) has the best pedigree. 

By her own admission, Lucy is not back to the level of fitness she enjoyed before having a baby but the less taxing indoor really suits her smooth style, so it would be a big surprise if the Leicester star finished outside the top three.

 

Sheffield’s Vicky Brown has been on the rostrum for the past two years and could finish top of the tree this time round.  Look too for good performances from Exeter duo Lauren Hookway and Charlie Jane Herbert, Michelle Whitehead (Leicester), Livy Horsley (Horspath) and Rebecca Davies (Newport).

 

It will be interesting to see how two girls with little indoor pedigree fare on the open spaces of the Connexion.  If they can quickly adapt to the boards, 13-year-old ‘girl wonder’ Ellie Sullivan (Sheffield) and always impressive Danielle Riley (Hethersett) could cause a real surprise.

 

ALL CHANGE IN VETERANS

 

Amazingly only three finalists from last year, Peter Chant (Southampton),Dave Meanley (Wednesfield) and Steve Hodgkinson (Birmingham) have entered the 2013  veterans championship – a truly unusual statistic.  

 

So it’s all change in the over-40s’ ranks as a combination of holidays, injury and geography has ruled out many of the usual contenders including four time vets’ champion Steve Harris who is holidaying in Poland.  Harris’s absence, together with that of 2012 runner-up Paul Timms (injured) and Terry Norman (not entered) leaves this year’s event wide open.

 

After finishing just short of the frame in 2011 and 2012, Peter Chant must be well in the reckoning together with 2007 champion Errol Thaw who also features regularly in the top echelon.

 

One rider who made people sit up and take notice when he finished third in the corresponding outdoor version at Astley in the summer is Devon’s Andy Stone.  Despite limited experience on the indoor circuit, the Exeter rider is being widely tipped as the new champion.  Evergreen Mick Aris is always thereabouts, a third in 2009 his best effort yet while Mark Whitehead is always in contention.

 

Another rider with little indoor familiarity is fast-gating Gavin Parr who has really carved out a reputation in the veterans ranks. If he can quickly adapt to the boards, super-fit Parr is bound to be up there with the front runners together with his Newcastle team mate Jason Keith.

 

MILLWARD FAVOURITE IN UNDER-19S

After finishing second last year, Birmingham’s Scott Millward (pictured above) will be favourite for the under-19 title.  Having said that, this is a very competitive category, perhaps the most keenly contested of the entire weekend.

 

So watch out for Stockport trio Jake Read, Jack and Matt Lush, Leyton Glover of Poole, Sheffield’s Matt Smith and Ricki Johnson of Wednesfield who will all be pitching for the title.  Ipswich are well represented by Charlie Rumbold, Ashley Hill and Richard Fellgett.

 

Now elevated to the under-19 ranks, reigning under-16 champion Richard Hudson will be keen to make his mark but may find it tough going in a field which oozes quality.

 

HUDSON BIDS TO RETAIN UNDER-16 CROWN

 

Sheffield youngster Richard Hudson caused something of a surprise last year, taking the under-16 national title in style at Eccles ahead of more fancied riders like Jake Read and Matt Haddock.  Now, a year and a bit later, Hudson returns to defend his title and it will take a good rider to beat him.

 

Leading contenders include Matthew Hill (Ipswich) and Jake Neighbour (Swindon) who were well placed in the 2012 final, and Richard Fellgett (Ipswich), considered by some commentators as the most improved rider in the Elite League. 

 

After winning last year’s national under-13 indoor title, it will be interesting to see how Brandon Whetton (East Park) fares.  However the step up to the under-16 ranks may be a leap too far for the Midland youngster, at least for this year.

 

TALENTED UNDER-13s

 

Again the under-13s will be a tight competition which righty reflects the wonderful array of young talent coming through the ranks.

 

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that riders like Will Tidball and George Horsley are still under-13.  They seem to have been around for ever!  Amazingly Horsley was runner-up in the 2010 event and is still going strong as is Tidball who won the bronze medal for the past two years.

 

Probably the under-13s are more adaptable than their older protégés, so results can be somewhat unpredictable.  Still the likes of James Elston (Bury), Haydn Rowley (Wednesfield) and Thomas Whitwam (Bury) making his debut on the boards, are expected to be among the front runners. 

 

It will be interesting to see how Ellie Sullivan, Chloe and Honey Whitehead and Samantha Marsh do against the boys.  Sullivan in particular is a wonderfully gifted and entertaining 13-year-old who could really make a big name for herself this weekend.

 

It wasn’t long ago that the girls dominated the under-13 category.  Remember Broughton 2003 whenLucy Whitehead struck gold and Astley’s Becky Heslop finished third?  Lucy certainly upset the applecart that day, seeing off the likes of Ashley Birks and Chris Timms in the process!

 

TWO BRILLIANT DAYS

 

So with 12 hours of continuous racing crammed into each day, Coventry Connexion is the place to be this weekend.  You can guarantee the racing will be fast and furious, exciting and hair-raising.  There will drama and disappointment as reputations are made and lost. 

Hair raising !!!  Michelle Whitehead and Tom Reed - getting a head start in this weekend's national indoor championship

Every indoor venue presents its unique challenges and by all accounts Coventry Connexion will be no exception.  Organisers plan to make the circuit tighter which will put even more emphasis on technique and bike handling skills.

 

Racing gets underway at 9am and continues non-stop until 9pm on both days.  See you there!