BRITISH INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMENS

DIFFERENT CLASS – posted 27 August 2013

 

In the long history of cycle speedway, surely there could not have been a more convincing winner of any national title than Lauren Davies as she brushed aside every challenger to take the women’s title in style at Coventry.

 

Even when she found herself out of position, she always seemed to have the time, confidence and ability to pass opponents at will.  She really was a class apart!

 

Any doubts that the odds-on favourite would fall short were quickly dismissed when Davies pulled off the most sublime pass in her first race, passing arch rival and defending champion Laura Jacobs on the inside going down the back straight (pictured below).  From that moment the destiny of the women’s championship was never in doubt.

 

Even when Davies unexpectedly slipped when leading heat 15, momentarily gifting the lead to Lauren Hookway, the Leicester rider never looked perturbed, quickly reeled her and pulled well clear (pictured below). 

 

Norfolk’s Danielle Riley underlined her improvement this year under coach Ian Grange by finishing second on 18 points, ahead of defending champion Lauren Jacobs on 16.

 

Handicapped by a difficult draw, Riley also made a dream start, passing Leicester’s Michelle Whitehead with consummate ease in heat two (pictured below).  Although she lost out to Davies and Jacobs in subsequent races she showed her resolve by finishing strongly, winning her final two races to take the silver medal.

 

Defending champion Lauren Jacobs was nowhere as convincing as she was at Newport last year.  After being out-thought and out-gunned by Davies in her opening ride, Jacobs was also beaten by Lauren Hookway and Lucy Whitehead in heat eleven.  Having said that, winning bronze in a national championship is no mean achievement in anyone’s book.

 

Talking of defending champions, former number ones Lucy Whitehead and Livvi Horsley (pictured above left) both struggled to make any real impact, in fact they only managed to win one race between then, Horsley taking the chequered flag in her opening race.  Admittedly neither girl has raced much recently but perhaps it illustrates the continued improvement of the women’s game.

 

Last year’s bronze medallist Vicky Brown got her 2013 campaign off to disastrous start. Coming out of the first turn in her first race she fell unchallenged (pictured below) and was unable to continue.  Seconds later her rivals Davies and Jacobs collided and also crashed to the ground leaving referee Aris little choice but to call a re-start with all three, as opposed to all four riders.

 

With her small stature, big heart and never-give-up style, Ellie Sullivan (pictured below) wooed the crowd.  Not only did she take overall fourth in the women’s category but her gutsy performance earned her the under-16 girls’ title, ahead of Lauren Hookway and Kristina Mines.  Hookway was unlucky not to score more.  After notching 11 points from four rides, she fell in her final race when well-placed.
 

World number one Laura Watson made a whirlwind start winning her opening two races but faded in the run-in, finishing on 14 points.  Michelle Whitehead suffered a similar fate.  After three races apiece, she was well placed in overall second but two thirds in her remaining races left her short of the frame.

 

On today’s stunning performance, if Davies can maintain her fitness and enthusiasm for the game, she could well dominate women’s cycle speedway, not just for the foreseeable future but for many years to come.

British Women's Championship
















Lauren Davies 20, Danielle Riley (Hethersett) 18, Lauren Jacobs (Ipswich) 16, Ellie Sullivan (Sheffield) 15, Laura Watson (Leicester) 14, Michelle Whitehead (Leicester) 14, Lucy Whitehead (Leicester) 14, Charlie-Jane Herbert (Exeter)14, Vicky Brown (Sheffield) 12, Lauren Hookway (Exeter) 12, Livvi Horsley (Horspath) 12, Kristina Mines (Poole) 10, Charlie Ellits (Wednesfield) 9, Rebecca Davies (Newport) 8, Jenna Whitehead (Leicester) 6, Natalie Timms (Wednesfield) 5

Referee: Wayne Aris (West Midlands)

 

British Under-16 Girls Championship 
















1st Ellie Sullivan (Sheffield), 2nd Lauren Hookway (Exeter), 3rd Kristina Mines (Poole)

WOMEN’S FINAL EAGERLY AWAITED – posted 25 August 2013

 

This year’s women’s championship will elevate girls’ racing up another notch or two.  Unfortunately there will be still be those who will always see them as just a sideshow, an aperitif to the main event, which is a real shame.

 

With the pre-qualifier starting at 10.30 am with the actual championship at 12 noon, the schedule is going to be busy. It’s going to be particularly hard on the lower end entrants as they will have to race more heats to secure a qualifying berth.

The women’s game is quicker and more powerful now throughout the order, with more events as the category continues to move forward. Leading the way in this is the woman who will probably start as favourite on Monday, Leicester’s Lauren Davies.  Lauren, who does other cycling disciplines, has a lot of speed and power and is a very good gater.  She is on great form as she recently took the top cash prize in that GG Express meeting.  Lauren is also a member of Team GB travelling to Australia this winter.

 

Danielle Riley of Hethersett looks to be her number one threat.  Another very quick rider with another quick gate, she suffered a gate exclusion in the vital race in the GG, that could have cost her that title.  She will need to avoid that this time.

 

The current British and European champion Ipswich’s Lauren Jacobs has had to take a back seat to these two recently. However she won the Ade Gale Women’s and was runner up in the GG so Lauren is in good form.  She is probably the most natural racer of the leading three contenders and the most experienced.  She is also a member of Team GB touring party.

 

Double British champion Lucy Whitehead returns to the championship having missed last year whilst expecting her son, Mason, She has done great to get back into shape, is training hard towards Team GB in Australia where she is vice captain and a very valuable member of the team.  She will concede that she is not totally back just yet to where she was and where she wants to be although there has been a vast improvement in fitness and speed as the season progresses. 

 

A fierce competitor with a winning attitude, quite rightly she gets a bit frustrated that it is taking time, especially that explosive gate.  Having said that, a couple of big name women athletes took 15 months or so to resume into action after giving birth.  Can she regain that title this year?  Probably not but a natural racer around Coventry, if she can get a couple of extra points here and there Lucy could easily get on that rostrum.

 

Team GB skipper Sheffield’s Victoria Brown has missed a bit of racing over the past couple of weeks having been on holiday.  You can count on that Yorkshire grit and determination she puts into her racing to have her there or there about a podium place.  Whether she can grab the title though remains to be seen?

 

The Devon Express, aka Lauren Hookway of Exeter, will pose a threat to everyone.  She looks nailed-on to clinch the under-16 title.  Very fit and fast you won’t want to be chasing her, something those Aussie girls will find out come November.  Can she win both titles at this point?  Doubtful but will threaten a rostrum berth for sure.

 

Looking back to the form we know she has, Leicester’s Michelle Whitehead will be another more than capable of repeating her past performances in this competition.  A  good starter and looking fitter than the below par 2012, she has to be another to be looking at least a podium spot.

 

Another girl unable to travel to Australia is Leicester’s Northern-based current World champion Laura Watson who is having a good season, chasing the top berths in most events.  It’s a pity she can’t defend that title Down Under.  Definitely a dark horse for a top three place on Monday.

 

Charlie-Jane Herbert of Exeter should feel very proud of her improvement in the last two seasons especially, in these big national events where she is normally a good fourth or fifth.  So she really is consistent and will be looking to progress to the next step.  It only takes an odd point mostly so don’t rule out a rostrum finish.

 

Welsh number one and another Team GB member, Newport’s Rebecca Davies is riding better than ever now.  Consistency is her main problem.  She has beaten all the girls on show this season, can pop out of the starts and in front is quick.  A spoiler more than a rostrum threatener.

 

You can also put Charlie Ellits of Wednesfield in that category too.  Her aggressive style could be a bonus and she has the personality to be a good contender. 

 

Back in the saddle for a couple of weeks now is 2011 British Champion Olivia, aka Livvi Horsley.  Like Michelle Whitehead, work commitments  prevent her from racing more of the women’s events but the Horspath Hammer is training hard for Australia  where she has recently been added to Team GB squad.  She looked a bit race rusty in the GG but is very much a competitor and would be happy with a top six berth.

 

Under-13 British champion Ellie Sullivan of Sheffield will be one to watch.  She’ll keep Lauren Hookway on her toes for the under-16 title.  She can beat a lot of those on parade and improves with every meeting.  She has already been invited to the squad Team GB session in October that includes not just the tourists but a number of top girls for future Team GB’s. 

 

Another contender for the under-16 title Poole’s Kristina Mines who should get a rostrum berth in that category.  She has ridden with an injury for a while now although she’s another to be invited to that October session. Leicester’s Elizabeth Rigley and Chloe Whitehead make up the under-16 competitors.  Both young, the experience will do them good.  Getting to the final will be their goal realistically at present.

 

Senior girls, Birmingham’s Natalie Timms and Leicester’s Jenna Whitehead, will look to make the final, then take as many points off the fancied riders as possible.  Natalie quite rightly said the qualifying process is going to be harder for them.  Jenna prides herself in her team racing.  She’s taken some big scalps this year in Women’s League.  The attitude of both these ladies towards their racing and the women’s game as a whole should be applauded.

WOMEN’S PRE-QUALIFIER ON BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY – posted 29 July 2013
         

The pre-qualifying draw to reduce the entry of 18 female riders down to the 16 required for the final will take place at the pre-finals Social on the evening of Sunday 25 August. 

 

The full entry list is:

Women

Victoria Brown (Sheffield), Lauren Davies (Leicester), Rebecca Davies (Newport), Charlie Ellitts (Wednesfield), Charlie Herbert (Exeter), Olivia Horsley (Horspath), Lauren Jacobs (Ipswich), Danielle Riley (Hethersett), Natalie Timms (Wednesfield), Laura Watson (Leicester), Lucy Whitehead (Leicester), Jenna Whitehead (Leicester), Michelle Whitehead (Leicester)

Under-16 Girls

Lauren Hookway (Exeter), Kristina Mines (Poole), Elizabeth Rigley (Leicester), Ellie Sullivan (Sheffield), Chloe Whitehead (Leicester)