MATCH REPORT: Dash Trophies Ladies’ Open

Dash Trophies were sponsors of the Ladies’ Open Championship again, with a great display of silver-ware and tyres on show for all to see, thanks must go again to Steve of Dash in 2014.

Over the last few years the interest from the female riders has really increased across the country, bringing most of the ladies here today again to ride in this class event.

With five of the ladies that were in the GB squad for the 2013 tour of Australia last November, we were in for some fierce and very competitive racing on the big open spaces of Ashmore Park. This year also brings in some young ladies racers as well, and they did not let us down.

So here we go this is how the meeting unfolded:

Heat 1. Michelle Whitehead made a flying start from Grid 2, chasing hard Charlie-Jane Herbert, and Exeter’s Tonichaa Heyde, and battling at the rear Jenna Whitehead.

Heat 2. Wednesfield’s Courtney Aris from Grid 4 came out on top, from Elizabeth Rigley, Chloe Whitehead and Sammi Marsh.

Heat 3. Lauren Hookway made no mistake from her Grid 1 from Charlie Ellitts, Lucy Whitehead and Laura Watson.

Heat 4. Rebecca Davies made her first race look easy, Mia Duckham 2nd and Abbey Duckham 3rd. No 4th Rider.

Heat 5. With Abbey Duckham out again on grid 1, she takes exclusion on the tapes for moving, Tonichaa Heyde taking a good race win from Charlie Ellitts and Sammi Marsh.

Heat 6.Lauren Hookway took her 2nd win of the day looking very good from the gate, 2nd chasing hard was Michelle Whitehead, then Mia Duckham and Chloe Whitehead.

Heat 7. Charlie-Jane takes a great win from Laura Watson and Elizabeth Rigley. No 4th rider.

Heat 8. Rebecca Davies makes no mistake from her grid 1 taking her 2nd win of the day, Lucy Whitehead 2nd, from Courtney Aris and Jenna Whitehead.

Looking ahead now after 16 heats of Racing front Runners were now taking shape, Michellie Whitehead 15, Charlie-jane-Herbert 15, Rebecca Davies 15, very close behind Lauren Hookway 15, after running a last in heat 15 when she fell after a blinding pass up the inside by Charlie-Jane.

The final run into the semi-finals, Michelle Whitehead 19, Charlie-Jane 18, Rebecca Davies 18, Lauren Hookway 17, Lucy Whitehead, Elizabeth Rigley, Mia Duckham all on 14 each and Lauren Watson taking up the last semi-final place.

Semi-final 1. Michelle Whitehead takes the win from grid 1, Rebecca Davies grid 2, she takes second, just missing out on the final Lucy Whitehead and Elizabeth Rigley.

Semi-final 2. Charlie-Jane grid 1, Lauren Hookway grid 2, takes the win from Charlie-Jane, chasing that final place was Mia Duckham and Laura Watson minor places.

So it’s all down to the final draw, Rebecca Davies grid 1, Lauren Hookway grid 2, Michelle Whitehead grid 3, Charlie-Jane grid 4.

Final. Tapes go up and Lauren Hookway was gone like the wind, nobody was going to catch her, fighting for the remaining rostrum places were Michelle Whitehead, making no mistake taking 2nd slot from battling hard Charlie-Jane, and after missing her gate Rebecca Davies came in 4th. Great racing by all the Ladies, well done to you all, another Classic.

From all the Wednesfield Management thanks to everybody who played their part on the day.