PREVIEW: British Women’s Club Championship from Leicester

This afternoon sees the last of the season’s Club Championships with the Women’s event being held at Leicester, 12.00 start.

The women’s event was first held in 2006, when at Norwich the winners were the Leicester team, which included a young Michelle and Lucy Whitehead. Since then Leicester have added a further eight titles and will be favourites on their own track to make in ten titles in a row. Joining the two Whiteheads in this year’s team are Laura Watson and Elizabeth Rigley, with Chloe Whitehead keeping up the Whitehead quota at reserve.

The main challengers look to be Ipswich, who were second to Leicester in 2006, and have been six times in all, getting within three points of the title last year. With two former British champions, Lauren Jacobs and Charlie-Jane Herbert being joined by current U16 champion Lily Gedge, Chloe Pearce and Gemma Hill they will be looking to push the Monarchs all the way.

Sheffield will be led by World Champion Vicky Brown, together with GB International  Rebecca Davies, Sophie Middleton and Niamh Morton.

Making their debut in this competition are Birmingham, whose trio of young riders Sammi Marsh, Bailie Phillips and Emily Pitt will be led by Women’s League manager Natalie Timms.

After the Championship is over there will be two pairs events, the first of which is what is believed to be for the sport’s first mixed pairs title. Contesting this will be four cycle speedway couples, Michelle Whitehead & Bobby McMillan, Laura Watson & Dan Chambers, Charlie-Jane Herbert & Ashley Hill, and Lily Gedge& Matt Hill. They will be joined by the father and daughter pairing of Chloe & Nicky Whitehead, the brother and sister pairing of Sophie & James Middleton,  and finally Rebecca Davies is joined by Adam Watson who kindly volunteered (or maybe was volunteered) to be her toy boy for the day.

Just to make it more interesting the girls will score double points if they beat the opposing pair’s male rider and Bobby McMillan in particular can expect to be starting off a handicap in some races.