WOMEN’S LEAGUE: Round two report from Sheffield

The Midlands went top of the table of the British Women’s League after a 72-48 victory over the East at Cookson Park, in the second round of matches (both teams winning their opening fixture). South and South Wales moved in to second after seeing off the North’s challenge by 70-49.

The East arrived with just three riders, completing their line up with four loan riders from the Midlands, and got off to a great start as Charlie Jane Herbert won the first race.

That would be their only race win as the Midlands powered to victory. The Midlands was actually a Leicester team (with team manager Nat Timms at reserve), and showed why the club have been eleven times women club champs.

Michelle and Lucy Whitehead both finished unbeaten by an opponent as every rider from 1-6 recording a win or assisted win.

Scorers

Midlands 72
Michelle Whitehead 16, Lucy Whitehead 15+1, Lizzie Rigley 11, Laura Watson 10+3, Jenna Whitehead 10, Chloe Whitehead 7, Nat Timms 3.

East 48
Charlie Jane Herbert 12+1, Gemma Hill 10, Chloe Pearce 10+1, Georgia Burt 6, Sophia Sinclair-Black 5, Honey Whitehead 4, Nat Timms 1.

The South and South Wales were just too strong for the North, carding five maximum 7-3’s in the twelve heats.

Vicky Brown won all her races for the North, denying the victors any unbeaten riders. Niamh Morton and Sophie Middleton used home track knowledge and some good team riding to ensure each heat they were in finished level at 5-5.

Lauren Hookway gave a captain’s display for the winners, but all riders from 1-6 recorded at least one race win and achieved a double figure score.

Scorers

North 70
Vicky Brown 16, Sophie Middleton 10, Niamh Morton 8+3, Cheryl Mawhood 6, Skye Mitchell 5, Alice Unwin 4.

South and South Wales 49
Lauren Hookway 13+2, Bethany Briggs 12, Macie Schmidt 12+3, Krissy Mines 11+3, Alice Neighbour 11+1, Maddie Saunders 11+1.

There was a heavy downpour during the interval, which looked like putting a dampener on the occasion. Fortunately it cleared as quickly as it arrived. A spot of mopping up and the track was ready to go for the individual Grand Prix.

The racing, in both groups, was some of the best seen at Cookson this year. Race after race had passing, contact, skill, speed and lots of determination. Clearly showing the forward progress being made in women’s racing.

Vicky Brown put her electric gating to good use, taking the overall win in the Expert class. Lauren Hookway claimed second place, and was the only rider to beat Vicky (in heat 11 of the qualifiers).

Lucy Whitehead was third with Laura Watson completing the A final line up. Krissy Mines, Lizzie Rigley and Macie Schmidt impressed with their charges from the back and never give up attitude.

Qualifying scores

Vicky Brown 15, Lauren Hookway 14, Laura Watson 12, Lucy Whitehead 12, Macie Schmidt 11, Charlie Jane Herbert 10, Krissy Mines 10, Michelle Whitehead 10, Chloe Whitehead 9, Lizzie Rigley 8. Chloe Pearce DNR.

Racing in the Intermediate’s was just as frenetic, with Maddie Saunders, Gemma Hill and Alice Neighbour always in the thick of the action as they enjoyed the open spaces of the Cookson circuit.

However, it was home rider Niamh Morton who took the spoils as she claimed her first ever A final win. Sophie Middleton was another home rider putting track know how to good use, finishing fifth overall by winning the B final.

Edinburgh’s Skye Mitchell made the long journey worthwhile, she and her Dad had travelled by train to compete (displaying top class commitment), by winning the D Final.

Sophie Sinclair-Black showed she’s going to be a rider with a great future on this performance, constantly fighting her way from the back and taking no prisoners with some no nonsense overtakes.

Qualifying scores

Niamh Morton 15, Alice Neighbour 15, Gemma Hill 14, Maddie Saunders 14, Sophie Middleton 13, Jenna Whitehead 13, Georgia Burt 11, Sophia Sinclair-Black 11, Bethany Briggs 10, Cheryl Mawhood 9, Nat Timms 7, Honey Whitehead 7, Skye Mitchell 6, Amanda Rigley 6, Alice Unwin 5

Finals

Expert
A – Vicky Brown, Lauren Hookway, Lucy Whitehead, Laura Watson
B – Charlie Jane Herbert, Michelle Whitehead, Macie Schmidt, Krissy Mines
C – Lizzie Rigley, Chloe Whitehead

Intermediates
A – Niamh Morton, Maddie Saunders, Alice Neighbour, Gemma Hill
B – Sophie Middleton, Jenna Whitehead, Sophia Sinclair-Black, Georgia Burt
C – Bethany Briggs, Cheryl Mawhood, Honey Whitehead, Nat Timms
D – Skye Mitchell, Amanda Rigley, Alice Unwin.

Photos

Check out some great photos taken by Amy Smith in the gallery below. Full results and tables at the bottom.

2016 WOMEN’S CYCLE SPEEDWAY LEAGUE STANDINGS
No.	Date	Host Club
1	17th April	Wednesfield
2	12th June	Sheffield
3	7th August	Ipswich
4	25th September	Poole
Points will be awarded for the first sixteen placed riders in each round as follows: 25, 20, 18, 16, 14, 13, 12, 11, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1
SENIOR			Total	Weds	Sheff	Ips	Poole
1	Vicki Brown	Sheffield CSC	50	25	25
2	Lucy Whitehead	Leicester CSC	38	20	18
3	Lauren Hookway	Exeter CSC	36	16	20
4	Michelle Whitehead	Leicester CSC	31	18	13
5	Charlie Jane Herbert	Ipswich CSC	28	14	14
6	Laura Watson	Leicester CSC	27	11	16
7	Elizabeth Rigley	Leicester CSC	22	13	9
8	Chloe Whitehead	Leicester CSC	20	12	8
	Kristina Mines	Poole CSC	20	9	11
	Macie Schmidt	Poole CSC	20	8	12
11	Chloe Pearce	Ipswich CSC	7	7	0
12	Lilly Gedge	Ipswich CSC	6	6	0

Intermediate			Total	Weds	Sheff	Ips	Poole
1	Niamh Morton	Sheffield CSC	43	18	25
2	Gemma Hill	Ipswich CSC	41	25	16
3	Maddie Saunders	Poole CSC	40	20	20
4	Alice Neighbour	Swindon CSC	32	14	18
5	Jenna Whitehead	Leicester CSC	29	16	13
6	Sophie Middleton	Sheffield CSC	27	13	14
7	Georgia Burt	Wednesfield CSC	22	11	11
8	Bethany Briggs	Poole CSC	21	12	9
9	Natalie Timms	Birmingham CSC	14	8	6
10	Sophie Sinclair-Black	Leicester CSC	12	0	12
11	Anna Tuttle	Poole CSC	9	9	0
12	Skye Mitchell	Edinburgh CSC	8	4	4
	Cheryl Mawhood	Sheffield CSC	8	0	8
14	Danielle Hickie-Stokes	East Park CSC	7	7	0
	Honey Whitehead	Leicester CSC	7	0	7
16	Masey Burden	Wednesfield CSC	6	6	0
17	Alice Unwin	Sheffield CSC	4	2	2
18	Megan Burt	Wednesfield CSC	3	3	0
	Amanda Rigley	Leicester CSC	3	0	3