National Women's Individual Cycle Speedway Championships

The riders line up before the start

A badly broken arm, ambulances, exclusions, crashes, run offs, a bank holiday weekend crowd and close, close racing could only mean one thing - the National Women's Individual Cycle Speedway Championships. Andy Whitehouse was there for us.

Leicester's Lucy Whitehead (19 pts) claimed the Women's National Championship title at Bretford in an eagerly anticipated final which at the outset could easliy have gone all four possible ways, such had been the standard of racing.

However, the victor, once again was Lucy Whitehead - she had looked strong all meeting, only dropping one point on the day to Ipswich's Lauren Jacobs (18pts) who claimed the runner up place.

Michelle Whitehead lies on the track just moments before she was hit by her team-mate

One of the pre race favourites, Jess Lamb, started well with a win and with four points in the bag she looked on course to add to her 2007 title win. But a poor showing in her second race, where she finished third and a tape violation in heat 11 saw her title hopes left in tatters.

Amy Crouch(17pts) retained her U16 title after a run off with Laura Dale. Dale's nerve seemed to crack at the line and she rode into the tapes and handed the title to Crouch.

The real bad-luck story of the day was Leicester rider, Michelle Whitehead, a strong contender for the U16 title. She fell in heat 17, and although initially unhurt was hit by a team-mate who couldn't avoide her on the ground - the resulting impact broke her arm in two places and she was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Champions all! The riders all have a smile for the camera after the medal ceremony

Results

British Women's Championship
Lucy Whitehead (Leicester) 19, Lauren Jacobs (Ipswich) 18, Rachel Edge (Horspath) 18, Amy Crouch (Leicester) 17, Laura Dale 17 (Ipswich), Jessica Lamb (Poole) 13, Michelle Whitehead (Leicester) 13, Charlie-Jane Herbert (Exeter) 12, Rosie Woollard (Ipswich) 11, Charlie Ellitts (Wednesfield) 10, Jenna Whitehead (Leicester) 10, Lauren Hookway (Exeter) 9, Charlotte Cox (Poole) 8, Natalie Timms (Wednesfield) 8, Reanna Brindley (Wednesfield) 7, Laura Watson (Astley & Tyldesley) 6

British Under-16s Championship
1st Amy Crouch, 2nd Laura Dale, 3rd Michelle Whitehead