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Meet Britain's Latest Cycling World Champion

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Vicky Brown (left) and Laura Watson

Andy Whitehouse writes: When you think of British women who have won World Championships in recent times a few names naturally trip off the tongue, including Victoria Pendleton, Tracey Moseley, Shanaze Reade and Nicole Cooke. All well know names within the cycling community and increasingly in the national press. 

Now you can add another name to that list, Laura Watson. But who is Laura Watson, you may ask? Well ladies and gentlemen let me introduce you to the newly crowned Women's World Cycle Speedway Champion.

Although still one of the less well known cycling disciplines, Cycle Speedway has many followers and is proving increasingly popular amongst women. With the work that has been put into the British Youth and Junior league during the last few years and the introduction of the ONE2CALL Women's League, the Sport is now seeing a significant increase in women's participation.

A squad of women recently travelled to Edenton in America to compete in the Cycle Speedway Worlds and although the field sizes were still relatively small, the standard was high and the riders produced some healthy competition.

I caught up with Sheffield Stars' Laura and runner up Vicky Brown on their return recently and cajoled a few words from the pair.

AW; So Laura tell us what the trophies represent

LW; Ladies World championship and the Junior cup

AW; Vicky?

VB; Mine are Ladies World Championship runner up and Junior cup

AW; Laura did you expect to win?

LW; No way.......I expected to come midway

VB; I never expected second spot, it was close between all of us, there were only a few points seperating all of us.

AW; So you hang on to the title for two years now?

LW; yeah till 2012 when the worlds are in Australia

AW; What was America like for you two?

VB; Brilliant, really hot. We had storms on the first day then it was scorching hot for the rest of the week

LW; we were treated really well, people couldn't do enough for us, they were so pleased we went over there

AW; Do you think there was an interest with cycle speedway in America and can you see the sport 'taking off' over there

VB; There was a lot of interest at Gate county School when we went to visit there, there were a few girls who took an interest so hopefully it may be the start of things there

AW; nearer home, how do you seen Women's Cycle Speedway developing in the U.K?

VB; I think it will grow this year, I certainly hope it does. We have a ladies team at Sheffield now which we are entering in competitions.The racing was good last year and we are going to do more promotion this year so things will be even better

AW; The women's league is happening again in 2011?

LW; yeah,were entering again, we should be a lot stronger this time round, we have a few more riders this year to chose from.

AW; there are some strong riders competing again?

VB; Oh yeah but everyone's beatable,anyone can be beaten............(smiles) hopefully

AW; Do you fancy trying other cycling disciplines

LW; Not really

VB; I'd love to have a go in the velodrome and mountain bike racing

AW; Brakes and gears

LW; Brakes are dangerous, you only need your feet to stop !

and on that wonderfully Cycle Speedway centric thought, I thanks Laura and Vicky and left them to their preparation for the rest of the season.