Event: 16 December 2012
Location: Fit City, Eccles, Greater Manchester
Report: Glyn Rowley
Sunday saw the culmination of the British Indoor Cycle Speedway Championships from Fit City in Eccles. With the open, Under 19 and team championships taking place the previous weekend, Sunday saw the Women’s, Under 16 and Under 13 titles contested, with drama and tight racing throughout.
Leicester's Davies takes Women's title
The women’s meeting has all the hallmarks of an epic battle with reigning champion Lucy Whitehead determined to retain her title, but Vikki Brown, Lauren Davies and Michelle Whitehead all with an eye on the prize aim to win gold.
Heat 1 and Lucy Whitehead went up against Vikki Brown, Lucy putting in a great pass and stamping her authority on proceedings early on. Heat 2 saw Tiffany Collins and Laura Davies collide in the first corner. Referee Al Bentley called all four riders back and after the restart Lauren Hookway gated well, but was passed by Lauren Davies who left a gap allowing Collins to take 2nd.
Heat 3 and the power of Michelle Whitehead gave her an easy victory. Heat 4 then saw three riders out off the tapes and none made the 1st bend. Brown gated well, but somehow fell taking all riders down. All three were recalled when Brown took the victory.
Heat 6 was a real battle with Collins and Watson shoulder to shoulder for much of the heat, Watson coming out on top. Then Heat 7 spelled disaster for Michelle Whitehead; a collision between her and club mate Lauren Davies saw Whitehead excluded; Davies taking another victory.
Some excellent racing from the women followed, and by but all eyes were on heat 16 when Brown on 15 points took on Davies with 16 points. This heat could decide who takes the title. The tapes went up and both flew out of the tapes. At the first corner Davies had the strength and composure over Brown to take the victory, with a 20 point maximum and the women's title. Brown and Whitehead went head to head for a run off for the runner up places; Whitehead managing to keep a determined Brown behind for the full four laps to take silver.
Result - British Women’s Indoor Championship
Lauren Davies (Leicester) 20, Lucy Whitehead (Leicester) 18, Vikki Brown (Sheffield) 18, Charlie Jane Herbert (Horspath) 16, Michelle Whitehead (Leicester) 15, Laura Watson (Leicester) 15, Lauren Hookway (Exeter) 13, Rebecca Davies (Newport) 12, Tiffany Collins (Hethersett) 12, Jenna Whitehead (Leicester) 11, Gemma Hill (Ipswich) 11, Chloe Whitehead (Leicester) 9
None Arrival: Charlie Ellitts (Wednesfield)
Referee Al Bentley (West Midlands)
Brandon Whetton claims Under 13 title for East Park
Sixteen riders went straight into the Under 13s British Indoor Championships and it was literally anybody's race. Heat 1 was all action with Wednesfield’s Haydn Rowley going through the boards and not finishing. The opening heat went to Brandon Whetton. Heat 2 went to the astonishingly fast Jack Herbert.
The next heat was an early contender for heat of the day, with the lead changing hands four times between Liam Davies, Adam Watson and George Horsely, Davies going on to take the win. Heat 4 saw a big gate by Rowley, before getting passed on lap 3 by Adam Watson.
Heat 5 was all passes and crashes with Horspath’s George Horsley coming off second best between two Exeter riders. Heat 6 and James Elston was the man to beat. However in Heat 7 Liam Davies kept himself in contention with a fabulous victory.
Heat 8 saw Brandon Whetton move at the tapes to the sound on the crowd. Heat 9 saw Rowley hit the boards again with Herbert, taking the front row of spectators with them, forcing a restart. Haydn took the win after the restart after a fast start from Herbert. Heat 11 saw Elston drop his first point, with Adam Watson taking the win. At the halfway point, the title could have been won by at least four riders.
Heat 12 saw Whetton and Danny Taylor hit the deck when Taylor pulled a tight line from nowhere. The rerun saw a great gate by Whetton but he and Taylor were both caught out by Horsely. There was great racing in Heat 13, with Liam Davies winning from a poor gate making two last bend passes.
Will Tidbull won Heat 14 convincingly, leading from tapes to finishing line, while Heat 16 was Whetton ahead of Watson, the former rider boosting his title hopes. Heat 19 saw another win for Davies, moving up to 19pts and securing 2nd place overall.
It was wide open right down the final heat, with Whetton needing a win to guarantee the title. He didn’t mess about, off like he's on fire, taking the win, maximum points and the title. Superb riding by the East Park youngster. Tidball, Watson and Elston all tied on 17pts, with Tidball taking the win in the run-off and with it third place overall.
Result - British Under 13 Indoor Championship
Brandon Whetton (East Park) 20, Liam Davies (Leicester) 19,, Will Tidball (Exeter) 17, Adam Watson (Sheffield) 17, James Elston (Bury) 17, George Horsley (Horspath) 14, Jack Herbert (Exeter) 13, Liam Wood (Leicester) 13, Haydn Rowley (Wednesfield) 12, Jack Chaplin (Ipswich) 11, Danny Taylor (Bury) 11, Jimmy Wassall (Bretford) 9, Adam Turnball (Bury) 8, Joshua Whetton (East Park) 7, Ryan Coyle (Stockport) 6, Chloe Whitehead (Leicester) 5
Referee Mick Knowles (South Yorkshire)
Sheffield's Hudson snatches title from Haddock and Read in Under 16 thriller
After 12 heats Matt Haddock and Jake Read shared the lead, tied on 12 points apiece. The racing had been impressive but with very little to report; all riders managing to keep it between the boards.
However, things got interesting in heat 13; there's confusion over riders on the tapes. Then in the next heat Richard Hudson went from 3rd to 1st with some incredible riding.
Heat 15 and the U16 title was on the verge of being decided. Read and Haddock, both still on 12 points, collide in turns 1 and 2, with Haddock hitting the deck. Referee Mike Hack spoke to his assistant and all four riders restarted. Read and Haddock were at it again following the restart and there was another collision, this time Haddock is excluded for the stoppage.
Heat 17 was the decider; Jake Read and Richard Hudson were on 16 and 15 points respectively. Read gated Hudson, but Hudson kept him under pressure. On the last corner Hudson came from nowhere, hit Read who fell and finished in last place, dragging his bike over the line. Hudson took the title, while Read hung on for 2nd place, with Haddock winning the runoff for third place.
Result
British Under-16 Indoor Championship
Richard Hudson (Sheffield) 19, Jake Read (Stockport) 17, Matthew Haddock (Wednesfield) 16, Matthew Hill (Ipswich) 16, Jake Neighbour (Swindon) 16, Adam Watson (Sheffield) 15, William Cartwright (East Park) 13, Lee Kemp (Leicester) 12, James Elston (Bury) 12, Zac Smurthwaite (Sheffield) 11, James Whetton (East Park) 10, Liam Doughty (Leicester) 10, Jay Briggs (Poole) 10, Harry Everiss (Wednesfield) 9, Niall Instone (Poole) 6, Haydn Rowley (Wednesfield) 5
Eliminated
Conner Dyke (Wednesfield), George Horsley (Horspath), Matthew Parrott (Sheffield), Luke Whitehead (Leicester)
Referee Mike Hack (Greater Manchester)
