Few people know more about the women's game than Geoff Gamage.  Widely tipped to be the next Great Britain Women's team manager, last year Geoff coached Rachel Edge to the national title and this year has Livvi Horsley in his stable.  So who better than to cast his eye over the Women's championship which takes place at Hethersett on Saturday.

WOMEN RACERS ASKED TO CONTACT ORGANISERS - posted 12 September 2011

Organisers of Women's racing are planning to introduce a new competition next year, provided there is enough support and riders qualify through nationaility regulations.

"We would like to introduce a Home International into the Women's racing calendar" Ivan Pike told Spokesman-Online.

"Through Spokesman-Online could you please ask all the female riders to contact me via my email address ivan@cycle-speedway.co.uk to register their nationality. Hopefully we will have enough riders to have all four countries represented. It is hoped that this could be introduced in 2012 if the numbers add up" added Ivan.

DESTINY AWAITS LAUREN JACOBS - posted 25 August 2011

Looking at this year's Women’s Championship, we already know that we will have two new champions as Michelle Whitehead is now too old for the under-16 and Rachel Edge is expecting her first child, so will not be on parade to defend her British title. In fact 2011 could see a changing of the guard.  Lucy Whitehead not racing as much as usual, Amy Crouch has not entered and both Rachel and Jessica Lamb on maternity leave - that’s six title-holders.  Only Lauren Jacobs of the established long term Womens racers is racing regularly.  


There's a whole host of up and coming riders bringing the womens game into a new higher quality of racing as witnessed at the recent Women’s team at Sheffield and the Team GB Womens Internationals against Poland.
 
As with last year the track at Hethersett will be alien to most of the competitors, other than the Eastern region, the big difference being that the home club have four riders.  The two under-16s, , Katie Adams and Jasmine Matthews I don’t know that much about, however with such a strong line-up for the under-16, I would be surprised if they made the rostrum despite home track advantage.

Posing a threat - Carly Grimes and Tiffany Collins

Carly Grimes and Tiffany Collins will pose a threat in the Open again. I can’t really see Carly making the rostrum but bubbly Tiffany has been in good form and most certainly could use her local knowledge to get there. Norwich’s Danielle Riley, fresh from a good Polish tour with GB, has a very good chance in both under-16 and Open categories.  Ipswich’s Laura Dale, another GB rider, will have to be beaten - a danger yes but I don’t think she will quite make the rostrum.  However team mate Lauren Jacobs has been on fire all season.  Now fully recovered from her crash in last year's championships, I personally feel that, like Rachel Edge last year, this could well be her destiny this time.
 
Sheffield’s World one and two Laura Watson and Vicky Brown should be a threat in the open.  Both starred for team GB in Poland.  I think Vicky has come on a lot this year and on current form more likely to make a title challenge. 

Leicester, as expected from the all time top women's outfit, will have a three-pronged attack on the titles.  Although not racing as much, nobody should ever discount Lucy Whitehead, a double champion and always a favourite.  Anyone wanting to win the title will need to finish above her. Both Michelle Whitehead and Laura Davies raced well for Team GB.  Again Michelle will need to be beaten and is a definite rostrum contender whilst Laura, like Danielle Riley, will be a threat to both categories.

Birmingham’s Natalie Timms will look to make the final and see where that takes her. Newport’s Rebecca Davies is gradually getting back her form prior to her wrist problems from last year.  Clubmate Natalie Ward will do well to make the final.  Another GB star and one looking to double up if possible, is the fast starting Lauren Hookway of Exeter.  I certainly see her as a threat in the under-16 at least.

Poole have three riders for Caris Glover and Jessica Harris will welcome the experience without, I feel, challenging for the under-16 title.  The improved Kristina Mines will offer a threat to anyone's hopes for the under-16 title without actually winning it herself I think.  Horspath’s Charlie Jane Herbert has a good gate and will make a challenge in the under-16.  Team mate and GB rider Livvi Horsley is in fine form.  Winning three Grand Prix’s in the last month, including in Poland, a realistic double threat alongside Danielle, Laura and Lauren.

Fresh from last year's unbelievable correct forecast of five champions prior to last year's weekend's racing, I have been asked to try and repeat it for the Women this time round.  As with last year, the draw will be vital.  Adapting to the track will be key also, however I just feel that everything is right for Lauren Jacobs in the Open despite the fact you should never discount Lucy Whitehead at anytime. I never do!

The under-16 could go to one of four riders.  Obviously I shall be working with Livvi Horsley and think she can do it, but honestly there is virtually no difference between the leading protagonists - Danielle Riley, Laura Davies and Lauren Hookway and her, the draw will probably be the biggest difference in a very strong competition.

WOMEN'S CHAMPION IN HOSPITAL AFTER HORROR CRASH - posted 6 June 2011

Women's national champion Rachel Edge is in hospital following a horrific crash in the Welsh Women's Open championship at Newport on Saturday.

Rachel was involved in a heavy fall in her first race.  Ironically it was to be her last meeting of the season, Rachel having learnt earlier in the week that she is expecting her and boyfriend Dafydd's first baby.

Rachel was rushed to the local hospital in Newport.  Although discharged, on returning to Oxford she had to be go into the John Radcliffe Hospital with a badly bruised and bleeding spleen.  After a few worrying hours, the bleeding stopped but Rachel still faces five to seven days in hospital in order to make a full recovery.
 
Ironically her main sponsor and usual driver Geoff Gamage missed the meeting due to illness himself.

Photo - Rachel Edge (left) pictured with sponsor Geoff Gamage









"Its only the second meeting of her's I've missed in six years or so (the other I was in Poland last year) and this happens, I can't believe it" said Gamage.

"We are all pulling for her and the baby at The Village and our thoughts are with her and Dafydd at this time.  Typical of Rachel, she texted me  to find out the score of the Horspath v Sandwell match Sunday night!"
 
Rachel is the second of Hammers 2010 British champions to be  injured this season following Mike Burgess' cruculate knee ligament injury against Poole on 8th May, which will see him miss most of the remainder of the season.

NEW FACEBOOK FORUM FOR GIRLS - posted 5 June 2011

A Facebook Forum has been set up by Phoebe Kemp so that all females, from across the UK, have somewhere to discuss training and future Academy dates.  Just type, cycle speedway girls :), into the Facebook search mode.  With the continuing increase in female participants this site will allow the riders to input what they want from an
Academy day.  Please note that though the site is "open to view", only members can post messages. 
 
Training plans and fitness links will be added over the next few months.  These plans are not to be followed to the letter but are a basis for the rider and their own coach to discuss, amend and implement.  Any feedback or queries, from coaches or riders, about the plans can be openly discussed on the forum.  Never forget, no question is stupid if you don`t know the answer!
 
Many thanks to Danny Harper and the other Swindon club members, who prepared the track and gave up their time, for the Womens Academy day on May 30th.  Though the weather was dreadful, those who attended gave an invaluable insight into how the Academy days should progress.
 
The Academy team are hoping to stage another day, in the Midlands, and are looking at using the Newport Velodrome, for fitness training with a highly experienced and respected British Cycling road coach.  The chance to train with such a coach does not come often, so we hope that all the women will take full advantage of the opportunity.
 
For further details contact ; Ian Brown, Stuart Raven or Tony Bennett.

WOMEN'S ACADEMY LAUNCHED - posted 27 April 2011

An exciting new initiative for women racers is being launched.  

A "Womens Cycle Speedway Academy" day will be held at Swindon on the 30th May, starting at 12 noon.

Organiser Tony Bennett told Spokesman "This is an open invitation to any female, of any age, from any region, to attend.  The main aim is to introduce female-specific, topics and training guides, which can be taken back to their club coaches."

If you would like more information, drop Tony a line at tonyukencs@hotmail.co.uk

SPONSOR FOR WOMEN'S CHAMPION - posted 21 March 2011

One of Britain's top women racers has received a welcome boost ahead of the new season.
 
Nuneaton-based consumables company Quest Automotive have agreed to sponsor Amy Crouch by providing her the essentials for the new season, a top of the range tool kit comprising 15m teng tool spanners, hex keys, wire brushes, maintenance sprays and much more for the long season ahead.

"We would like to thank Jemma at Quest for organising the deal and Phil Greaves for giving it the go ahead" Amy's father, Phil Crouch, told Spokesman.  "It's really nice to see a large company getting involved and hopefully they will be keeping an eye on Amy's season."

Amy's main goal in this year will be to regain the British Women's title which she won in such convincing style at Poole in 2008.

SPORT AID FOR TIFF COLLINS - posted 24 February 2011

Hethersett rider Tiff Collins has be awarded a Sport Aid grant to further her cycle speedway career.  After lunch at Delia's restaurant at Carrow Road, home of Norwich City football club, Tiff received her cheque for £500 from Olympic swimmer  Nick Gillingham.

Tiff took girls' racing by storm last year when she swept to victory in the British Youth & Junior League Girls 12-17 Grand  Prix series.

LIVVI'S IMPRESSIVE RETURN - posted 22 August 2010

The long awaited return to the track of Horspath's injured girl racer Livvi Horsley (broken collarbone) was Saturday at Exeter in round five of the South and South Wales Junior Grand Prix.  She went on to win the A final and strengthen her position at the top of the Womens Grand Prix series.  Having scored 15 in the qualifiers, she drew gate one in the final holding off a strong challenge from team mate Rachel Edge off gate four. Charlie Jane Herbert, who raced unbeaten in the qualifiers, was third with Rebecca Davies having to pull out just after the start. 

A good work out for all the region's women prior to next week's British Womens Championship.