...The UK Girls National Motocross...Pretty fast?

It may be unlucky for some, but not for the world of motocross as the 13th year of the UK Girls National took place at the beautiful Culham circuit in the heart of Oxfordshire. The aptly named Culham Park Girls National saw the highest number of entries in the events history and provided some outstanding racing between some of the most talented ladies in the world, welcoming those from the British Isles as well as those from abroad, even Russia, Iceland and South Africa.
With 182 competitors competing over two days for the first time since the event evolved in 1993, Portsmouth Motocross Club were called in to help and ensure the meeting would become the best ever.
Auto pilot Tara McLeon took the first win of the weekend, adding three more to take the overall victory and top spot on the podium. Jorja Johnson stayed hot on McLeon’s heels, and despite bike problems in her opening moto, she grabbed herself a win and two second places to stand proudly on the second step. The huge hug said it all for Marni Saunders. The West Sussex-based rider stayed in contention at the front of the pack to take two second places to be awarded third overall.
Lancashire lass Chelsea Gowland outclassed the rest of the Junior group with some superb riding, winning all her races in fine style to retain her Junior Champion status. Second placed Lauren Collingwood fought hard throughout the weekend to keep her rivals at bay, narrowly missing out on five consecutive second places, doing just enough to find herself in second spot. Young Bethany Farmer battled hard with Club rival Billie Dunlop but a huge crash whilst leading let Dunlop take the final podium spot, a gallant third in the final race giving Billie valuable points.
After her disappointing outing at the Girls in 2005, Stacey Fisher was determined to make the victory hers, and did so in pure perfection. Having Kayleigh Durston breathing down her neck in each race, Fisher had to keep level-headed and concentrated on the track in front of her and took all five wins to claim the Inter 85 Winners Trophy. Durston didn’t make it plain-sailing for Fisher and led the second race all the way until Fisher stepped up the pace to take the lead on the final lap. A brilliant performance by Southampton girl Kayleigh was rewarded with second spot. Gabrielle Hamlet kept Durston in her sights all weekend snatching the second place away in the final moto of the weekend. Added to her four third positions, the third step on the podium was guaranteed.
With 52 Big Wheeled riders entered for the weekend, Natalie Kane had extra competition vying for the title of Champion, but she was unbeatable, pure class all weekend, and made the victory hers, a task made even more impressive as she sat out the last race due to a shoulder injury. Five straight wins made up for the disappointment of her third place last year. Hannah McLeon from Scotland steered her trusty KTM around the Culham circuit to take second place. Three seconds and a race win made up for her disastrous last race outing to be deservedly awarded the second placed trophy. Keeping Portsmouth-based Ellena Needham just outside the top three despite her leading a number of races, Amie Goodlad kept her wits about her and fought hard to take third place, a brilliant achievement following her victory in the Small Wheel class in 2005.
The Senior class was dominated by Dutch rider Beitt V D Wekken, who controlled the group on day one with three straight victories to take the overall win. Day two saw the first race red flagged but on the re-start Louise Williams took over the lead and steered her Kawasaki to victory in both races. Added to her three second places second place overall was awarded. Staying in contention and with the podium in her sights, Lucy Welch rode her Honda to the max and achieving three third places throughout the weekend gave her enough points to snatch the last podium position away from her rivals.

With the introduction of the Pro Open class for this years event, the 450F added extra interest in the adult classes. With the Pro 125/250F, Pro Open and VMX ladies riding as one, the dust flew as over 30 riders battled for supremacy in their classes. After such success in the Senior class in 2005, Fife’s Kerry Wilson and Lincolnshire’s Sophia Paull led the field, but Sophia’s bike problems on day two left Wilson to take the overall lead in the AMX class. Kate Carne from Somerset went head-to-head with Wilson and took the second placed trophy after providing some breathtaking action between the front runners. Paull took the final podium spot after starting the weekend off so well with a race win. Tessa Hayward took top honours in the Pro Open class on her Yamaha, with a truly International feel in the VMX class with the top two riders coming from far afield. South African Sandy Wicks took five sets of top marks to take overall victory ahead of Holland’s Rian VD Wekken who scored five second place marks to take second spot. Last years VMX champ Sarah Williams from Sussex perched proudly on the third step of the podium, riding consistently all weekend.