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

Foxy Girls at Foxholes
Report by Kay Turner
2008 UK Girls National
Foxholes – 30th & 31st August 2008

The beautiful Wiltshire countryside was the setting for this years annual UK Girls National, the widely renowned official all-female motocross competition, now in its 15th year and still going strong. With national events taking place throughout the country and the increasing popularity of all-female meetings, numbers were slightly down on the previous year but the AO Smith Water Products sponsored event was proud to welcome 120 riders, with all the girls providing some outstanding racing. Some extremely talented ladies from around the British Isles, Holland and Belgium put on a great shown and all competitors proved that the sport is not a completely male-oriented entity.
            For only the second time in the events history, the riders were able to compete over two days, giving the girls the chance to complete six races throughout the weekend. The dry, stony Foxholes circuit proved treacherous at times, but all competitors rode the track with style, grace and pure unladylike aggression proving to all the male disbelievers that girls can race!
            With temperatures gradually rising throughout the day, the action was hot on the track too, with the AMX Open class taking charge of the meeting. The undisputed queen of the group, Scottish lass Kerry Wilson reigned supreme for the second year running, and was an absolutely awe-inspiring pleasure to watch. Not putting one wheel wrong throughout the entire meeting, a straight set of wins crowned her AMX Champion.
            A three-way battle followed behind between Hannah McLeod, Louise Williams and Vickie Parkin. Fellow Scot McLeod secured four second places to finish runner up and battled hard to keep Williams just behind her. After snatching second place in the third moto on day one, unfortunate spills and bike problems denied Williams a higher placing but she still secured third spot on the podium.
            The Senior class was next to line up at the start gate, 25 riders raring to match the outstanding AMX girls performance. After finishing runner up last year, Alix Dunlop was determined to step up onto the top step of the podium, and after steering her Kawasaki to the front of the pack, she rode three perfectly executed races to score a trio of maximums. Mum would have been proud of her performance had she actually been able to watch but stood proudly to see her daughter stand on top spot to be the 2008 Senior Champion.
            Amber Saunders persevered all weekend to snatch a win and moto two on Saturday rewarded her hard work with a race win. She kept within the top three for the remainder of the meeting and some faultless riding guaranteed her the second step on the podium. The distinctive white and blue KTM was pushed to the limit by Dani Hipgrave who certainly saved the best for last by grabbing the last race win, much to the delight of her family and friends. Narrowly missing out on a podium position in 2007, she secured two further second places to score enough points to take over the third step on the podium.
            For the third year running, Inter Open rider Stacey Fisher proved unstoppable and totally unbeatable. In the past two years Fisher has stood out from the rest of the field, scoring maximum points in every single race and this weekend was business as usual. Riding perfectly in each race, she triumphantly passed the chequered flag as victor and regained her champion status.
            Nail-biting, head-to-head action pursued Fisher in hot pursuit, with Kayleigh Durston and Chelsea Cashman taking it to the wire, both riders tying on points at the start of the final moto. Durston kept her cool and nearly led the way to victory until Fisher took over the lead on the final lap. But second place was enough to award Durston second overall just two points ahead of Cashman. Cashman rode strongly throughout the weekend, two seconds and three third places guaranteeing a podium position, and third overall was her reward for such an impressive performance.
            Portsmouth-based Bethany Farmer proved unstoppable in her new riding class for 2008, and after finishing in second spot last year, the top step of the podium was the ultimate goal for the talented lass this year. Her weekend started off perfectly, three convincing race wins setting the standard for the rest of the meeting. Starting off day two in the same way saw Farmer win the opening race and relaxed into second in the final moto knowing the Inter 85 crown was hers.
            Chelsea Gowland enjoyed the taste of victory twice during the weekend, and stayed in contention for top spot throughout the remainder of the meeting but settled in behind Farmer in three more motos to secure second overall. Danni Marsh kept Gowland well within her sights during day one, and kept her wits about her and fought hard to pass the chequered flag in third in all motos to settle on the third step of the podium.
            Five out of six wins secured Dutch rider Nancy Van De Ven the Junior title for 2008, riding positively and strongly throughout the meeting, only slipping up once in the opening race but still secured the victory. Jorja Johnson looked set for the perfect start to her weekend by leading race one, but a puncture spoilt her chances but she soldiered on to finish in third. Chasing Van De Ven she sped into second place in three more races and saved the best for last to win the final moto and secured second step on the podium. Tara McLeod battled hard all meeting to pass Johnson, settling in behind her for four races, finishing within the top three and moved onto the podium in third place after finishing seventh last year.
            A new name was added to the Champions list over the weekend, Charlie Townsend who reigned supreme in the Auto class. Narrowly missing out on a full set of race wins, she sped to victory in four out of six motos still finishing second in the other two and rode swiftly to victory and triumphantly sat pretty on the top spot of the podium.
            Leonni Tighe chased Townsend all the way taking over the lead in two motos and rode confidently throughout all six races to pass the finish flag high up the leader board to take over the second step on the podium. Keeley Shannon scrapped head-to-head all weekend with Sophie Heath, both riders achieving three third places, but Shannon’s last gasp effort in the final race on the final day pushed her straight into second place and with just a couple of points to spare secured the third step of the podium.

Results:

Autos: 1 Charlie Townsend, 2 Leonni Tighe, 3 Keeley Shannon, 4 Sophie Heath, 5 Jody Merrydew, 6 Ciara Robertson, 7 Mia Millward, 8 Emma Carlton.
Juniors: 1 Nancy Van De Ven, 2 Jorja Johnson, 3 Tara McLeod, 4 Gabby Barry, 5 Marni Saunders, 6 Nicole Kane.
Inter 85s (Small Wheeled 85cc): 1 Beth Farmer, 2 Chelsea Gowland, 3 Danni Marsh, 4 Vanity Van Der Tak, 5 Ellie Caines, 6 Billie Dunlop.
Inter Open (Big Wheeled 85cc): 1 Stacey Fisher, 2 Kayleigh Durston, 3 Chelsea Cashman, 4 Tanya Dentith, 5 Cherie Wingar, 6 Sacha Williams.
Seniors: 1 Alix Dunlop, 2 Amber Saunders, 3 Dani Hipgrave, 4 Ellena Needham, 5 Lesa Dranfield, 6 Sarah Symonds.
AMX Open: 1 Kerry Wilson, 2 Hannah McLeod, 3 Louise Williams, 4 Vickie Parkin, 5 Louise Powell, 6 Charlie Ryall.