Amanda Alldridge recorded the win for race five in the British Indoor Grand Prix Series in what was one of the most promising fields of the summer. While many of the exciting talent coming through the girls scene at the moment ... are away training out of the country, Alldridge, one of the older racers in the field gave the younger racers a challenge and proved that they still have some way to go if they want to be considered top dog in the summer racing. Nicole Ritchie took second with Emma Peters in third overall. Kate Taylor and Cameron Manson rounded out the top five finishers.
Francesca Lee posted the fastest first run time and looked to be on her way to a deserved win when she sat back exiting the top verticale on the second run and that was that. Her chances were over and while she picked herself up, Alldridge, already in the finish was able to celebrate another win in the series. While some racers looked for excuses as to why they had not taken expected better results, Alldridge put her all into both runs and while she was chasing Lee for the second run, some of the racers chasing these leading two would be better looking at their desire and determination rather than the laughter at the start. Getting the head in the right mode before the wand opens and then attacking the course is a situation that was sadly lacking from many of the chasing racers to Alldridge. Alldridge put almost three quarters of a second between her and the rest of the field on the second run: some of the chasing racers are better than that but need to raise their game if they are to be associated with good racing.
Shannon Potter took the Under 14 age group after one of her main challengers, Daisi Daniels straddled the last gate on the first run, Potter placed an excellent 6th Overall just ahead of Millie Jackson, who won the Under 16 age group. Emma Peters, in one of her last races before she heads off to continue her studies in Switzerland at Aiglon College, took third place overall and the Under 18 Age group win. Nicole Ritchie misplaced her phone between runs yet put this out of her mind to win the Under 21 age group and take second place with Alldridge taking the Senior Age group. Judy Reid took the Masters age group.
The Women's field could have been stronger but you can only beat who is in the field and that is what Alldridge did - the rest need to raise their game to challenge her!
Pictures available on www.racer-ready.ifp3.com
Results:Â ResultsRace5Ladies
Picture: Francesca Lee gets it wrong after winning the first run at Castleford. Picture Racer Ready, all rights reserved