Maidstone
Pre-season continued for Maidstone ladies with a 5-1 defeat at Bromley & Beckenham. The visitors went behind against the run of play before conceding from a penalty corner. Lizzie McClintock halved the deficit shortly before half-time. However, BromBeck restored their two-goal lead and although Maidstone played some nice hockey, they let in two more goals before the end. FIXTURES: Kent Women’s League Premier Division: to see my team-mate, Glenn Irwin, come in for his first-ever BSB win. Race two was a lot better for me than people realise. I had to run the harder rear tyre, which doesn’t suit me or the Ducati, and it’s something we only do when the track is really cold. Even so, I gave Josh Brookes a real run for his money on his soft tyres and finished third. It makes me positive that we could do that, particularly as we’ll no doubt have to do it again before the season is out, especially with Brands being in the middle of October. The conditions were horrendous for race three but it was a difficult call for the race directors as there were still Showdown spots to be decided. That said, it says something when out of the best riders in the country, only seven managed to finish, with me being one of the 16 to crash out. And so we head to Oulton Park this weekend. It is going to be tough and there is no room for error but I know I have the ability and the experience to see this out and claim a sixth championship title. Bring it on.