WEYMOUTH Wildcats are disappointed that their meeting with the Birmingham Bulls will not see two female riders racing against each other for the first time.

The Cats take on the Bulls in a Midland and Southern Development League clash at Wimborne Road tonight.

Birmingham have not named Rachel Hellowell in their team for the encounter, while the Wildcats have included Cesca Kirtley-Paine in their side and it would have been the first time in 92 years that two females would have raced each other in league action.

Cats’ co-promoter Martin Peters said: “We can get on with everything as normal but it is annoying, because it would have been good.

“It would have been good for the whole entire sport to have two meetings with the two girls racing each other home and away.

“We have just got to focus on what is going to happen to us (tonight) and see if we can somehow pull off a win. It is going to be hard, I know the team they are bringing down is quite strong.”

Jacob Clouting returns for the Wildcats, with James Laker rested, with James Jessop captaining the team.

Andrew Palmer is a slight doubt but is named in the team

The Bulls boast two familiar names, with Jacob and Bailey Fellows having both rode consistently for Weymouth last year, while Arran Butcher and Tom Spencer round off the Bulls’ team.

Wildcats: Clouting, Jessop, Palmer, Kirtley-Paine

Bulls: Butcher, Spencer, J Fellows, B Fellows