Dave's race - When it all goes horribly horribly wrong
BM's Dave Arthur takes on Checkendon. Checkendon wins...
This was the first time at Checkendon for me, and I'll look forward to the next race back there. It had all the ingredients for a quality XC race course. First, it's mostly singletrack, which in anybody's book is a good thing. Next, there wasn't a huge amount of climbing. The climbing that was there was of the short steep variety. So this course was all about pure speed and power, a great combination.
Even though it had been raining during the morning, the course had dried up remarkably quickly - there must be some huge sponge underneath the course. I was riding a steel/carbon hardtail and found the course a little too bumpy out the back, despite looking smooth the recent rain had turned over the top surface and created a rippled surface. A short travel full-susser would have been the weapon of the day.
As it turned out, it wouldn't have mattered what I'd been riding. I'd been ill in the week leading up to therace. Nasty cough, phlegm and snot everywhere, temperature, the full works. I'd done everything by the book to get better; lots of sleep, eaten loads of greens, chowed down on plenty of fruit and downed gallons of water - I thought I was ready for my first XC race for quite a long time.
When it goes to plan, racing is a great feeling. That effortless feeling of cranking through the woods at warp speed and toasting the climbs in a rush to get to the descent, overtaking slower riders all over the place - fantastic.
But for me that lasted about quarter of a lap. The start of the sport field was, in typical fashion, blindingly fast, but I was well up the field through the early singletrack. But it started to hurt in places it really shouldn't, and it dawned on me that perhaps I hadn't quite recovered fully. So reluctantly, in an act of self preservation, I pulled out of the race and limped forlornly back to the car park. No worries, I'll be back and not ill and fitter for the next round at East Grinstead. See you there.
Dave
The Southern XC 2006 kicked off at Checkendon for the first in a five race series. The revised five mile lap took in the a new bridge and underpass with loose dirt allowing for some Sam Hill moments, before hitting the steep climbs, sketchy descents and high speed singletrack all adding up to the best course at this popular venue in some time.
Despite taking an easy year and focusing on the road, Rich Wood (Torq Bar) won the Elite race without realising - stopping to ask if he had indeed took the win with such ease over Stu Bowers (Hargroves Cycles) and Richard Mardle (Felt UK).
In the new Expert/Super Master race Jamie Norfolk (PedalOn) rode away from Mark Russell (Torq) to claim the win, with Sam Gardner (Evans) third. In Sport, Henry Turgoose (Pro-cup.com) got an early lead and never looked back, Andy Cockburn (Cambridge Uni) coming closest to closing his early lead.
Earlier in the day, Alex Paton (Activ/VC Deal) took an easy win in Youth, two minutes ahead of team mate Michael Butler, a feat repeated by Billy Joe Whenman (Marin) showing some fine early season form in the Juniors.
The racing was close with a big turnout(pic: Like Webber)
Steven Richards (VC Muedon) rode three consistently fast laps for the Masters win, followed by Will Thomas (Evans) and Allen Krutz (Leisure Wheels). In a Veterans race which exhibited both quality and quantity - 55 riders - Mark Cracknell (AWcycles) finished first despite the efforts of Mark Chadbourne (Ride Cycleworks).
The Grand Veterans race was dominated by Ray Crossthwaite (PedalOn) who pulled out a commanding lead over Norman Butler (BikeGuetemala.com) for the win.
In the women's races Gemma Collins (VC Deal/Activ) was the Elite winner, with Lydia Gould (Torq) taking top honours in the Expert/Super Masters.
The remaining dates in full:
- Round 1 Sunday 23 April Checkendon (RAT MBC)
- Round 2 Sunday 14 May East Grinstead (Team Darenth)
- Round 3 Sunday 18 June Crow Hill (Team Southern XC)
- Round 4 Sunday 30 July Bordon (West Drayton MBC)
- Round 5 Sunday 3 September Yateley Heath Wood (Gorrick MBC)
More details, entry forms and stuff at www.southernxc.com.
The winners lap of the applause (pic: Like Webber)
Paul www.ratmbc.co.uk Sheppard
