National Downhill Championships

 

Rheola Forest, 15 July 2007

Images: Phil Ingham

 

Marc Beaumont and Tracy Moseley successfully defended their senior national Downhill titles over a weekend of rain, mud and some drama at Rhelola forest in the valleys of South Wales.

 

Marc Beaumont, left, and Tracy Moseley, Senior Champions

 

Senior podiums - from the left: Donoghue, Beaumont, Simmonds, Gaskell, Moseley and Griffiths

 

A tough old-school course, Rheola actually stood up to the monsoon of Sunday morning in particular fairly well. Roots became increasingly exposed in parts and there was some rutting of tighter lines, but it all remained pretty rideable. The biggest problems were maintaining vision as the thin layer of mud of the consistency of emulsion paint sprayed everywhere, and the logistical nightmare of clogged, soaked clothing.

 

However, apart from the rain, there was another dampner thrown over the weekend when Steve Peat crashed in qualification and badly injured his ankle. He was rushed to hospital and it's believe his injury has been operated on. This injury obviously throws his participation in the Fort William World Championships into doubt - the whole sport will wish him well and hope he's back on his bike in time for the Worlds.

 

Julian Poffley in action and on the podium with Ponting (left) and Titley

Josh Brycelend in action and on the podium with Dale (left) and Cunningham

 

Back to the Sunday action and the Senior Men's title went to Marc Beaumont, the hugely consistent MBUK Santacruz rider. His biggest threat was team-mate, fastest qualifier and last man down the hill, Neil Donoghue. Donoghue was flying and quicker at the half way time-split by two tenths, but he didn't quite nail the final plunge through the forest to the finish and lost out by a couple of seconds. Matt Simmonds, who has also been very consistent this season, was third.

 

Jerry Twigg in action and on podium with Wilson, left) and Ramsay

 

 Monet Adams and Neil Donoghue

 

In the Elite Women's race Tracy Moseley handled the conditions with her usual smooth style and took the win by a couple of seconds from Helen Gaskell, with Fionn Griffiths making a rare appearence in the UK taking third.

 

This season has seen some sensational performances by British juniors and Josh Bryceland did it again at Rheloa, not only winning the category, but producing the second fastest time of the day. Sam Dale and Ruaridh Cunningham both rode well as well and took silver and bronze respectively.

 

 

Another sensational young talent, Danny Hart floated over the worst of the conditions and was a fine seventh fastest overall as he took the Youth title from Gareth Brewin with Alastair Wilson third. Katy Curd and Monet Adams took the Junior and Youth Female titles respectively.

 

The Masters produced their usual closely fought battle, with Julian Poffley getting the verdict by some three and a half seconds from former champion Tim Ponting with Andrew Titley third. The Vets' title went to Jerry Twigg with Chris Waddup taking the Grand Vets' crown.

 

Results

Senior Men's Championship
1 Marc Beaumont MBUK Santacruz 00:03:13:227
2 Neil Donoghue MBUK Santacruz 00:03:15:587
3 Matthew Simmonds Ancilloti UK 00:03:16:602
4 David Smith Syncros/Electric/San 00:03:21:251
5 Dave Wardell GT/Burgtec 00:03:21:866
6 Phil Ashbridge Mountain high Cycles 00:03:22:359
7 Ashley Mullane Shred/Bikemagic.com 00:03:23:701
8 Tom Deacon Syncros/Electric/San 00:03:23:820
9 Rowan Sorrell S Wales Trail Centre 00:03:23:944
10 Chris Ball Intense, Dirt School 00:03:24:957
11 Ben Cathro Q Bikes 00:03:25:011
12 Tom Braithwaite Giant UK 00:03:25:734
13 Ralph Jones Dragon Downhill 00:03:26:031
14 Adam Brayton Electric/MTB direct 00:03:26:721
15 Joe Barnes CycleJersey MFX Aira 00:03:26:748
16 Will Longden MBUK Santacruz 00:03:27:108
17 Ben Baker BALFA UK 00:03:27:836
18 Fergus Lamb Ancilloti UK 00:03:28:331
19 Robert Smith Syncros Electric 00:03:28:508
20 Jon Brain Pearce Cycles RT 00:03:31:206
21 Liam Mason Fusion 00:03:31:836
22 Scott Beaumont Rocky Mountain UK 00:03:32:160
23 Lee Bertram Orange UK 00:03:32:311
24 Luke Marshall Sunn-Ride-Central 00:03:32:399
25 Richard Thomas Ancilloti UK 00:03:33:014
26 Michael Gray Psyclewerx/Cove UK 00:03:34:865
27 Nick Geoghegan Balfa UK/Mountain Ma 00:03:35:036
28 Stuart Jenkinson Hotlines/Rock Oil 00:03:35:175
29 Alex Florian Fort Royal 00:03:35:511
30 Peter Williams Probikesport 00:03:35:845
31 Chris Sinden Phil Corley Cycles 00:03:36:214
32 Kieron McAvoy Goldtec/BETD 00:03:36:292
33 Dan Yeoman 00:03:40:741
34 Tom Rodgers All Terrain Cycles 00:03:41:500
35 Matthew Pinches Disfunktional-dirt.c 00:03:42:833
36 Simon Aplin Astrix 00:03:43:145
37 Jamie Smith cluck huckers 00:03:44:340
38 Darell Upton DDR 00:03:44:713
39 Jamie Faulkner Stendec Racing 00:03:45:020
40 Tudor Jones Dragon Downhill 00:03:45:249
41 Duncan Ferris Fusion/DMR 00:03:45:372
42 Daniel Critchlow GT 00:03:45:560
43 Alan Whitelaw Wylie and Holland Ra 00:03:46:552
44 Jack Tattersall Sunn/Ride-Central.co 00:03:47:683
45 Steven Ruffell Probikesport/Fusion 00:03:48:353
46 Will Soffe Big Peaks 00:03:48:440
47 Joe Finney SUNNBICYCLE.CO.UK 00:03:49:856
48 Matt Kemp Ancillotti 00:03:49:873
49 Jason Davies Brooks Cycles RT 00:03:50:231
50 Tom Smith Revolver Bar/QT NZ 00:03:51:401
51 Matthew Dewey 00:03:52:129
52 James Flinders Mids and Borders 00:03:52:729
53 Gary Drake www.awcycles.co.uk 00:03:54:566
54 Adam Taylor mtb-direct.co.uk 00:03:56:739
55 Jonathon Morley SMART Coaching 00:03:57:919
56 Tom Nicholas 00:03:58:012
57 Matt Hurlstone No-Sat-Fat 00:04:01:670
58 Duncan Porter 00:04:01:770
59 Ben Deakin X-Lite/Royal Marines 00:04:01:998
60 Dave Valler 00:04:02:028
61 Alistair Keen MTB-Bitz.co.uk 00:04:03:262
62 Stephen Simms 00:04:04:008
63 Rich Cunynghame Charge Bikes 00:04:06:107
64 Chris Coates Team Cyclejersey/MFX 00:04:06:610
65 John Holbrook MTB Direct 00:04:08:999
66 Liam Little Solid/Electric/Knox 00:04:09:066
67 Jordan Gilbert Goodridge/The Bike C 00:04:10:240
68 James Green 00:04:10:829
69 Alasdair MacLennan RotecCycles.uk 00:04:12:002
70 James Bailey 00:04:16:764
71 Jack Malone Owens Cycles/Swansea 00:04:17:964
72 Chris Breeze Utopia Cycles 00:04:19:287
73 Liam O'Ryan Manchester Universit 00:04:19:969
74 Craig Aitchison Gcc 00:04:21:553
75 Alex Roberts Swansea Uni 00:04:24:053
76 Pete Durston Astrix 00:04:26:944
77 Robert Davidson 00:04:31:694
78 Gary Forrest Kona UK 00:04:40:307
79 Doug MacGrain Timmy 00:04:45:203
80 Aaron Frost RAM BikesUK/Bad Ass 00:04:50:927
81 Rob Warner Giant Racing 00:04:51:349
82 Andrew Wright Astrix/Wheels in Mot 00:05:26:338
83 Will Rowlands Stendec Racing 00:08:13:143
84 Rob Young Silton DH/MTB-BITZ 00:12:23:421

 

Senior Female Championship
1 Tracey Moseley Kona 00:03:42:265
2 Helen Gaskell HALFORDS/BIKEHUT 00:03:44:720
3 Fionn Griffiths NORCO Griffiths Raci 00:03:52:471
4 Anja Rees-jones Stendec Racing 00:04:11:472
5 Calamaty-Jayne Cann CF3 Kona Sombrio 00:04:25:378
6 Susan Mahony www.psyclewerx/Outla 00:04:32:88

 

Junior Female     
 1 Katy Curd Giant UK 00:04:31:770

 

Junior Male     
 1 Joshua Bryceland Royal/Santacruz 00:03:15:142
 2 Sam Dale Solid/Electric/Nike6 00:03:17:786
 3 Ruaridh Cunningham Bikelove Glasgow 00:03:18:275
 4 Jack Geoghegan Ancillotti 00:03:25:284
 5 Joseph Smith Ancilloti UK/THE 00:03:25:730
 6 Chris Hutchens Cyclejersey MFX 00:03:29:526
 7 Ben Rodgers All Terrain Cycles 00:03:35:855
 8 Samuel Shucksmith RAM BikesUK/Bad Ass 00:03:36:035
 9 Tom Wheeler Mojo/Orange 00:03:37:681
 10 Ashley Maller HJM Racing 00:03:37:802
 11 Scott Mears Fox Europe 00:03:37:885
 12 Ben Ineson  00:03:38:043
 13 Owain James Pearce RT 00:03:38:223
 14 Damian Groves Team Goldtec 00:03:41:028
 15 Alex Bond  00:03:45:980
 16 Andrew Phillips Ionashop,Electric 00:03:48:325
 17 Robert Williams Team Skene 00:03:56:117
 18 Kyle Farrow  00:03:56:701
 19 Danny Fietsch DESCEND HAMSTERLEY-M 00:03:57:515
 20 Bradley Daniel Shiel Pearce Cycles RT 00:03:59:167
 21 Joe Taylor Mojo Orange 00:04:01:443
 22 Daniel Millard Ecosse-Downhill-Raci 00:04:04:102
 23 Louis Swann PPC Racing 00:04:07:124
 24 Chris Collins  00:04:09:299
 25 Lewis Hawthorne Team Skene, Electric 00:04:10:427
 26 Ollie Hindley  00:04:13:208
 27 Evan Powell PSCycles/www.bikefot 00:04:31:092
 28 Huw Oliver descend hamsterley 00:04:35:661
 29 Sean Pringle Gala CC 00:04:46:294
 30 Joe Horton Pearce Cycles RT 00:05:11:541
 31 Rhodri Lewis www.bikefotos.com 00:05:15:974
 32 Christian Fairclough Rezurgence 00:18:09:161

 

Youth Female     
 1 Monet Adams descent-gear/qaud/cw 00:04:33:309
 2 Manon Carpenter Dragon Downhill 00:05:12:529
 3 Rose Hindley  00:15:57:017

 

Youth Male     
 1 Danny Hart BALFA UK 00:03:19:058
 2 Gareth Brewin Descent World 00:03:27:058
 3 Alastair Wilson Ancilloti UK 00:03:39:355
 4 Harry Molloy Muddy Fox/ Lifestyle 00:03:43:535
 5 Harry Heath  00:03:45:146
 6 James Dower www.jamesdower.co.uk 00:03:46:231
 7 Arran Gannicott Santa Cruz 00:03:46:392
 8 Bernard Kerr Marzocchi/extrememed 00:03:46:749
 9 Todd Kearney Solid/Electric 00:03:47:520
 10 Jake Boylett Dartmoor Cycles 00:03:48:823
 11 Aaron Shearer  00:03:52:634
 12 James Scott keswick mountain bik 00:03:53:937
 13 Jamie Maller HJM Racing 00:03:54:249
 14 Brad Mather  00:03:55:005
 15 Callum Dew Active Sport 00:03:56:740
 16 Benji Harrison  00:03:59:743
 17 Stephen Millyard Millyard Racing/Desc 00:04:00:657
 18 Ben Moorhouse Moonglu, Zeal Optics 00:04:01:459
 19 Rhys Matson Clive Powell Mountai 00:04:02:224
 20 Scott Jones  00:04:02:363
 21 Stefan Thomas Ancilloti UK 00:04:03:182
 22 Chris Price Brooks Cycles RT 00:04:03:600
 23 Ross Kenyon Brooks Cycles RT 00:04:06:800
 24 William Hewitt Banjo Cycles 00:04:09:456
 25 Reece Shields  00:04:11:957
 26 Tom Knight MTB-Bitz.co.uk 00:04:19:161
 27 Thomas Cartigny Bike Station Uk ltd 00:04:22:099
 28 Liam Moynihan Off Beat Bikes, WHW 00:04:23:448
 29 Oli Wakeman Sun Microsystems 00:04:24:668
 30 Perry Gardener Pearce RT 00:04:28:653
 31 Sam Potter Mountain Trax 00:04:32:082
 32 Robbie Nelson descend hamsterley 00:04:34:705
 33 Andrew Godden  00:04:36:164
 34 William Leathers-Smi Astonhill.com 00:04:47:495
 35 Jamie Crump  00:05:25:447

 

Juvenile Male
 1 Mark Scott Ecosse-Downhill-Raci 00:03:34:353
 2 Sam Flockhart Astrix UK/ Descent G 00:03:37:609
 3 Lewis Buchanan Dusttilldawn/Last Bi 00:03:40:774
 4 Fraser McGlone  00:03:54:351
 5 Billy Matthews  00:04:13:571
 6 Grant Boyce  00:04:19:281
 7 Devon Griffiths DGDownhill 00:06:00:121

 

Master Male     
 1 Julian Poffley Treadz 00:03:32:676
 2 Tim Ponting Mojo/Orange 00:03:36:040
 3 Andrew Titley Kona Sombrio 00:03:40:074
 4 David Tallontire Biking Heavon.com 00:03:42:592
 5 Sion Jones Electric/Santa Cruz 00:03:42:750
 6 Darren Howarth Kona Clarks 00:03:43:612
 7 Mark Weightman Leisure Lakes RT 00:03:44:631
 8 Paul May Rapid Racers.com 00:03:46:045
 9 Simon Paton Descent-Gear.com 00:03:46:833
 10 Lance Harland  00:03:47:558
 11 Zac Hubery  00:03:48:271
 12 Alun Lewis AW Cycles.co.uk 00:03:48:346
 13 Daron Osborn OZZ 00:03:49:823
 14 Jason Gidney Cycle Centre Penzanc 00:03:51:054
 15 Aidan Bishop Rapid Racers 00:03:51:146
 16 Chris Spencer Onimpex Bio-Racer RT 00:03:54:557
 17 Chris Ames Machenmigglymoos 00:03:56:137
 18 Russ Harland  00:04:00:900
 19 Paul Mackie www.rapidracers.com 00:04:02:129
 20 Colin Williams Solid / mtb-direct.c 00:04:02:599
 21 Paul Bridge  00:04:03:981
 22 Richard Ryder  00:04:08:397
 23 Alexander Bayne TSE RACING/Cyclopedi 00:04:08:727
 24 Chris Crook Extreme Culture 00:04:09:498
 25 Stephan Gleed Rapid Racers 00:04:09:981
 26 Jason Brennan Rave Racing 00:04:12:160
 27 Keith Clarke Rave Racing 00:04:12:400
 28 Brian Middleton MFX Airart 00:04:12:662
 29 Ben Greenland Dragon Downhill 00:04:14:061
 30 Dave English Descend Hamstereley/ 00:04:20:770
 31 Al Cartwright  00:04:28:590
 32 Ben Davies  00:04:30:998
 33 Adam Dewey www.designmodel.co.u 00:04:31:724
 34 Gary Burns  00:04:42:026
 35 Rob Cooksley RAM BikesUK/Bad Ass 00:05:20:083
 36 Craig Bromley RapidRacers.com 00:05:36:093
 37 Phillip Mclaren descend hamsterley 00:07:06:443
 38 Anthony Oates Onimpex RT 00:14:11:536
 39 Jayson Cavill  DNF

 

Veteran Male     
 1 Jerry Twigg Cycleworld Racing 00:03:48:791
 2 Keith Wilson Wades Cycles 00:03:55:668
 3 Seb Ramsay Ticket2Ride/Descend 00:04:01:189
 4 Jeff Wherlock Machen Miggly Moos 00:04:02:478
 5 Martin Crockett Midlands and Borders 00:04:08:125
 6 Richard Abbott Team No Good 00:04:31:469
 7 Paul French Ancilloti UK/Probike 00:13:23:221

 

Grand Vet Men
 1 Chris Waddup Evans Cycles 00:04:41:827
 2 Tim Flooks TF Tuned 00:05:31:738
 3 Paul Molloy Little Fish Big Pond 00:05:40:085

 

Senior Non Champs     
 1 Andrew Buddin descent hamsterley 00:03:41:725
 2 Tsui King Man Team Cannonadle H.K. 00:03:54:373
 3 Rob Scullion Team Continental 00:04:08:077
 4 Chris Derrick Dragon Downhill 00:04:11:102
 5 Robbie Rickman Cotic Bikes 00:04:12:300

 

Hardtail     
 1 Nathan Ball Dragon Downhill 00:04:14:225
 2 Alex Marshall The Hills Have Eyes 00:04:14:368
 3 Shaun Bevan Extreme Culture 00:04:19:351
 4 James Shaugnessy Dragon Downhill 00:04:20:350
 5 Bill Thackray Pontefract carpets 00:04:43:804
 6 Iain Woodley Club Ace Racing 00:05:45:732
 7 Jon Crewe Trever Evans! 00:06:13:419