British Mountain Bike Cross-Country Series Round 5

 

Coed-y-Brenin, Sept 22, 2007
Report & Images Joolze Dymond

 

Results All Categories

 

Billed as a toughie, with one of Wales' best loved trail centres the venue, round 5 of the Freesport Optics British Mountain Bike Series was going to go off with a bang, in more ways than one as it turned out too! With much to play for and the final round a no option decider for those after the overall series win, tension was high and expectations of a real challenging course even higher.

Elite Winners, Amy Hunt and Peter Riis Anderson
The venue was based at the old visitors' side of Coed-y-Brenin. Parking and showers were provided over the road in the new state of the art visitors' centre, along with loads more trails for those able and willing to get stuck in and make the most of the fantastic setting.
The weather wasn't the kindest, but par for the course for what the XC guys and girls have been enduring for most of the year. Fortunately the course itself was unaffected by a little wetness (well okay they were issuing weather warnings for the area on Friday, but mountain bikers are a tough lot).

 

As it turned out the laps were long and treacherous with sharp rocks making life a real misery for some riders. At 10.5km per lap, made up of stiff climbs, plus some wicked singletrack, interspersed with tough fire roads, finished off with a cracking bermy descent down to the finish, this was by no means a fast course. Decision was taken to shorten the Expert/Elite races by 1 lap, but leaving the rest to do normal laps, seemed a long way to come otherwise for say Sport riders who would have been reduced to 2 laps.

First off as per usual, were the youngsters. In the battle for the junior race it was Hamish Creber, keen to put all the bad luck he'd been experiencing this season behind him, who was forcing the pace up the climbs. Alex Paton was quickly ruled out of contention when he became first of many to suffer at the hands of the unforgiving rocks, puncturing on the first climb. He called it a day after he finally managed to complete 1 lap. Meanwhile, after a poor start, Dave Fletcher, the junior National Champion soon kicked into overdrive and had joined Creber at the head of the pack, the two of them riding strongly, keeping a good gap between themselves and the chasers.

Worlds medal winner David Fletcher cranks it over

 

However a lack of a back brake put paid to any challenge Fletcher might have thought about and instead he just concentrated on getting himself and the bike round the course in one piece in order to pick up the overall series win. Hamish went on to take his second win of the series, delighted to have finished as he started the season; out in front. Behind him the fight was on for 2nd, with a 3-way sprint taking place between Seb Batchelor, Dave Fletcher and Hamish Batchelor. In the end Seb narrowly ousted Fletcher to take 2nd and Fletcher in turn squeezed past Hamish to pick up 3rd.

Dominant youth rider Michael Butler was unusually nervous at the start of his race and it wasn't until the start of the 2nd lap that he regained his composure and started riding like the victor he is. Main rivals all season, Kenta Gallagher and Will Verney, both fell foul to punctures, leaving Butler racing up there with the juniors, finally coming home to take his 4th win of the season and with it the overall title, with a minute in hand over 2nd placed Bengareth Roff. Luke Gray took 3rd.

The Youth Women's race snakes through the trees

 

Youth girls was once more dominated by Rebecca Thompson, but she didn't have it all her own way, with rapidly developing Ruby Miller keeping her company and breathing down her neck for most of the race. When Thompson punctured it looked like Millar might have the advantage, then Millar punctured leaving Thompson able to sweep past into the lead and take her 4th win and with it the series title, with Millar putting her triathlon training to good use, having to run the last section, where she was caught and passed by Jessica Laird, leaving her to pick up 3rd.

Max Sykes was having an uncharacteristic bad day at the office in the juvenile race, his hopes of 5 wins out of 5 were dashed by feeling lousy at the start followed by a dose of stomach cramps on the final descent. Season rivals Grant Ferguson and Hugo Humphreys took no second asking as they raced to the finish. It was Ferguson that got his longed for win, followed by Humphreys, with a disappointed Sykes coming home in 3rd. Still he'd known that the series was his even before he started so at least that was his consolation prize. In the youth women, it was Hannah Barnes who once more blasted to the finish to round up a cracking season for this young lady, her nearest rival Claire Oakley, despite a good battle was over 8 mins adrift in 2nd and Katy Winton picked up 3rd.

As midday neared, it looked like the weather might be easing slightly for the elite/expert and sport riders. A mass of riders thronged at the start, buzzing to get their races under way.

The elite men get underway

 

First up were the Elites, fielding international Danish rider Peter Riis Andersen, who had made it to the race despite a series of obstacles that to lesser mortals would have been enough to throw in the towel and go home. First there was the small matter of a plane crash at the airport that delayed him, then when he finally got to England, the hire car he booked wasn't there, when he finally sorted all that out and drove to Wales, he didn't arrive till 3am and being the gentleman he was, he didn't want to wake anyone, so slept in his wheel bag in the car! To say his race preparation wasn't the best would probably be an understatement!

 

In the mix and hopefully with a better start to the day were Oli Beckingsale, Paul Oldham, Ian Wilkinson, Dave Collins, Ian Field, Ian Bibby and National Irish XC Champion Robin Seymour. Very quickly it was Andersen, Beckingsale and Oldham that soon had the rest of the field eating out of their hands as they romped away on the climbs. As the race progressed many fell foul to the punctures; Ian Bibby dropped out after 2 punctures and a wheel change, Dave Collins supplied the wheel so he was out, followed by Ross Creber, Anthony O'Boyle and Richard Mardle.

 

Up front it was Andersen and Beckingsale that were playing cat and mouse with each other, Oldham's elastic had began to stretch and although not out of sight he couldn't quite hang onto their coat tails when the going got dirty. Finally it was Andersen who made the decisive move and opened the gap to come home to take the win and those precious UCI points, leaving Beckingsale to mop up just 18secs behind to take 2nd and the overall series win with it. Oldham hung onto his 3rd spot earning him his second podium of the year a good 5 mins clear of 4th placed Ian Wilkinson.

Contrasting portraits of two of the riders of the season, Oli Beckingsale (left) and Ian Wilkinson

 

The elite women's race was shaping up to be a real humdinger with everything to play for. For Jenny Copnall to secure the overall title she'd need to win, if Amy Hunt won and Jenny came second, they'd tie on points but Amy would win overall? it was a tense race.
Hunt didn't have the best of starts but soon worked her way to the front of the field and found herself out in front and with a gap. Kate Potter was the only rider able to respond and Hunt soon had company with the Cotic rider riding strongly up the challenging climbs.

 

Hunt's descending though gave her a clear advantage and with Potter held up with a suspect puncture Hunt took that advantage and ran with it. It turned out that Potter hadn't punctured and resumed the chase only to puncture on the final lap, leaving her to limp home out of the race. Meanwhile Hunt was out on her own and took a comfortable win ahead of a strong finishing Jenny Copnall, who was disappointed on not achieving the series win, but keen to get her hands on it next year, should be a great clash. Jenn O'Connor took 3rd.

 

After his disastrous race at Margam Nick Jones was not taking any chances, well okay he was, he decided to race and have a bit of fun and with it swept up the coveted series win in the expert race. Martin Brookes who's been pushing Jones all year took a well-earned 3rd behind Ben Simmons who picked up his second 2nd spot of the year.

 

While in the sport race a steadily improving Nick Evans finally took the 'big one' his first series win of the season, much to his delight. Series leader Gerald Tudor fell foul to the dreaded punctures ending up in the lower half of the field, but he still had enough in the bag to take 1st overall. Luke Webber took second and Chris Andrews 3rd.

 

With the expert, junior and sport women all going off together it was good to see a big bunch of ladies battling it out. Strongest of the bunch had to be junior Annie Last, who starting behind all the other categories soon made her way to the front and was first woman home, beating the experts and the sports as she went, whilst picking up the overall series win in the junior category. Teammate Jessica Roberts made one of her rare appearances this year and picked up 2nd whist a surprised Anna Buick took 3rd.

If you go down to the woods........

Mel Alexander took the expert women's race ahead of series winner Nadine Spearing. Alwen Williams took the honours in the Spots women's race, just 34 secs ahead of Sally Gabriel, with Lucinda Insall Jones taking 3rd.

Finally it was the turn of the masters, vets and super vets as well as those that just want to have a go in the open series. The weather by this time had taken a turn for the worse leaving the trails to run with little streams.

 

Geoff Beetham has been a thwarted man for most of this season; his usual run of form and good luck and seemingly deserted him, so he had nothing to lose with this final round. He went out all guns blazing and was soon out in front and home alone, romping up the hills with glee as the rest of the field tried hard to get back on terms with him. Matt Barrett's attempt was scuppered as he punctured but he got back on with the job and chased Beetham down. But it was not to be and at last Beetham took his yearned for win and with that note he's bowing out on a high, retiring at the top. Barrett took 2nd and with it the overall series win and he too had talks of babies and possible retirement, so who knows who'll be reigning supreme next year. Perhaps 3rd placed Jamie Newall will be the man to step up to the mark and take the gauntlet or perhaps 4th Paul Hopkins will get back his form and show them how it's done. We'll have to wait and see.

 

Katie Thilthorpe has had a great first season and proved it by taking the win in the master women's race ahead of series leader Theresa Jackson, Ruth Mordaunt picked up 3rd.

 

With Paul Hinton out of the vet's race due to a collision with a car earlier in the week, the race was very much wide open. Mark Cracknell was the man who took advantage with a sprint finish between Ed Nicholl for 1st spot, Cracknell came out on top with just 1 sec to spare. Mark Chadbourne who was leading until a puncture scuppered his race came home in 3rd closely followed by Roland Tilley and Andy Weaving.

 

Paul Hinton secured the overall series with special dispensation by the organisers. He turned up despite not being able to race, to support the event and pick up his well-deserved trophy.

 

Debbie Burton is having a splendid year, with the vet's women's race securely in her grasp. Her decision not to take out a racing licence this year means the all-important series win went to Kate Wheeler.

 

Roy Hunt continued to dominate the grand vets category, but it looked like he had more of a race on his hands this time round with Ray Crosthwaite hot on his heels, coming in 2nd less than 30sec behind.

 

Sallie Burnham, our determined grand vet lady was disappointed to puncture just as she was getting to the interesting sections, she was forced to walk the rest of her lap to the finish and Victor Barnett proved that age is no barrier to riding hard in the mud mixing it with the 'younger' grand vets he went on to take the win in his category.

 

The open races were won by Hannah Scotford Smith and Alex Paterson.

 

It may have been wet but the setting was stunning, Coed-y-Brenin has been a top mountain bike destination for many riders over the years and to finally get a race incorporating some of many features that the venue is renowned for was a fitting end to a long and prosperous involvement of the excellent team that make up InEvent, the organisers of the British Mountain Bike series for the past 4 years. Over those years we have seen the series grow in stature and the numbers of participants increase, making it a worthy series to test the best talent we have in this country. On behalf of all the riders who over the years have experienced the highs and lows of XC racing of this series, I would like to thank Martyn and all his crew for the fantastic job they have done in evolving the series into an exciting hotbed for talent through all ages. Whoever takes up the gauntlet and runs with it will have a fantastic starting point and lets hope the series will just get better and better and remains a fitting testament to all the hard work put in at the ground by Martyn and his crew.

 

Cheers Martyn, see you in a muddy field pretty soon no doubt!

Rider comments:

Rebecca Thompson
That was probably the best race of the season I think. It was me and Ruby (Miller) basically the whole race. We were pacing it, together on the first lap, then I managed to drop her on the last descent on the first lap, then she caught me back up on the top of the climb and I was 'whoa where did she come from!' I was really shocked and then I got a puncture and Ruby got a gap. So I had to sprint basically for the rest of the lap to catch her, then she got a puncture. So after all that I managed to win it. It was great to be pushed by Ruby she's really come on this season, I wasn't expecting her to be pushing me, but she was definitely helping me up those climbs as we were working together. It was good to have someone there to race with and not be out there on my own. A proper race that was.

Hamish Creber
That was a really good course for me; it was good to not only take the first win of the series but now also the last one too. I really enjoyed it. I've had quite a lot of bad luck in the later part of my season so this win has sort of made up for it. There was lots of climbing out there, which suits my style of riding. I got a really good start and managed to get away early on and then Dave (Fletcher) came across and we rode really hard for the first lap, but Dave's bike unfortunately broke, well the back brake failed, that's how I got away from him. So getting the win and finishing the season on a high is always good.

Dave Fletcher
That was a bit of a bad race for me today, I had a bad start, I slipped my pedal and half way through the first lap I lost my back brake, so I've had to do 3 laps without a back brake. I think the tables have turned today and I've suffered some of the bad luck that Creber has been suffering from, he had a good race today, well done to him. Overall series win, just caps off an excellent year for me, National jersey, podium at he worlds and now this, can't be bad.  It was a good course, a bit wet out there and a lot of rocks. It was quite bumpy hard on your arms and hands.  Next year I'm going up to under 23's so that'll be a whole different ball game for me, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge it should be good.

Hugo Humphries
Yeah it was an alright race, it was hard. I got hooked up on a root and Max and grant got away and then I spent the rest of the race just chasing them to get back up. I caught Max on the last section and got past him. He had a really bad race for him, he's got a bad cold, but he's won the series, so well done to him.

Grant Ferguson
Yeah happy to take my first win of the series at last. The course had lots of fire roads but there was quite good bits of singletrack. The race itself was fun, I really enjoyed it. I had a bit of a bad start but I caught back up, I just not very good at starting, something I think I'll work on over the winter!

Michael Butler
I had a pretty good race, though for some reason I was more nervous before the start of this one, than any of the others. I knew I only had to start the race to win the series but I was still nervous. I was so tense out there that I kept bouncing off things on my first lap, I was surprised to find myself up there with the juniors as I was so tense. But fortunately I got it together on the second lap. It was good. On the first lap Kenta was there with me, then something happened to him, coming down one of the descents, I think he punctured and then I was on my own after that. That was a really hard course, it was long and you sort of only get one speed going down the descents you can't go any faster as they're just so rocky.

Ruby Miller
Yeah that was a really fun race, I enjoyed getting stuck in with Rebecca. I've definitely improved, there's no way I could go downhill as fast as I have today at the start of the season, I felt really good out there. I was leading at one point after Rebecca punctured, but then I punctured and Rebecca passed me. I pumped my tyre up but it went straight back down, so I had to run the last section but got pipped to 2nd by Jessica (Laird) which was gutting, but I've got another year in this category yet, and really looking forward to next year now.

Max Sykes
I was doing alright out there, despite my sore throat, until the long descent, it was really rocky and I just got stomach cramps and had to freewheel down there. We arrived a bit late and I didn't get my usual pre race preparation, but these things happen. I got the series with maximum points so I'm happy about that, I would have liked to won 5 rounds out of 5 but you can't have everything. Next year I move up to youth, so it should be good, an extra lap, cross will get me used to that I hope.

Peter Riis Andersen
The Brits are pretty good riders, I had a good race out there today. I've had a few battles with Oli before, last weekend, we had a little bit of a fight at the World Cup. I liked the course here, it was a little boring on the climbing to be honest, but the descending was really nice, I miss something like that at home. Yes a good day I can't complain when you win, I must be satisfied. Oli and I were attacking each other out there a bit but it was really hard to get away, because the climbs are wide open and not so steep, it was really hard to make a difference plus the climbs were really long so you can't get out of site, the other guy is always in sight, so you focus on reeling them in again. This is the first time I've raced in Wales, but I raced in England back in 1998 for the World Cup in Plymouth, a long time ago. The rain didn't bother me, it rains in Denmark too!! It was good to come I was made to feel so welcome.

Oli Beckingsale
I was not so worried about securing the series I was more concerned with winning today but I didn't want to puncture so took it easy on the rocky sections. It was a tough course and with Peter turning up, I thought 'Oh brilliant, that's great'. He's a good guy, he had a really good ride at the Worlds, he was a couple of places ahead of me last week so I knew it was going to be tough to beat him. Paul had a good ride, but we did him on the 3rd lap. I tried to get away on the last climb but couldn't get rid of peter, he attacked me on the flat over the top, which I should have seen coming really but I gave it all on the climb. You had to be careful out there with the punctures, we weren't taking any risks. He took a gap into the downhill and I wasn't going to pull a gap back on a descent, so I just rolled down and settled for second. I got the series, I was thinking I was going to catch him on that last bit; we need the points at the moment, for our places at Beijing. But I got the series, which means I've doubled up again, which is good for my sponsors Giant and good for me. That's what it's about really just doing my job.

Annie Last
Yeah I was really pleased with my race today. After the Worlds I've taken a bit of time off, so I've come into this race well rested and really looking forward to it and I felt like I raced really well, pretty much the best I've done for quite a bit. For most of the race I was on my own. By the top of the first lap. I'd dropped the Expert women as well. The course was interesting, when I did my prep laps yesterday, I thought um lots of fire road climbing, then it started to go down and I thought this isn't so good. But actually in the race the final descent was really good I really enjoyed that. Lots of people punctured, but they were mainly pinch punctures so you just had to be careful. At one point I thought I'd messed it up, you just had tried carefully to make sure you don't make a mistake.

Paul Oldham
I'm getting good at this racing lark now, that's my second podium this year, I must have been practising. It weren't too bad a race, but Oli and peter were a bit stronger than me. They dropped me on the 3rd lap but I got back on just as everyone was going a bit hard and I got dropped again but it were alright really.

Nick Evans
It's been a great season for me, I've made real improvements and it's really good to finally get the win, in my last Sport race, I'm really glad. I'm moving up to expert next year so it's good to go out with a bang and finish on a high.

Mel Alexander
That was really hard, Nadine was flying on the first lap, I managed to catch up with her on the second lap and then managed to get away from her on the descents. So yeah it was good, a lot of climbing.

Nick Jones
Yeah that was lots of fun and nice and wet. I've had a bit of a bad end to the season I haven't been able to do the training I wanted, I needed the points for the series, but I thought I might take it a bit easy out there but in the end you just have to have a bit of fun don't you. Martin (Brookes) has been a real challenge all season he's been up there he pushed me again at the start of the race but we broke away and I got away on the climb and stayed away from there for the rest of the race which was quite nice. There were a lot of punctures and rear mechs coming away from bikes out there today it was quite a hairy race out there. There were a lot of rocks catching people out and a few crashes it was just tiredness creeping in towards the end of the race. I managed to secure the overall series win with this race; I had to race to win as I had a bad race at Margam, where I only managed 1 lap, so today was very important.

Amy Hunt
I didn't have that great a start today, it reminded me of Margam really. I just rode myself into the race. I got to the front at the start of the technical section and got a gap to ease myself into the start of the second climb. Kate (Potter) got back up to me, she was climbing so well, but she wasn't descending as well as me so luckily I was managing to get her back. At one point she pulled over, I think, she thought she'd punctured, but she hadn't, but I got in front of her and then I think she did actually puncture later on. But yeah it was a good race. With the overall series, I was sure I'd lost it, but my dad told me that if I managed to win today I would get it, but I wasn't really thinking about that, I was just thinking if my legs are good I'll have a good ride. I was relaxed going into this race; I think because I've not had a great year, I had nothing to lose on this one, so there was no pressure. If it had been rubbish, so what I'm so used to that now, but it was a good finish to the season, well apart from the 100km tomorrow. I'm really not looking forward to that.

Geoff Beetham
Finally I got a win and it's nice to be interviewed at the end of a race for a change! It hasn't gone well for me this year so I'm very pleased to finally win I think I've retired now from mountain biking, though I'll probably still race stuff like Mayhem. I just don't feel like I want to be competing against people really. I just don't want to concentrate on a whole series. I'd planned to retire after the National but didn't even make it down there due to the weather. I'd done loads of training for that and would have given it a good go, though I think Sam (Gardner) would have been hard to beat. Today was a really good course for me, all up hill. I finally felt good for once.

Victor Barnett
5 out of 5 can't be bad, it's really good isn't. Good course for me, the climbs were good, just losing a bit of time on the descending really but I was just trying to conserve myself on the bike, there's a long season ahead, as I got straight into the 'cross season now. Couple of week's time were off to Las Vegas for the Masters World champs so I was aware of that so I didn't want to do anything silly.

Debbie Burton
I was delighted to get the win today, it was a fantastic race and really really good fun. I loved the course, I'm not usually a climber but I loved it today, sometimes you just get in the groove. I was up there with the Masters, I was riding with Ruth a lot, it was good to be there with the masters. Kate (Wheeler) had a good start, I had rubbish one, but somehow I managed to sneak through and got in with the masters and they pulled me round I guess. I'm leading on the points overall, but I'm not a member of BC, so I wont get the series win. I decided this year that I didn't want to join the BC and gave the money to charity instead; it's the Diabetic society.

Mark Cracknell
Quite pleased with the win today, there were a bout 8 or 9 of us that are extremely close so the racing is always going to be tough. I was hanging on the group for most of the lap and just last lap started moving up and just caught Mark on the last descent as he'd punctured then I had a sprint to the last corner with Ed and I just got round him to take the win. Ed was on a soft tail and I think my hard tail gave me that bit of a kick and just got there. I've not had a good start to the season, I'm been improving slowly over the year and finally I've got there!

Katie Thilthorpe
I had a good race, I was feeling good, we've been on holiday out in Greece, so I've been doing a bit out there. I had to do the last one of the series and I wasn't really feeling up for it but I just went for it really. I quite like the climbs and being rewarded with some great descents was quite good too. I was a bit conscious of all the punctures out there, I went tubeless and it was fine.

Theresa Johnson
I was a bit paranoid that I was going to puncture today, if I had punctured and got worse than 7th I wouldn't have won the series. So there were a few nervous moments this morning. This was a fantastic course, the best one of the series. Katy is just a fantastic climber and going out on the last lap she just pulled away on the climb. She's been so close to it all season, so she deserved the win today.

Kate Wheeler
Yeah got the series overall, there's nothing better than winning. I had a bit of an incident out there just before the finish where I took a dive over the handlebars. Great finish to the season and many thanks to Paul and climb On Bikes, here's to next year!

Paul Hinton
I've been focusing on this last race for a while and thinking out a different strategy for this one. Unfortunately a bike accident involving a car at the beginning of the week has left me unable to ride, due to doctor's orders. I got a bit of a spinal injury.
Though with 3 wins and a 2nd I know I have the series win and I think it's only courteous to turn up and take the medal. It's good for the sponsors and it's good to show support for Martyn. It's a shame I couldn't do the last lap, but roll on next year.

Matt Barrett
Yeah Geoff got the win today he was going like a rocket. I was with him on the first lap, then I punctured put some latex in it and got back on but I couldn't close that gap, he was climbing well today. Really enjoyed the race and happy to take the overall series win.