G2 Revolver Series - Round 2 , The Long Good Saturday

 

Brighton

5-6 April 2008
Report & Images: Joolze Dymond

The Long Good Saturday? It certainly was! A cracking day out, with some excellent trails, brilliant atmosphere, fabulous weather and beer, all the ingredients for a memorable event.

The Long Good Saturday was the second of a series of 3 enduro events developed by Inevent and sponsored by Gary Fisher. The format was an 8 hr enduro, starting at midday and finishing at 8pm leaving plenty of time to head off to Brighton for a post race party. Stanmer Park, Brighton was the venue for the event, an area not used for mountain bike racing for many years and it was a welcome return to this part of the UK.

Enduro specialist Ian Leitch gave himself the day off solo riding and instead put his skills and experience to good use, putting together a cracking 11km loop crammed to the brim with technical, challenging singletrack, with such classic names as 'the bit in the middle' and 'danger run'! Leitch and his fellow course designers, Simon Turner, Jon Aston and Robin Hoffman, also provided a number of hidden delights, as the riders blasted through the undergrowth, every so often they would come face to face with a few choice cardboard cut outs, Axel Rose was out there, along with a number of local riders in 2D form giving their silent encouragement.

One more famous face was spotted at the event, but this was no cardboard cut out! Gary Fisher, the grand daddy of mountain biking had dropped in to take part in the event he was sponsoring and he looked delighted at the prospect of getting stuck in out on the dry dusty trails!

With some rocking tunes courtesy of the DJ's the festival feel of this event really kicked in and as the hundreds of riders lined up to start the race it felt like they'd be taking it easy and gently leaving the start line to cruise happily around the course, politely for the full 8 hours?Well it didn't quite happen like that but very nearly!

The riders were counted down and it was a mad scramble at the front as the riders sprinted for the front. Team 69er rider 'Shaggy' led the riders out of the arena and snaked them into the first of the maze of singletrack action, criss crossing the busy A27 on their way.

Team Torq/Kona were aiming for the big time in the men's team of 4, with an eye on the fastest lap prize too the boys gave it their all, racking up an impressive 16 laps on their way to the finish line and a pint of free beer. Southfork racing.co.uk gave them a good run for their money but they couldn't quite pull it out the bag and had to settle of second one lap down. Local boys and course "putter togetherers", Brighton DJ All Stars, did themselves proud, holding off the XCRacer team, containing the top man Mr. Fisher, and the keen boys of Shred or Dead, to take 3rd spot.

Torq/Kona boy Nick Collins did his team proud too by posting the fastest lap, and his reward? A massive 36 pint container of local beer - courtesy of Harvey's Of Lewes. Perfect for the thirst he undoubtedly built up doing that fast lap!

Torq/Kona continued their orange & black domination of the podium as their mixed team took the top step honours just edging out the Madgex Team 2.
Unfortunately the Torq bus stopped in the mixed pairs as Lydia Gould & Charles Newton-Mason got pipped to the top spot by local pairing of Charlie Eustace and his lovely and fast lady, Irene Lachner. Charlie took the chance on the podium to see how well Gary Fisher's beard tickled and planted a big wet sloppy kiss on the mountain biking legend. Just 12 mins separated the duos. Julie & Simon Londors picked up 3rd.

In the men's pairs it was a national champion paired with a local lad who managed to hold of some serious competition. The top 4 teams all did 14 laps and just 15 mins separated the top spot from 4th? Phew! With some tree hugging and unique team encouragement (you had to be there and the photos would definitely not be publishable?) singlespeeders, Phil Moore, current National singlespeed champion and team mate Oli Pepper, took the honours. Despite having no idea that they were in the race for a win, they pipped rivals Team Thule - Rick Lister and Mark cotton by just 7 mins. While team pairing of Jo & A roadie (Jo Burt & Will Thomas) took 3rd just 3 mins further down.

Karin Oakes took top prize in the women's vets solo, while Eloise Lindenberg, riding with number 1 plate held off an international challenge from American visitor Steph Vogel to take the women's solo category by just 1 lap.

A last minute entry was well rewarded for Simon Smith as he took a surprise win in the vets solo, just edging out Ray Perry by a mere 7mins. Andy Goodyer took 3rd to make up the final podium spot.

With a wealth of talent and big hitters in the field of solo racing, it was anyone's guess who would take the men's solo race. Rob Lee lined up alongside Mayhem winner Anthony White and Matt Page was also keen to get in the mix. However after 13 fast laps it was a relative unknown rider who took the honours. With nearly 14 mins in the bag Craig Bowles took the win from a gracious Anthony White, with Matt Page taking 3rd. Rob Lee abandoned early on due to mechanicals.

As the race came to an end Gary Fisher was there to greet the finishers with a very welcome glass of Harvey's beer. A fitting end to a grand festival of mountain biking, which we only hope will return here next year for more of the same!
As celebrations continued well into the night, competitors regaled us with their tales of near misses and singletrack heaven at the local hostelry in Brighton, everyone agreed, a grand day out was had by all!

 

Rider Comments:

Gary Fisher
This was a great course a whole lot of fun, really twisty a few unexpected things, some technicality, some pure speed. There were some places where you could really wind it out and overall yeah a lot of fun. Finishing with a beer in your hand is how it should be: the enduro scene is evolving?

'Shaggy '-John Ross - men's pairs
There's only 2 of us today, just me and Andy as it's mainly a Gary Fisher event but we came cos it was so much fun at the last one. The course was brilliant and a lot like Bristol where I live, but it was a lot faster a lot less rocky but really, really fun, can't wait to come back and ride here next year. The name of the event sums it up.

Phil Moore & Oli Pepper - men's pairs winners
We didn't know where we were until half way round the race and we looked at the score board and went oh blimey we're 4 mins ahead of he other team. But then we didn't know whether that was 4 mins up from 4t, or 5th we really had no idea. There was no plan at all, we were just here to have fun, ride our bikes round in circles, and it just so happened we did that more than anyone else. It just so happened we might have had a good team with Phil being the current singlespeed National Champ and Oli being local. We thought we'd make a good team and we were right! The course was so much fun, we did a bit of tree hugging on the way round, it was just awesome. The climbs on the first half really stung, but was followed by some beautiful fast and flowing singletrack. We were really lucky with the weather I guess it would have been a train wreck if it had rained. It was juts brilliant the more tired you got the more fun the singletrack was and finishing with beer was just inspired, I mean it's carbohydrate isn't it and you need that to help you recover! I hope they come back again next year this is just so much fun. We've ridden cyclo-cross here in the winter and that's just so different, an hour of balls out riding, where here this is a war of attrition but it's much more fun, we just hope they can come back and use this venue again.

Ian Leitch - course designer
We were so lucky with the weather, this is a venue full of brilliant singletrack and when it's dry it runs well and luckily we had a good dry day and that was our aim, provide some great trails some great tunes and some beer oh and make people smile! We hid a few cardboard cut outs of some local riders out on the trail so that it would make them smile as they came tearing round a corner; it was fun and went down well. We would have liked to have done a few more things but it was just hectic. It was good to get Harvey's a local beer manufacturer on board, we always wanted to have a bit more here than a burger van and a timing van and we managed that. It was fun and now we're all off for a few more beers, a perfect day!

Charlie and Irene - Mixed Pairs
We had to do well as this is our local venue and it was one of the best courses we've ridden all year and we were just flying along with everyone else, soaking up the brilliant course and the fun atmosphere. I have to say it was good being on the podium, oh and Gary (Fisher) is a good kisser! Irene was very strong out there and very fast and everyone was smiling it was just an excellent day and it was a pleasure seeing you out on the course as per usual, especially when you were lying down in the grass!

Karin Oakes - Solo vet women
They very kindly called my category, vet women, when they really should have called it grand or super vet really for me! It was fantastic out there I really enjoyed it - a brilliant course: I enjoyed every one of my 7 laps, it was just so much fun. Compared to home which is Hertford, this was much harder especially the last lap, I really ground that one out but it was such a great race with fabulous atmosphere, ever one who over took me did so without exception in a lovely manner, there was no pushing or shoving or barging past, it was really nice. I'll be back next year for definite!

Simon Smith - Vet Solo men
I'm stunned; I've only ever won XC races in minor categories before, so I can't quite believe I've won this! I just thought that getting on the top step here was well out of my capabilities. Doubt I'll carry on enduro racing after this fluke though! It was so enjoyable and thanks to eh Torq riders who kept calling out the positions I had no idea where I was or who I was racing against. So when these guys shouted out I was second at one point I didn't know whether to believe them, but I did and it gave me a massive boost. My last 3 laps were slightly quicker and just managed to get into first. It was a real last minute decision to ride this I only signed on this morning after seeing what the weather would do. It's been fantastic there's 2 inch of dust out there which is great, it was tough but very enjoyable.

Craig Bowles - Men's Solo
That was a superb course, great event and some great competition in the solo race, it was really good fun. I guess that, as no one really knew who I was it really played to my advantage. I started steady and tried to ride nice and consistent and sensibly. I was very surprised when I began picking off guys like Rob Lee (I think he had a mechanical) and Matt Page and Ant White.
Towards the end though every time I heard a noise I was oh they're catching me, but I seemed to have got a comfortable gap in the end. I started mtb racing here 10 years ago to the day in fact but I had a break, job commitments, family etc, I started riding again last year and rode a few events but I didn't get a lot of time to ride in the winter due to my job. So I was surprised today, but it was awesome course and awesome event, hopefully I'll be back to do some more.

Steph Vogel - 2nd solo woman
Well I came in second out of 2 women today and I tried so hard! You know if it had rained I would have been very upset, it was such a beautiful day I could have not just ridden all day long and that's why I went out and kept going out for 8 hours because it was such a beautiful day. At home in Vegas it's currently a 108f, so here it's quite nice to be able to wear short sleeves and it was just so comfortable out there! It's such different riding to home. There was such good energy out there today which was fabulous; you know all the energy I gave out at Mayhem came back to me here today. I had so many cheerleaders out there today it was just so nice. I've done quite a few events in the UK, but I won't be doing any more on this trip but you haven't seen the last of me, I'll be back!

Matt Hart - Torq team manager
Fantastic outing today for our 3 teams and great to see the wife make her racing debut after 10 years! Fantastic course, I can only speak personally, but on the first lap I thought what a nightmare, because its public land they couldn't tape a lot off I was very confused as it was very disjointed. But when I came to do my second lap and I knew where I was going, it was absolutely brilliant; it was just a case of knowing where you were going. It was really dry and dusty and great to do a race with no mud. I think everyone really enjoyed it and another couple of podiums for the team, which can't be bad. We've got quite a lot of strength and depth in the team now, which is brilliant.

 

Results

Team - Men
1 Torq/ Kona Marcos Schier/Matt Loake/Nick Collins/Steve Shaw 16 Laps In 07:59:16
2 Www.Southforkracing .Co.Uk Julian Ridgley/Peter Dawe/Myles Gerrard/Mike Tomlinson 15 Laps In 07:49:53
3 Brighton Dj All Stars Ian Leitch/Jon Aston/Robin Hoffman/Simon Turner 14 Laps In 07:31:07
4 Xcracer.Com 29ers Charlie Wigfall/Matt Lewis/James Hampshire/Gary Fisher 14 Laps In 07:51:50
5 Shred Or Dead Cc Jonny Yates/Richie Rowland/Nigel Smith/Steve Toze 14 Laps In 07:55:42
6 Team Dalunapa David Flowers/Lucio Pessia/Nathan Shaw/Paul Guyan 11 Laps In 07:59:40
7 Hot Cross Bums Denis Aspinall/Guy Warnet/Keith Pulling/Atuart Aspinall 9 Laps In 07:11:13
8 Madgex Team 1 Damon Cater/Jim O'neil/Mark Bedser/Steve Wigzell 9 Laps In 07:21:45

Team - Mixed
1 Torq/ Kona Sasha Hart/James D'arcy/Matt Hart/Rob Barker 12 Laps In 07:35:14
2 Madgex Team 2 Andy Cherry/Bruce Boughton/Emma Wood/Nick Morley 10 Laps In 07:43:33

Pairs - Men
1 One Speed Revolution Oliver Pepper/Philip Moore 14 Laps In 07:36:10
2 Team Thule/Eas Energy/Shimano Mark Cotton/Rick Lister 14 Laps In 07:43:15
3 Jo & A Roady Jo Burt/Will Thomas 14 Laps In 07:46:34
4 Legends Of Yeah Nick Kensington/Vince Kamp 14 Laps In 07:47:37
5 69er Collective Andy Gowan/John Ross 14 Laps In 07:51:20
6 Autobahn Nullpunkt Funf Alastair Waugh/Nick Wheeler 13 Laps In 07:27:13
7 Vc Lincoln/Pygott & Crone/Bang & Olufsen James Shaw/Leigh Andrews 13 Laps In 07:35:38
8 Team Flash Frazer Clifford/Lea Denison 13 Laps In 07:39:46
9 Bubble & Squeak Rory Hitchens/Nigel Foskett 13 Laps In 07:43:10
10 Madgex Magic Mark Newnham/Nick Sky 13 Laps In 07:46:35
11 A Ride In The Park Richard Penning/Rob Leathley 13 Laps In 07:53:23
12 Team Darenth James Stone/Baz Martin 13 Laps In 07:55:55
13 Dave & Jyoti Dave Simnett/Jyoti Gongba 12 Laps In 07:32:07
14 Old Bloke Young Bloke Paul Street/Sandy Dobiecki 12 Laps In 07:48:39
15 Brighton Mitre Andy Parle/Ben Miller 12 Laps In 07:50:54
16 Juan Eau Nein Gareth Ambler/Oliver Ayres 12 Laps In 07:51:42
17 The Mackie Races Brian Lang/Gordon Smith 12 Laps In 07:53:21
18 Alyn & Bryan Alyn Jones/Bryan Wigmore 12 Laps In 07:53:35
19 The Bmx Bandits Gareth Taylor/Lewis Collins 11 Laps In 07:26:39
20 Southfork Social Carl Ward/Matt Wilson/Nick Butler/Sean Connock 11 Laps In 07:28:07
21 Mini Revival Mark Ponsford/Paul Floodgate 11 Laps In 07:43:09
22 Betty Swallox Steve Ragg/Tim March 11 Laps In 07:46:22
23 Bongo Pedallers Paul 'The Flea' Chapman/Mark 'Pedal Monkey' Brown 10 Laps In 07:12:44
24 Team Norfolk Enchance Andy Constable/James Jackson 10 Laps In 07:27:26
25 The Young Ones Ben Sherwood/Tony Young 10 Laps In 07:38:53
26 The Good Old Boys Paul Newman/Richard Salmon 10 Laps In 07:46:09
27 Mtbtrailfinder .Co.Uk Anthony Quin/Lee Smith 10 Laps In 07:50:52
28 Cake Or Death Andy Sanders/Jim Kirk 10 Laps In 07:53:28
29 Should Try Harder Steve Thomas/Tom Faith 8 Laps In 06:19:57
30 Tea Drinkers Society David Saines/Neil Jones 6 Laps In 07:32:12
31 Pairs Boyzone Dan Jarvis/Jon Sharpe 4 Laps In 06:48:03
32 Dave Nicholson Tribute Band Gez Walton/Nick Metcalf 3 Laps In 04:26:26
33 Cyclesense Bikeshed Henry Lansdown/Richard Holmes 1 Laps In 03:50:24

Pairs - Mixed
1 Freeborn / Ellsworth / Torq Charlie Bluesteel Eustace/Irene Lachner 13 Laps In 07:28:14
2 Kona Torq Lydia Gould/Charles Newton-Mason 13 Laps In 07:40:19
3 Julie & Simon Julie Londors/Simon Londors 10 Laps In 07:21:00
4 London Phoenix/Tommy Cooper Fan Club Abigail Armstrong/David Steele 10 Laps In 07:28:18
5 Team Bodyloft Claire Blain/Dave Blyth 10 Laps In 07:48:57
6 Mike & Julie Mike Kennard/Julie Macdonald 9 Laps In 07:11:19
7 Sussex Muddy@Rse Ollie Randles/Sally Bush 9 Laps In 07:21:54
8 Sussex Muddy@Rse - The Bunny & Goat! Lisa Bowell/Rick Bowell 7 Laps In 07:36:45

Solo - Men
1 Craig Bowles Berks On Bikes 13 Laps In 07:26:06
2 Anthony White Betd Goldtec 13 Laps In 07:39:49
3 Matthew Page Wiggle/Focus 12 Laps In 07:22:01
4 Barry Stewart Kent Cycles Rc 12 Laps In 07:26:22
5 William Jones Car Park Heroes 12 Laps In 07:40:31
6 Simon Rodgers Car Park Heroes 11 Laps In 07:11:24
7 Mike Saunders Waikato 11 Laps In 07:19:59
8 Tom Marchment Upgraded Bikes 11 Laps In 07:20:57
9 Robert Dean 711618 11 Laps In 07:34:16
10 Richard Sale 428847/Horwich Cycling Club 10 Laps In 07:16:37
11 Matthew Knight South Downs Bikes 10 Laps In 07:18:41
12 Neil Stevens 429981/Vc Norwich/Fitt Signs 10 Laps In 07:20:38
13 Gary Shipp Outdoor Solutions 10 Laps In 07:28:39
14 Chris Nightingale Flow Racing 10 Laps In 07:37:57
15 Julian Jordan Berks On Bikes/Purple Bike Shed 10 Laps In 07:38:34
16 David Arthur Magicalia 10 Laps In 07:40:22
17 David Clark Cheekytrails.Co.Uk 9 Laps In 07:12:45
18 Steve ???? 9 Laps In 07:22:28
19 Glenn Campbell 9 Laps In 07:33:50
20 Rob Jones Team Mr Cycles 9 Laps In 07:40:37
21 Richard Stott Hayfield Hub 9 Laps In 07:50:41
22 Tim Edwards Team Mr Cycles 8 Laps In 06:57:40
23 Al Brennan The Paddy Daddies 8 Laps In 07:53:08
24 Richard Gearing 457564/Sussex Mtb 7 Laps In 07:06:16
25 Scott Mansell 7 Laps In 07:46:11
26 Rob Lee 407980/Ironhorse Extreme 6 Laps In 03:45:40
27 Darren Putt 706927/Motus 6 Laps In 03:52:53
28 Phil Hodgkiss Raasay Rumble/Ernest Press 6 Laps In 04:52:28
29 Jerome Buckley Jey Pride 5 Laps In 05:10:54
30 Tony Berlin Crawley Cc 3 Laps In 02:15:29
31 Chris Harris Leitch Cycles 3 Laps In 03:08:19

Solo - Women
1 Eloise Lindenberg Southern Grease Monkey 9 Laps In 07:25:55
2 Steph Vogel Betd Goldtec 8 Laps In 07:42:36

 

Solo Veteran - Men
1 Simon Smith Dirt Devils 10 Laps In 07:11:15
2 Ray Perry Ellsworth / Freeborn 10 Laps In 07:18:06
3 Andy Goodyer Southdownsbikes.Com 10 Laps In 07:35:57
4 Jon Kenward Mrcycles.Co.Uk 10 Laps In 07:47:56
5 Jay Chisnall Brighton Mitre 9 Laps In 06:29:05
6 Paul Beckett 704865/Bikeright 9 Laps In 06:36:15
7 Jamie Lynch Mr Cycles.Co.Uk 9 Laps In 07:12:33
8 Rupert Robin 9 Laps In 07:29:16
9 Simon Catmur The Filth & The Fury 9 Laps In 07:59:40
10 Jonathan Thompson Attunedbody.Co.Uk 8 Laps In 07:46:09
11 Matt Holland Inevent 7 Laps In 06:08:30
12 Jim Barrow Quest Adventure/Www.Sussex-Mtb.Co.Uk 7 Laps In 07:06:17
13 Ian Craig 448252/Mrcycles.Co.Uk 7 Laps In 07:07:32
14 Duncan Dray Mr Cycles 7 Laps In 07:07:33
15 Luke Burstow 7 Laps In 07:19:51
16 Alan West Inevent 5 Laps In 04:13:55

 

Solo Veteran - Women
1 Karin Oakes 7 Laps In 07:29:07