2008 Cross Country National Championships - Rider Comments
Ringwood, 20th July 2008
Bethany Crumpton National Juvenile Women's Champion
"I'm absolutely chuffed with that! I was really nervous this morning, I was panicking and not eating, but I was so determined to win it after doing so well in the series so far, so like I said I'm really chuffed I can't explain any other way that I feel really.
Nice course, but just a bit too flat for me though, there were some tough bits like the sloppy mud section where I nearly went over the handlebars, but I survived and won.
I'm really looking forward to going up to youth next year, one lap is enough for me now, 2 laps should be better. Seeing how this is my first year mountain biking I really wasn't expecting to do this well. I did my usual, start from the front. Amy was on my wheel on some of the twisty stuff, but I just powered away on the climbs and never looked back. I just kept my eyes front and concentrated on catching the youth riders, I nearly caught them."
Ruby Miller National Youth Women's Champion
"I had a bit of a battle on my hands at the start but it was really good and I went better than usual, all the girls were racing so well today and I just had to keep calm and stick at it. Last time I raced here I just kept making stupid mistakes, so I just had to be really relaxed and calm and do a smooth ride.
Hannah was with me until we hit the singletrack climb, I kicked and Hannah dropped off and then I didn't see her again. I kept the pressure on as anything can happen out there and I could have been overtaken.
I just wanted to keep a cool head today, it's something I've been working on. In the past I've easily lost my head and tried to do things I can't do and then I've always end up falling off, so I've had to work on that bit quite a lot! I just went out and tried my best and it was really good, all the girls were really amazing out there today.
I got 5th last year and 3rd overall, so I've really stepped up now. I move up to junior next year and I'm looking forward to that, I've been doing the enduros to get used to doing the longer distances, it should be good fun."
Nina Davies National Master Women's Champion
"That was very hard, but I really wanted to win this, there were lots of good riders out there. I went quite early on and once I was committed I just stuck at it and went for it.
My mountain biking is definitely getting better! I've been training very hard for this race and it's paid off. It was a good course, quite technical, lot of changes of pace in and out of trees and stuff. I thought I would have liked more hills out there before I started as I like hills but it worked for me anyway.
I sat on Ruth's wheel for a lap and a bit, I felt strong and managed to open a gap and just kept on pushing."
Hugo Robinson National Juvenile Champion
"That was cracking - my first ever national win; my first year of mountain biking competitively, so to get this was brilliant. I'm glad to be back on form after the Lake District, I wasn't well there, I came back had some time off did the Southern XC which was excellent and then this, brilliant.
Alex pushed me the whole way round, I was leading the whole race, I deliberately wanted to get in front to ride it at my pace and it fell into my hands. But he pushed me at every opportunity I just couldn't relax cos I knew he was always there. The course really suited me, a real power course.
I move up to youth next year, which should be fun!"
Kenta Gallagher National Youth Champion
"That was hard, especially with Max on my tail the whole race, as at the start of the race I hadn't even thought of him as a threat. But he just suddenly come on so I was very surprised and also with Steven James out there with us. I made the mistake of leading the first lap and then I very nearly bailed on the last corner on the last lap, it was very much nearly a Grizedale moment all over again! Luckily I just held it together, it was quite scary going into the sprint for the finish. I felt the kick of nerves and adrenaline as I surged for the line.
It wasn't the type of course I'm used to, there were hills but not what I was expecting, it reminded me of Thetford. I trained for this terrain so it worked out okay.
Max and Steven put in quite a few attacks but I just thought if I just sat on their wheels, it would be hard for them to get away, and bided my time to get past them. Luckily I have not a bad sprint!
A great day and I got what I wanted; I wasn't travelling all this way to get a second again!
It was a shock to see Max giving me a hard time and I feel sorry that Luke wasn't able to contest, but that's racing."
Annie Last National Junior Women's Champion
"I'm pleased I managed to get the jersey this year and that I managed to get around the course without any mistakes or mechanicals. I've come on a lot since last year, I've got loads more experience and that's given me the confidence to ride strongly and calmly.
Racing abroad has been invaluable this year.
The course was fine, it wasn't hilly or very technical but it was fine.
To be honest I thought when I started the race we'll see how I go, I didn't feel perfect out there but I also didn't feel like I had nothing either, I just rode my own race and got round.
I don't get much chance for a break now, as I'm straight back to training. When I go back to school, this year, I'll have less time to train than others in my age category, as I'll be sitting my 'A' levels next year. It's quite hard balancing both my schoolwork and the biking, but it's really worth it, I really enjoy it!"
Debbie Burton National Vet Women's Champion
"I really loved it out there it was my sort of course today. Once I got to the front of the rest of the girls, my tactics were to just stay safe, try not to fall off, try not to get any punctures.
I sorry I caused any confusion, I checked it all out before I entered and was offered the chance to race as a Vet and was told I would have the same status as the other Vet riders. I'm delighted to have finally got a National jersey; I've never had one before, so it's fantastic!"
Sam Gardner National Masters Champion
"Only my second mountain bike race of the year so far, I thought I had to come back and try and defend my National title and that was a very tough course, a lot harder out there than I thought it would be. I got a terrible start and ended up in about 30th and it took me a lap just to get back up to the front with Matt and Co. I had trouble getting into my pedals and by time I got going we were straight into singletrack and I had trouble getting past riders and there was no real big climb where I could make the time up quickly. So I spent quite a lot of effort getting back to the front and to be honest I should have probably waited another lap until I attacked, but I'd hit a neat section of singletrack that I'd rode so smoothly I'd opened up a little gap, I should have really waited for them to come back to me and rested a bit, but I thought I'll take the chance and that last 1/2 a lap I was just burying myself as I knew that Matt wouldn't be that far behind at all. There wasn't much in it between the 3 of us.
Not sure if this will be my last outing on the mountain bike this year, I need to show the jersey off a little bit I think, I've got a month now before my next Xterra event, so I'll see what XC races are around and pitch up. I'd love to do a bit more as I do really enjoy it.
The socks once more made an appearance but it's not all down to them I may have done a little bit of training too, I like to try and wind up some of the traditionalists and the amount of despising stares as I go round wearing them is great I like to create a bit of fuss!"
Liam Killeen National Senior Champion
"Oli, myself and Wilko where up there from the start and it was a tough day. The course was a very good racing course, great for the spectators and kept the riders together - a great tradition course. Oli was strong, but unfortunately he had a mechanical, he had to change a wheel, I'm not sure exactly what happened but he just disappeared on the 4th lap, and I just kept pushing on. It was great to be able to race with him and just unfortunate about the mechanical. I just kept concentrating on the remaining sections of the race, you can never switch off, you have to concentrate and work your way through the back markers and that was quite a technical course at speed. I was really looking forward to racing the nationals and happy to have won my first senior title. This is another good step towards the ultimate goal in Beijing. My form seems to be going in the right direction, it was so good at the World XC Champions that I was racing at the front of a world class field and got a good result.
So I guess you could say that I'm back up to speed and finally enjoying my racing again and that's the main thing!"
Hamish Creber National Junior Champion
I'm pleased with that, my second national jersey, brilliant. It was an interesting race, quite a few of the riders went hard at the start and I just stayed with them, as they started to fade I kept the pace high and got away and that was it. I was on my own for the rest of the race. I had a slight disadvantage, as I was gridded quite far back, so it was a bit of a fight to get near the front. I got up with Will Verney and by the second lap I was on my own. Will unfortunately had cramp and pulled out.
I really wanted to win this one, I've had a slow start to the season but it's back on track now. The course was a bit different; it was really hard physically, even though it's flat, well sort of rolling, it was really hard, there was no time to recover out there, so it was a long race. I just tried to keep it smooth and rode within myself and everything went well.
Victor Barnet - National Super Vet Champion
"That's my second jersey now on a trot, very pleased with that result. It was a good race with the 4 of us in contention, I really enjoyed it. I managed to work a bit of a buffer of 2 minutes going into the last lap, so that helped keep me confident.
The course really suited me; no silly descents, the climbs were fine it was more like a 'cross race and that's what I do a lot of so yeah it suited me today. I knew what to expect, I rode here at the round of the Southern XC, so I had chance to check it out, I was so pleased with my ride today it all went to plan!
Now I can look forward to the Masters Worlds in Praloup, France, I'd like to get a podium finish again, I got 3rd last year but it will be tough, anyhow I've been building up for the Nationals since the end of the 'cross season and then when we come back from France it'll be back into the 'cross season. I just love it and I can't get enough of it!"
Dave Fletcher National Espoir Champion
"That was a better result than I was expecting today. I was confident coming into the day but I didn't think I would win, I knew Bibby was coming on well and he's had a few good results of late, I was expecting him to be up there with us, I was quite surprised when he wasn't.
There was about 4 or 5 of us that were in contention, Billy Joe Whenman rode well, along with Ian field, but unfortunately Ross and Bibby didn't have their day today.
We had a very quick start, Fieldy and Billy Joe got away, then we got back, then Fieldy got away again on the first lap, I got back to him on the second lap, I just stuck on his wheel until the last lap where I put in a little dig to see where he was at and see if he was suffering but he stuck on my wheel. Half way through the last lap I did another dig, I raised the pace really high, I knew it was the last lap and I had to give it everything and fortunately I got away. It's a great result and helps build me up for the future, I had a great year last year with the bronze at the Worlds and then coming here, brilliant. I knew I had the legs to do it but I wasn't quite as confident as I could have been but then to get the win was just amazing.
2012 is always in the back of my mind, you always have to think about it, but there's some talented lads coming up now that could easily take that opportunity from me, it would be good to go. I'd have liked to have had the opportunity to go to the Olympics this year, but my form wasn't as good at the start of the year as it could have been, I'm a bit disappointed but there's nothing I can do about that now. I know it's on the horizon and if it does happen for me I'll be very happy about it, but if it doesn't happen for me, then I'll just take it to the next opportunity. So the next 4 years will be lots of training and lots of pain, but more importantly lots of fun, I love this sport it's the best thing I could have done!"
Oli Beckingsale National Senior runner up
"I think it was always going to be a tough race out there with Liam in the mix. It's great he turned up; it was good to race him that was a good thing. The course was very grippy, but just not hard in any particular way. It was hard to split us up, we got away from the main field, I was riding hard, he was riding hard, then I hit a tree stump and split the tyre. It sealed so at least I could get to the finish on a half flat wheel. Swapped the wheel, but by then Liam had the gap, he extended it a bit, he's riding really well at the moment. Without the mechanical, I think we would have stayed together, until at least the last 1/2 lap. Liam is always good in the closing stages and for me to win I would have had to have got away, but that wasn't possible on this course for me today. Still without the mechanical I reckon Liam still would have won but the gap would have been just a few secs.
I've won the Nationals five times and when I race them I always wish that all our best riders are there. I like racing Liam and for him to be here and us having a great battle I think is so good for the sport. We both really got into it, it was just such a shame that I had the mechanical but that's all part of mountain bike racing.
Next now is the Olympics and I'm really looking forward to that now. Last year this race was important in its own right this year it's a stepping-stone to the Olympics. This race is the last session of a 3 week training block, I'm quite tired from training, I've got 5 days easy now then another training block that takes me to the race in Beijing.
Things are definitely going in the right way, I'm felling strong and things are going well. My aims are single figures and we'll see how low a number I can get. I think I can do myself proud and my country proud and that's the plan."
Amy Hunt National Espoir Women's Champion
It didn't feel that comfortable out there! The race started and both Abi and Marie were on my wheel and I wanted to get rid of them so I had a dig on the first hill and dropped them and opened up a gap. It was alright - I was feeling a bit tired on the last lap and started going backwards a bit but that's all part of getting back into racing.
It's not been a totally shock, but the intensity plus the distance put together is a bit tiring when I've not been used to doing this. I think I made the right decision to ride Espoir rather than the senior, just to ease myself back into racing really.
Very pleased to get the jersey, I've not had one for a few years now. I'm still not completely over the illness that I've had, but compared to where I was just a month ago, yeah I definitely feel better. I don't want to push myself so hard at the moment, but hopefully by the start of the season next year I'll be back on top form again.
The last year has been so frustrating and I didn't even know if I'd be able to race again, so I'm really pleased to be here.
Ian Wright National Grand Vet Champion
"It's been a pretty good year for me so far and this is just excellent getting the Champions jersey. To be honest I didn't think I was going to be here earlier in the week. I had a water skiing accident last Saturday, that put me in bed till Wednesday.
Roy was out there pushing me all the way, he came up to me on the second lap and come the third lap I thought I'd try and get away and he let me go. That was very nice of him. I have to thanks the guys at USE once again their seat post is just fabulous, especially on a course like this one.
This is my first jersey. I've ridden the Nationals 3 or 4 times now and this is my first win, I'm delighted. I think I'll pop the water skiing on a back burner - just concentrate on the coaching and concentrate on this a bit more.
I gotta thank Pete (Harris) he showed me all the best lines so it's his win as well as mine, he had a cracking ride too."
Mark Chadbourne National Vet Champion
"I'm very very happy to get this win. I did the race here a few weeks ago and I spoke to you then and said it was a good course and the race was good practise and if it all came together on the day - this was definitely my type of course. So I'm so pleased that it did all work out.
It's great to ride a local course such as this, I know the course organiser and I know that he likes a similar course to me, I'd like to think they did the course for me but I know that's not the case! We've raced this course so many times in the 'cross season and this is my backyard.
At the start of the race Darren and I got a good gap very quickly and he's very quick in the technical stuff he knows the course well and as I said we just got away reasonably comfortably. Darren's had a bad back recently and as the race pushed on I knew he wasn't comfortably pushing a big gear, I put in a dig and realised he wasn't with me and just kept going, looking back every so often to check he wasn't getting back to me and then just settled down and tried not to make any mistakes. This is one of those courses where you think everything is good and then it comes and bites you big time. I did actually clip a couple of trees on the way round, just to remind myself to respect the course and not be complacent.
My wife will relax now, she's said I've been so grumpy leading up to this and now I've done it we can go back to having a nice chilled house, well until the next race!"
Jenny Copnall National Senior Women's Champion
"That was my 5th National Championship win and there's something about having 5 wins. I set my stall out at the start of the year that this was my main goal and that's why the win means so much. I've worked really hard to get here.
The start of the year hasn't gone overly well, I suppose nationally it has but internationally it hasn't so much. But the National Champions is so important because of the jersey and being able to wear it and that means a lot to me. It's what means so much to any winner of a National jersey in fact; you get to wear it all year. And just the whole process of when your reigning Champion putting last years jersey away and sorting out normal kit and because I've been doing it for so long it just becomes more difficult. And then you think well I don't know if this will still be mine after this. It's quite a hard process and it gets harder as you get older to deal with that. I just prepared for this race as hard as I could and I did the best I could do. It was good having stiff competition and I wouldn't want it any other way, I challenge anybody who says that the women's category is a soft target, it certainly isn't and I've said over and over again, there are so many girls out there that are so capable who will be always knocking at my doors. Sue's still on the comeback trail and we have mutual respect, I guess we are very much a Federer and Nadal, and I'm sure she'll have her day soon as long as she keeps enjoying what she's doing.
I'll get back to you about jersey number 6.. 5 has a nice ring to it."
Paula Moseley National Senior Women's runner up
"I'm really chuffed with getting the silver today, it was a great course that probably worked to my strengths: flat and no hills, so chuffed. I turned 36 last week, and started a new job so really chuffed. I was working hard out there and got a result. I'm so lucky to have a supportive husband, who helps me a lot with my training and encourages me a lot. I thought I was only going to get 3rd today as I thought no way am I going to catch Sue Clarke but I had a lucky one."
Sue Clarke National Senior Women's bronze
"Personally I was disappointed with my ride today, but a medal is a medal at the Nationals and you have to keep chugging. It's so frustrating as I've been going really strong recently but come Wednesday I started to feel a bit ill and since then I've been dosing myself up with every legal substance I could get my hands on, but nothing really did the trick.
Some days you fly around and it's easy and some days you really have to fight and unfortunately today was one of those days I really had to fight. It was disappointing but all credit to the other two girls they did really well.
I've had some really bad luck the last couple of months but I'm hoping the tide will change for me soon and my luck with get better!
I'm still enjoying being back at my racing, I can't say I enjoyed it today though; physically I was suffering quite badly.
All credit to the organisers they laid on a good course it may not have suited me but it was well organised and a great atmosphere."
