Report: NPS DH Round 2

Event: 30th May 2009, Llangollen, North Wales

Images: Andy Dunwoody - www.andydunwoody.com

Event Website: www.npsdh.com

Above: Brendan Fairclough in celebratory pose

Photographer Andy Dunwoody was in Llangollen, North Wales, to capture some spellbinding images from the tight, root infested course at the second round of the 2009 NPS Downhill Series. Some 200 images can be found in the galleries above.

Helen Gaskell maintained her stranglehold on the Elite Women's series, winning by some four seconds from Katy Curd, with world number one Sabrina Jonnier surprisingly back in third - neither she nor Mio Sumasa got to grips with the tough new typically British course.

Brendan Fairclough, who has had a much more consistent season this year, made mincemeat of the rest of the entry in winning the Elite Men's race. The Specialized/Monster rider was over four seconds clear of runner up Joseph Smith, with Rich Thomas having one of his best rides to date, claiming third.

Above: The tight, rooty, upper section of the course

Above: Nice helmet

The Expert race saw another rider who missed the opener making an impact as Scott Mears narrowly edged out Alex Stock for the win in one of the closest fought races of the day. Alex Bond was third with round one winner Jack Reading having a troubled run ending up 39th.

In the Senior Men's race, Kurt Brain, who didn't race the opening round, made an impact in round two with a convincing win over Oliver Burton, who was the winner at Ae Forest.    

Manon Carpenter made it a fine double for her family, backing up dad Jason's win in the Vets' race with a second successive win in the women's race - once again she had plenty in hand over the best of the rest, with Monet Adams claiming second, some 20 seconds down.

Above: If you go down in the woods today...

Chris Akrigg took the Masters' race by two seconds from first round winner Joe Bishop, with Dave List claiming his second third place of the series.

The Juvenile Men's race went to Ross Wilcox, who blitzed round one winner George Gannicott to the tune of almost 6 seconds. Meanwhile, in the Youth race, Lewis Buchanan made it two wins on the trot, and with his main rivals all inconsistent at the moment, he looks like any early favourite for the series.

The Junior race was another to see a shake up, with Aussie Tomac rider Rhys Willemse claiming the win from Gareth Brewin, who didn't score at the first round. Brad Mather was another mover, improving vastly on his 13th at Ae forest with third. Ae winner Arran Gannicott could only finish 6th.

Jason Carpenter's been on the scene for years - he is a Vet after all - and in many guises, ranging from organizer to track builder, but it was as a rider he made an impact at Llangollen, winning the Vets' race by two clear seconds from Darren Howarth. Round one winner, Stevie Boyd, was fourth, behind Gary Burns.  

Above and below: Riders emerge from the trees onto the lower section of the course

Above: Kicking up dust on the way to the finish line

Above: The current leader sits pretty on the Descent Gear potty, atop the Monster Energy truck

Above: Downhill - it's an emotional thing

Above: The event village in full swing

Above: Sunlight streams through the trees as a rider nails a tricky, rooty corner

  
Results

Race 1 Juvenile Men Descent-Gear.Com    
1 Ross WILCOX I-Cycles 02:38.0 
2 George GANNICOTT Icycles/Inners MTB 02:43.6 
3 Stuart WILCOX I-Cycles 02:46.7 
4 James GIBSON Bike Nutz/TIW 02:50.2 
5 Philip ATWILL  02:50.3 
6 Callum MOSES PS Cycles/Cwmdown 03:16.7 
7 Fraser LEADBETTER Last Bikes/FUNN 04:07.1 
    
Race 2 Youth Men Lizard Skins    
1 Lewis BUCHANAN Empire Cycles 02:05.7 
2 Mark SCOTT All Terrain Cycles 02:10.6 
3 Fraser McGLONE All Terrain Cycles 02:21.1 
4 Moss MACRINER Kustom Bikes 02:22.5 
5 George BELK W Homer Cycles 02:24.9 
6 Nathan MILLION 4 Mountains 02:28.4 
7 Jim SHAW W Homer Cycles 02:28.9 
8 Sam FLOCKHART MSC Bikes 02:29.6 
9 Brandon LOVE  02:31.5 
10 Mathew SCOTT Gala CC 02:31.7 
11 David KYNASTON  02:32.3 
12 Mathew STUTTARD  02:34.5 
13 Gregor NOTMAN  02:39.0 
14 Benjamin WILLIAMSON  02:39.9 
15 Billy MATHEWS Peaty Syndicate 02:40.4 
16 Joe CONNELL Alpine Bikes 02:40.9 
17 Isaac ANDERSON UK Bike Park/Torico Bikes 02:45.1 
18 Josh LEWIS Peaty Syndicate 02:45.2 
19 Michael TURNBULL Walkers Cycling 02:50.6 
20 Sam WAKEFIELD  02:50.7 
21 Alex GLASS 2 Stage Bikes 03:00.6 
22 Jacob RUDDOCK  03:10.4 
23 Clavin ROGERS Ukbikepark.Com 03:23.7 
24 Gavin CARROLL Bike.Ie/Arkwood 03:31.6 
25 William MAPSTONE  03:38.1 
26 Christopher McGLINCHEY MSC Bikes/CRC/Gamut 03:46.8 
27 Jordan DOIG Icycles/MSC Bikes 03:48.2 
28 Mathew DOWNES Balfa/Hamsterley/Fox 04:19.3 
29 Dan JOYCE Zero G Cycles 04:25.6 
   
Race 3 Junior Men Fox    
1 Rhys WILLEMSE Tomac 02:04.0 
2 Gareth BREWIN  02:04.1 
3 Brad MATHER Empire Cycles 02:08.4 
4 Tamryn MURRELL Tomac 02:08.6 
5 Harry MOLLOY DMR/Resurgence/Last 02:09.1 
6 Arran GANNICOTT Alpine Bikes 02:09.8 
7 Joel MOORE Team Skene 02:09.9 
8 Harry HEATH Funn/5.10/Broxap/Sneyd/Ashi 02:12.8 
9 Alastair WILSON Ancillotti UK 02:14.6 
10 Ronan TAYLOR 2 Stage/High Line Racing 02:17.4 
11 Willem HERD Perth City Cycles 02:18.5 
12 Greg WILLIAMSON  02:18.9 
13 Todd KIERNEY Solid 02:21.1 
14 Callum DEW MSC Bikes 02:21.6 
15 Joe YOUNG North East Freesider 02:23.6 
16 Ben MOORHOUSE Ticket 2 Ride/Descent Gear 02:24.4 
17 Andrew KELLY All Terrain Cycles 02:27.2 
18 Josh SWIRE FDHR/Fenwicks 02:27.9 
19 Charlie COLLINS  02:28.5 
20 James SCOTT Cycle Jersey 02:29.0 
21 Ben WEIR W Homer Cycles 02:29.6 
22 Pete ROBINSON PS Cycles/Cwmdown 02:31.1 
23 Adam BURNSIDE Santa Cruz/Fox 02:35.6 
24 Tom HOUSMAN Brooks Cycles 02:36.5 
25 Daryll RICHARDSON  02:36.9 
26 Simon STUTTARD  02:37.9 
27 James DOWER Adidas Eyewear 02:38.9 
28 Jamie CRUMP Pure Ridersco.Co.Uk/Bike Ta 02:39.1 
29 Tom KNIGHT Momento Moni 02:39.6 
30 Craig MUNRO Vibe Racing 02:41.8 
31 Danny BRADFORD Monster Energy UK 02:44.4 
32 Joe FLANAGAN All Terrain Cycles 02:46.1 
33 Akib AHMED  02:47.7 
34 Oli WAKEMAN Sun Microsystems 02:48.9 
35 Stephen MILLYARD  02:52.4 
36 Cameron LEADBETTER Perth City Cycles 02:52.8 
37 Vivian JONES  02:53.5 
38 James STOREY Pscycles/Cwmdown 02:58.2 
39 Scott JONES  02:59.8 
40 Alex POWELL 2 Stage/Extreme Medics 03:00.2 
41 Joseph VIALS  03:12.5 
42 Josh WALKER JE James Cycles 03:39.3 
43 Sam POTTER Mountain Trax 03:40.3 
44 Jamie SCOTT  03:42.9 
45 Richard ACOTT  03:45.1 
46 Joe EDGE Stendec 04:02.3 
47 Sam WEBSTER Team Skene 08:27.8 
   
Race 4 Veteran Men Ticket2RideBC.Com    
1 Jason CARPENTER  02:29.4 
2 Darren HOWARTH Marzocchi/Guak 02:31.7 
3 Gary BURNS Team Spode 02:33.0 
4 Stevie BOYD  02:33.4 
5 Jerry TWIGG Cycleworld 02:36.9 
6 Rich SIMPSON Bikeactive.Com 02:39.2 
7 Tim WEBB  02:44.6 
8 Dai Silver Fox JONES Eyri DH 02:45.8 
9 Seb RAMSAY NW MTB Centre 02:49.8 
10 Steve FELSTEAD T2R/Descent-Gear.Com 03:17.9 
11 Jason Gun BRENNAN Rave Racing 03:22.2 
12 Peter HOGGAN PMH/Pincier Vodka 03:24.7 
13 Graeme COCHRANE Ride On/Empire 03:48.4 
    
Race 5 Master Men No Limits    
1 Chris AKRIGG Mongoose/Aire Cycles 02:20.0 
2 Joe BISHOP Zero G 02:22.5 
3 Dave LIST Stourport Cycles 02:23.4 
4 Chris COATES Cycle Jersey/MTB Cut 02:24.6 
5 Sandy PLENTY Leisure Lakes 02:26.8 
6 Andrew TITLEY Kona Sombrio Paligap 02:27.1 
7 Sion JONES MTB Direct 02:28.3 
8 Daron OSBORN OZZ 02:30.2 
9 Jamie SMITH  02:32.6 
10 Thomas REED Descend Hamsterley 02:34.7 
11 Zac HUBERY Mountain High Cycles 02:36.3 
12 Jason GIDNEY Guak Cycle Centre 02:42.2 
13 Tom SMITH Revolver QT/NZ 02:43.6 
14 Alex SLATER Rave Racing 02:49.5 
15 Paul BOWYER  02:50.6 
16 Phil GRAY Rave Racing 02:54.2 
17 Chris WHITFIELD All Terrain 03:00.2 
18 Niall INGRAM Redmist Racing 03:10.3 
19 Paul BLIGHT  03:50.5 
20 Marvin SMALL  04:58.6 
21 Drew FREEMAN Merlin Cycles 06:45.2 
 Lee HAMMETT Mulisha Crew DNF 
   
 

Race 6 Women Swiss + Swallow    
1 Manon CARPENTER  03:00.5 
2 Monet ADAMS All Terrain/Nikita 03:20.3 
3 Bex REILLY  04:04.3 
4 Emma ATKINSON 777 Racing 04:17.5 
   
Race 7 Elite Women Nema Clothing    
1 Helen GASKELL Zumbi 02:30.5 
2 Katy CURD Ashton/Diamond Back 02:34.1 
3 Sabrina JONNIER Maxxis/Rocky Mountain 02:36.0 
4 Mio SUMASA Intense/Fun Fancy 02:55.9 
5 Aimee DIX Mojo Orange 03:06.2 
6 Sarah NEWMAN Www.Pureridersco 05:32.5 
 
Race 8 Senior Men Continental Black Chili    
1 Kurt BRAIN Ashton Diamond Back 02:06.0 
2 Oliver BURTON  02:08.6 
3 Olly HOOPER  02:15.2 
4 Tom GLEAVE W Homer Cycles 02:15.3 
5 James McKNIGHT K9 Indus/SB-DH.Com 02:16.9 
6 Sean RADCLIFF Merlin Cycles 02:17.0 
7 Nick TURNER The Development/Orange 02:23.2 
8 Andrew COOPER  02:24.0 
9 Thomas KELLY  02:25.7 
10 Gavin BLACK Perth City Cycles 02:25.9 
11 Daniel JOHNSON Descend Hamsterley 02:26.1 
12 Sam BOARDMAN  02:27.7 
13 Ben RODGERS All Terrain Cycles 02:28.3 
14 Lewis HAWTHORNE Team Skene 02:28.7 
15 Tom ATTLEE  02:28.7 
16 Chris BREEZE Utopia 02:29.0 
17 Elliot MACHIN RG Squadron 02:29.2 
18 Chris ASTLE Www.Thebigadventurestore.Co 02:30.2 
19 Rhys EVANS  02:30.4 
20 William JONES PS Cycles 02:30.5 
21 Robin WEAVER  02:30.9 
22 Ian CAMPBELL Cole 02:34.2 
23 Daniel JENKINS  02:34.8 
24 Ian STARK Kustom Bikes 02:35.0 
25 Martin YOUNG  02:35.5 
26 Chris LAZENBY Bikefax/Ride On 02:36.5 
27 Tom FRYER Revolution Bikes 02:36.6 
28 Andrew HEATON Pro Chem International 02:37.1 
29 Dan HAINES Redmist Racing 02:37.8 
30 Jake HANCOCK  02:38.0 
31 Ryan CHAMBERS Ae Cycles/Solway Insul 02:41.5 
32 Simon WARD Wentwood DH 02:41.9 
33 Robert McDONALD  02:42.6 
34 Duncan PORTER Red Mist Racing 02:43.7 
35 Jason HARTWRIGHT  02:45.0 
36 Carl HOOD  02:45.2 
37 Jason MORGAN All Downhill.Co.Uk 02:45.3 
38 Adam WILES Faux Pro Racing 02:45.6 
39 Lewis PENDLE Portsmouth Uni 02:48.1 
40 Chris COLLINS Pearce Cycles 02:49.8 
41 Paul BARNES  02:51.1 
42 Ralph RICHARDSON Bikeoutlet.Co.Uk 02:52.5 
43 Thomas CLARKSON Fenwicks/2 Stage/Tuff CYmru 02:53.5 
44 Johnathan WEAVER  02:53.6 
45 Gavin DUKE Freedom Bikes 02:57.0 
46 Tom SKILLICORN Manx MTB Club 02:59.2 
47 Roger VALLER  03:03.1 
48 Arran LEVER  03:04.7 
49 Ross YOUNG  03:05.6 
50 Huw OLIVER Activ Cycles 03:11.2 
51 Grant GARDEN  04:15.1 
52 John BOLTON  04:53.9 
 Jonny LODGE  DNF 


    
Race 9 Expert Men Leisure Lakes    
1 Scott MEARS 4 Mountains 02:06.2 
2 Alex STOCK  02:07.6 
3 Alex BOND MSC Bikes 02:07.8 
4 Lee HUSKINSON 661/Royal/Maxxis 02:08.6 
5 Sion WHITECROSS Team Skene 02:10.5 
6 Mark MILWARD Swinnerton Cyc/Fox 02:12.1 
7 Emyr DAVIES Santa Cruz/Howies 02:13.4 
8 Ashley MALLER  02:14.3 
9 Scott LAUGHLAND Team Castle Melamine 02:14.6 
10 John HOLBROOK  02:14.7 
11 Nathan VIALS Solid Bikes 02:15.1 
12 Simon PARSONS Freedom Bikes 02:15.2 
13 Ross ANDERSON MSC Bikes 02:15.5 
14 Richard CHALLINOR Leisure Lakes 02:16.2 
15 Liam LITTLE 2 Stage/Knox/KeswickmTB 02:17.2 
16 Jethro WHITFIELD Leisure Lakes 02:17.3 
17 James STOCK MSC Bikes 02:17.9 
18 Rob YOUNG Cross Trax 02:18.2 
19 Andrew PHILIPS  02:18.7 
20 Chris SINDEN Phil Corley Cycles 02:18.9 
21 Joe WINSTON Banjo Cycles 02:19.6 
22 David DUGGAN  02:19.6 
23 James GREEN MSC 02:19.7 
24 James FLINDERS MSC Bikes 02:20.0 
25 Kyle FARROW Derry Air/MSC 02:21.8 
26 Jack GRAHAM Pure Ridersco.Co.Uk 02:24.1 
27 Alastair MacLENNAN Pinkbike.Com 02:24.2 
28 Will SOFFE Torico/2Stage 02:24.4 
29 Dave VALLER  02:25.6 
30 Andy WOODVINE Leisure Lakes 02:25.6 
31 Adam HOLLEYMAN Whight Mountain 02:27.0 
32 Callum GAULT Icycles/Uplift Scotland 02:28.6 
33 Jack GEOGHEGAN  02:29.3 
34 Rob SCULLION Continental/Nicolai 02:31.3 
35 Alistair PARKIN All Terrain Cycles 02:32.2 
36 Gary DRAKE Aw Cycles 02:33.6 
37 Martin NAIRN I Cycles/MSC Bikes 02:35.3 
38 Simon PARKINSON Ticket2Ridebc.Com/Descent G 02:35.7 
39 Jack READING  02:37.0 
40 Billy CAMPBELL  02:42.4 
41 Tommy WILKINSON Hemmel Tune 02:44.8 
42 Leon ROSSER Bicycle Doctor 02:51.1 
43 Ben WHITEHEAD All Terrain Cycles 03:06.3 
44 Thomas WHEELER MOJO /Orange 03:08.7 
45 Seb FROST Just Riding Along 03:25.9 
46 Damon SMITH MTB Direct 03:29.7 
47 Ross SEARLE Total Bike Tuning 04:33.0 
48 Ewan DOHERTY OC Tuning/Potato Bred 04:49.9 
49 Jason DAVIES  06:15.0 
 Michael INMAN Continental/Nicolai DNF 
 Don HOWE Kustom Bikes DNF 
 Luke MARSHALL  Retired 
    

Race 10 Elite Men Nema Clothing     
1 Brendan FAIRCLOUGH Specialized/Monster 01:54.7 
2 Joseph SMITH Kona Factory 01:59.0 
3 Rich THOMAS Ancillotti UK 02:01.0 
4 Adam BRAYTON Just Reid Racing 02:02.0 
5 Tom DEACON 2 Stage/Extreme Medics 02:03.4 
6 Tom BRAITHWAITE Hope Racing/23 Degrees 02:04.8 
7 Robert SMITH 3 Smith/Leisure Lakes 02:06.6 
8 Chris HUTCHENS Cyclejersey/MTB Cut 02:06.7 
9 Luke STROBEL Maxxis/Rocky Mountain 02:07.5 
10 Cameron COLE Maxxis/Rocky Mountain 02:07.7 
11 Dan STANBRIDGE Mojo/Orange 02:07.9 
12 Dan CRITCHLOW CRC Intense 02:11.2 
13 Philip ASHBRIDGE Mountain High 02:14.6 
14 Rowen SORRELL South Wales Trail Centres/O 02:16.6 
15 Liam MASON Astrix Europe 02:19.4 
16 Alex FLORIAN Pearce Cycles 02:20.7 
17 Nikki WHILES Team Skene 02:22.0 
18 Ralph JONES Dirt MTB Mag 02:24.3 
19 Ashley MULLANE Cove Bikes 02:25.9 
20 Richard CHEETHAM  02:28.9 
21 Peter WILLIAMS Icycles/MSC 02:43.8 
22 Dave SMITH 3 Smith/Leisure Lakes 02:56.9