In-form Seagrave and Hatton star in round three of HSBC UK | National Downhill Series

In-form Seagrave and Hatton star in round three of HSBC UK | National Downhill Series

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Tahnee Seagrave underlined her current World Cup winning form as she dominated at round three of the HSBC UK National Downhill Series at Rhyd y Felin on Sunday.

Despite a number of elite riders missing in action this weekend, due to commitments on the continent or out injured, the racing was in no means diminished.

The hot conditions on the run up to the event meant the track was virtually bone dry and dusty, contributing to loose and wild run.

Seagrave (FMD Racing) took victory by an impressive margin of nearly 30 seconds with Veronique Sandler (Wideopen Mag) second, a good ten seconds ahead of third-place Megan Whyte (Transition Bikes UK).

That continued a strong June for Seagrave who won her first ever UCI MTB World Cup round with a stunning ride in Leogang earlier this month.

Meanwhile Charlie Hatton (Intense Racing UK) in his first year as an elite rider, stepped up to the plate in the men’s race, taking his first elite win with a healthy three second advantage.

The next three riders vying for the runner up spots had just a few hundredths of a second separating them but second went to Jack Reading (One Vision Global Racing) and third to Matt Simmonds (Madison Saracen Factory Team).

The depth of junior talent coming through in the downhill was once again showcased in both the women and the men’s races.

 Megan James (T-Mo), fresh from her win at the recent World Cup in Fort William, expertly took control of her race with a time that would have seen her in second spot in the elite women’s race, with runner up Mille Johnset (Atherton Academy) pushing her all the way before just losing out by a second.

Matt Walker (Madison Saracen Factory Team) is another promising junior talent with a recent World Cup win under his belt and he dominated his race with a run time that not only gave him the win in his category but one that would have seen him take second in the elite race.

Joe Breeden (Intense Racing UK) finished second, three seconds behind, but also posting a time that would have also placed him on the elite podium with Henry Kerr (Propain Dirt Zelvy) third.

What they said:

Tahnee Seagrave – elite women winner

"Actually that wasn’t as good a run as I thought it would be! I had this race built up in my head, I hoped I would win but I just didn’t expect anything, so to win by such a big margin was a bonus, it surprised me."

Charlie Hatton- elite men winner

"I had a really good race run to be fair. It’s a pretty tricky course at the moment as it’s so loose and in the woods it is so tight and lots of the roots were starting to appear. I just committed to everything and obviously that tactic paid off.

“It’s all been a bit unexpected to be honest, with my recent World Cup results and then first seeding today, and then to take the win.

“As a first year elite I never expected to be doing this well so soon. I’m not complaining!"

Results

Elite Women

1 Tahnee Seagrave FMD Racing 3:37.539

2 Veronique Sandler Wideopen Mag @0:29.801 seconds

3 Megan Whyte Transition Bikes UK @0:39.523 seconds

4 Aston Tutt Madison Saracen Development Team @0:40.852 seconds

5 Rebecca Kennedy @1:00.324 seconds

Elite Men

1 Charlie Hatton Intense Racing UK 3:03.754

2 Jack Reading One Vision Global Racing @0:03.094 seconds

3 Matthew Simmonds Madison Saracen Factory Team @0:03.437 seconds

4 Adam Brayton Hope Technology @0:03.812

5 Jay Williamson Steve Peat Syndicate @0:04.308

Junior Women

1 Megan James T-Mo 3:56.856

2 Millie Johnset Atherton Academy @0:01.007

3 Ellen Flewitt Aston Hill MTB Club @0:28.058

4 Maya Atkinson Rose Bikes Factory Racing/Kore C @0:28.805

5 Meghan Harris Team Aston Hill @0:35.309

Junior Men

1 Matt Walker Madison Saracen Factory Team 3:04.449

2 Joe Breedan Intense Racing UK @0:02.988

3 Henry Kerr Propain Dirt Zelphy @0:11.047

4 Kade Edwards Trek Factory Racing 0:13.973

5 Joe Parfitt FMD Racing @0:13.981

Gallery

2017 HSBC UK | National DH Series | R3 Rhyd y Felin