Nov 20, 2008
Downhill Mountain biking this weekend reached a milestone in racing history. Stile Cop in Cannock Chase (Near Birmingham, England) didn't know what hit it with huge crowds, a Storm Trooper, a Gorilla, Steve Peat and Josh Bryceland in attendance and all for a good cause.
Saturday 15th November 2008.
Photos courtesy of Andy Dunwoody. Have a wizz through his site and if you're after one of his awesome shots then drop him a line, drop him the dollars and "Bobs your uncle" you can have a card, framed print, poster etc. Please note all money from any orders through Andrew Dunwoody from this race will also go through to the charity. www.andydunwoody.com
The boss
First of all let's take our hats off to the crew down at the Racers Guild www.racersguild.co.uk Every month up at Cannock Chase on one of the many DH courses that they have built and maintained they hold timed practice. Times are published online later in the week. Cost to the rider is sweet FA (nothing). If you can pay a few pennies towards the running costs (medic), then dig deep and cross their palms with silver.
Billy, asked Steve Peat and he received.
So back to Cannock it was, which is steeped in Mountain Bike racing history. I used to race the Cannock Chase XC Classic back in 1992/93 was it? The good old days, clipped in? No of course not I was riding toe straps!
It wasn't really that dark.
We last raced DH there back in 1992 I think it was for a Midlands race where I'm pretty sure Raleigh's Matt Farmer took the win by cutting out a large section of the badly taped out course.
The Master Craftsman and his Apprentice
2008 and we're back almost ten years later and a lot has changed. A new start hill (mound) to send you into the two tracks we would be racing on. There are several other tracks up there to keep you occupied for a full day, guaranteed with plenty of drops, berms, rock sections, roots and jumps. Just make sure you look before you leap kids.
Old and still Gold!
Open practice on either course started when you did, so all relaxed before the first of your two timed runs which started at 10:30. Good thing was you could choose when you wanted to race, just pick a sticker from the sheet which listed all the start times.
Hitting Big
Wonderland first, which is a nice flowing mellow course with some great corners up top which even tested the best of them before firing you into the rough stuff down below. Peaty of course pulled our pants down and Miami was clearly just cruising. Heath will never live this one down. Milward followed Peaty down on one of his practice runs with a camera on his head. He kept with him for most of the way before he binned it.
Bryceland Making the Numbers Up.
1. Steve Peat 0:51.7
2. Mark Milward 0:56.0
3. Andy Hughes 0:57.0
4. Greg Hampton 0:57.1
5. Josh "Miami" Bryceland 0:57.1
6. Dave Cotton 0:58.4
6. Si "Superfly" Paton 0:58.4
8. Harry Heath 0:58.8
9. John Hayes 0:59.5
10. Jamie Munroe 0:59.7
Billy Matthews will be in Youth next year.
Then for those that raised money for the charity got to race on the second course and beat Steve Peat! What a course that was, how surprised? Really good berms up top and two mellow step down kickers into a naughty rock section, brilliant. Then four nasty corners, mixing it up big time, swooping into the berms, then hop the eroded roots, then go light, go wide, go high, stay on! This little section saw all the crowds and was super tech and wouldn't have been amiss on a World Cup course. If that wasn't good enough then two big suspension bottoming out drops flat out before being fired in between the trees like a pinball.
Paton, 2 Staged Up
Video footage courtesy of the very talented Ian Harvey of Boon Productions.
Two runs in the afternoon using the handicap system worked out by some huge mathematical algorithm and Aaron Newmann's abacus showed the following results:
1. Dan Green 0:55.5 0:46.5
2. Steve Peat 0:48.7 0:48.7
3. Tristan 'Terror x 10' Tunstall 0:55.8 0:49.8
4. Matt "Smithy" 0:59.9 0:49.9
5. Mark Milward 0:52.9 0:49.9
6. James Hopkins 0:59.4 0:50.4
7. Greg Hampton 0:54.7 0:50.7
8. Josh "Miami" Bryceland 0:54.7 0:50.7
9. Dave Cotton 0:55.8 0:50.8
10. John Isaac 1:02.9 0:50.9
Back to Peaty.
We all know Steve could have just turned up and paraded around like a superstar. What he did do was make himself available to all the fans and sign autographs, be in photos and generally chat to everyone and make time for them. Then he delivered what we all wanted, he raced down Stile Cop. He showed the riders, the spectators of which there were many how to go faster than anyone before him had ever gone. Personally I've watched Peaty ride for over 15 years now and still drop everything whenever I see him come into view. Peaty at Cannock Chase was an education for us all, we stood, we watched, we were amazed and we were thankful that he graced us with his presence.
Barracuda Bob aka Nicholas Eyres - UNBELIEVABLE
Now what you didn't know.
Just before he left, Steve Peat handed in his sponsorship sponsor form with a load of handwritten sponsorships, along with a load of cash and coins. It added up to £551. That's on top of the £105 he paid to get into the event. He'd gone around and done things the old fashioned way, raising more than any of us for his friend Stephen Murray. He then waited until the end of the day to quietly give it to us so he wouldn't steal the glory from any of the other top fundraisers.
And that's why Steve Peat is and always will be the rider's, racer's, spectator's, sponsor's, media, organizer's and his friend's favorite Downhill Mountain biker of all time.
After the event, the money raised has smashed the target of £3000, is currently £5675 and it keeps on climbing.
Ceremony Time
If you were unable to make the event but still want to help out Stephen Murray, you can donate online at www.firstgiving.com/racersguild.
Never, ever, clip in.
Si Paton..
www.Descent-Gear.com
Leatt Adventure Neck Braces Instock £179.99
These Photos are by Hodgett, so many thanks fella for answering the call, good work!
Louis Swann 
Nice 
Josh Lane 
Steve Peat
Next Timed Practice (Race) is December 21st 2008.
We'll be there, will you?
For more information, visit the Racer's Guild website: www.racersguild.co.uk
Photos courtesy of Andy Dunwoody. Have a wizz through his site and if you're after one of his awesome shots then drop him a line, drop him the dollars and "Bobs your uncle" you can have a card, framed print, poster etc. Please note all money from any orders through Andrew Dunwoody from this race will also go through to the charity. www.andydunwoody.com
The boss
First of all let's take our hats off to the crew down at the Racers Guild www.racersguild.co.uk Every month up at Cannock Chase on one of the many DH courses that they have built and maintained they hold timed practice. Times are published online later in the week. Cost to the rider is sweet FA (nothing). If you can pay a few pennies towards the running costs (medic), then dig deep and cross their palms with silver.
Billy, asked Steve Peat and he received.
So back to Cannock it was, which is steeped in Mountain Bike racing history. I used to race the Cannock Chase XC Classic back in 1992/93 was it? The good old days, clipped in? No of course not I was riding toe straps!
It wasn't really that dark.
We last raced DH there back in 1992 I think it was for a Midlands race where I'm pretty sure Raleigh's Matt Farmer took the win by cutting out a large section of the badly taped out course.
The Master Craftsman and his Apprentice
2008 and we're back almost ten years later and a lot has changed. A new start hill (mound) to send you into the two tracks we would be racing on. There are several other tracks up there to keep you occupied for a full day, guaranteed with plenty of drops, berms, rock sections, roots and jumps. Just make sure you look before you leap kids.
Old and still Gold!
Open practice on either course started when you did, so all relaxed before the first of your two timed runs which started at 10:30. Good thing was you could choose when you wanted to race, just pick a sticker from the sheet which listed all the start times.
Hitting Big
Wonderland first, which is a nice flowing mellow course with some great corners up top which even tested the best of them before firing you into the rough stuff down below. Peaty of course pulled our pants down and Miami was clearly just cruising. Heath will never live this one down. Milward followed Peaty down on one of his practice runs with a camera on his head. He kept with him for most of the way before he binned it.
Bryceland Making the Numbers Up.
1. Steve Peat 0:51.7
2. Mark Milward 0:56.0
3. Andy Hughes 0:57.0
4. Greg Hampton 0:57.1
5. Josh "Miami" Bryceland 0:57.1
6. Dave Cotton 0:58.4
6. Si "Superfly" Paton 0:58.4
8. Harry Heath 0:58.8
9. John Hayes 0:59.5
10. Jamie Munroe 0:59.7
Billy Matthews will be in Youth next year.
Then for those that raised money for the charity got to race on the second course and beat Steve Peat! What a course that was, how surprised? Really good berms up top and two mellow step down kickers into a naughty rock section, brilliant. Then four nasty corners, mixing it up big time, swooping into the berms, then hop the eroded roots, then go light, go wide, go high, stay on! This little section saw all the crowds and was super tech and wouldn't have been amiss on a World Cup course. If that wasn't good enough then two big suspension bottoming out drops flat out before being fired in between the trees like a pinball.
Paton, 2 Staged Up
Two runs in the afternoon using the handicap system worked out by some huge mathematical algorithm and Aaron Newmann's abacus showed the following results:
1. Dan Green 0:55.5 0:46.5
2. Steve Peat 0:48.7 0:48.7
3. Tristan 'Terror x 10' Tunstall 0:55.8 0:49.8
4. Matt "Smithy" 0:59.9 0:49.9
5. Mark Milward 0:52.9 0:49.9
6. James Hopkins 0:59.4 0:50.4
7. Greg Hampton 0:54.7 0:50.7
8. Josh "Miami" Bryceland 0:54.7 0:50.7
9. Dave Cotton 0:55.8 0:50.8
10. John Isaac 1:02.9 0:50.9
Back to Peaty.
We all know Steve could have just turned up and paraded around like a superstar. What he did do was make himself available to all the fans and sign autographs, be in photos and generally chat to everyone and make time for them. Then he delivered what we all wanted, he raced down Stile Cop. He showed the riders, the spectators of which there were many how to go faster than anyone before him had ever gone. Personally I've watched Peaty ride for over 15 years now and still drop everything whenever I see him come into view. Peaty at Cannock Chase was an education for us all, we stood, we watched, we were amazed and we were thankful that he graced us with his presence.
Barracuda Bob aka Nicholas Eyres - UNBELIEVABLE
Now what you didn't know.
Just before he left, Steve Peat handed in his sponsorship sponsor form with a load of handwritten sponsorships, along with a load of cash and coins. It added up to £551. That's on top of the £105 he paid to get into the event. He'd gone around and done things the old fashioned way, raising more than any of us for his friend Stephen Murray. He then waited until the end of the day to quietly give it to us so he wouldn't steal the glory from any of the other top fundraisers.
And that's why Steve Peat is and always will be the rider's, racer's, spectator's, sponsor's, media, organizer's and his friend's favorite Downhill Mountain biker of all time.
After the event, the money raised has smashed the target of £3000, is currently £5675 and it keeps on climbing.
Ceremony Time
If you were unable to make the event but still want to help out Stephen Murray, you can donate online at www.firstgiving.com/racersguild.
Never, ever, clip in.
Si Paton..
www.Descent-Gear.com
Leatt Adventure Neck Braces Instock £179.99
These Photos are by Hodgett, so many thanks fella for answering the call, good work!
Louis Swann
Nice
Josh Lane
Steve Peat
Next Timed Practice (Race) is December 21st 2008.
We'll be there, will you?
For more information, visit the Racer's Guild website: www.racersguild.co.uk
Link to News Story for Forums and Blogs:
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34 Comments
- + 13 props
bikeitallaround
(Nov 20, 2008 at 0:12)
(Below Threshold) show comment
Man I would of road in the trooper outfit.
I don't think I'm ready to have Luke and Leia chase me down only to have myself bike into a tree and explode.
yeh, awsome day, well done to everyone who raised money.....and 6th place (in the handicap times) with a dislocated finger 
...well stoked with that.
...well stoked with that.
Nice write up Superfly! had a great blast that day, was awosme to race against Peaty! and it felt great coming through the stepdowns on the new line with a huge crowd snapping away, made me feel like a million bucks!
[Reply]
Stay strong! Stephen Murray tribute! The sickiest guy I know! I hope he will get up one day! That was for sure one of the niciest event! Props to Steave Peat and the Guild
Great day will go doen in Cannock Chase history. Peaty was fantastic all day on and off the bike as were all the guys who came with him. Stay Strong.
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quite far i mean all you have to do if riding a bike is ride across the ATLANTIC OCEAN! oh and the its in shropshire just outside wales yes that is a country not some beached animal
Awesome write up Si - thanks! I tried to send you some emails but they kept bouncing back, so sorry that I've not been in touch. -Aaron
INFO FOR ALL: Next RG has been moved to DEC 21. It was Dec 27 as quoted in Si's report, but has been changed.
INFO FOR ALL: Next RG has been moved to DEC 21. It was Dec 27 as quoted in Si's report, but has been changed.
they shoulda all wore stay strong t-shirts, i bought mine this week, go on www.danscomp.com they are a good price and all proceeds go to the murray foundation!
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Si, your the true gentleman though, we all look up to Steve Peat, but I have to say your drive and information out to us here in PB-land are worth accolades as well. Cheers to you! Great event and very inspirational.
[Reply]
I just turned up, rode and wrote a few words. Lets not forget the snappers, Boon for his video and of course everyone that turned up from the riders to the spectators to the organisers.
This is how a race report should be, quality pics, quality embedded video and some words.
This is how a race report should be, quality pics, quality embedded video and some words.
[Reply]
I was doing the timing in the afternoon, during Peaty's last run. He came down in fading light, with the sun in his eyes on a considerably wetter, slippier track than his first run, and recorded the same time to the TENTH as his first. Simply awesome.
easy? well think what ya like kid, plenty of fast guys binned it on that track in the wet, took a couple of guys who race the national points series out...
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