Saracen BDS Round 5 - Finals at Bringewood
Saracen BDS round 5, the final! Images courtesy of Ian Cross.
Located just outside of the beautiful market town of Ludlow in Shropshire, the venue is one hour West of Birmingham. Bringewood itself has been a staple diet of the British Downhill scene for over a dozen years and has been the breeding ground for the likes of Marc Beaumont, Stu Hughes and Neil Donoghue. The original course ran on the opposite side of the hill before Richard Beard and co brought it onto the side of the hill that we now finish on.
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The weather as usual played tricks on us over the race weekend. Set up on Thursday and Friday saw the BDS crew on course with tops off in the blazing sun. Then as the riders started to land on Friday afternoon the heavens opened and it rained cats and dogs from 16:00 to 19:00. Saturday morning was a damp affair though the forecast was only to improve for the weekend which to be fair, it did, ending in glorious sunshine Sunday afternoon.
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The track used was the popular bomb hole track which is some 30 seconds shorter than last years track which started at the trig point. The top section after Fridays down pour of rain was super greasy and many riders took it steady up top before they released the brakes to set her up for the bomb hole jumps and then twisted the throttle into open section. Over the table tops nice and low and boost the step down into the dark and dense woods. We widened the track here giving the riders a few varied options on the now super dry and dusty track that laid in front of them.
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And what a contrast to the soil/track conditions, some sections were now six inches deep in dust, corners were blown out and the underlying roots became more exposed, seemed to increase in size and frequency as the weekends erosion continued. Practice was all day Saturday from 09:30 to 18:00 and was mainly over cast weather wise with Sunday slowly turning warmer and indeed brighter which was a God send in those last woods by the time the fast boys started descending.
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Pro-Tec Juveniles
WALKER Matt Rockguardz.com 2:17.831
EDWARDS Kade Torico Morzine 2:18.045
PARFITT Joe Swift Racing/Orange/Sunset Cycles 2:19.389
BARRETT Seth Pedalbikeaway/Flyup Downhill/J-Tech 2:20.714
BATE Conor Stenaline.co.uk 2:21.629
SixSixOne Youth
WARRELL Alistair Aston Hill MTB Club 2:06.426
GREENLAND Laurie Wideopen Magazine 2:07.072
MCCUBBING Frazer Lapierre Cadets 2:07.939
HATTON Charlie Flyup Downhill 2:08.617
STEWART Neil Wolfpax Riders 2:09.634
Stannah Stair Lifts Grand Veterans 50+
STUTTARD Howard Ride On/Slik/Muc Off 2:31.213
FELSTEAD Steven Ticket2rideBC.com 2:34.263
GILES Michael Eckington Trail Collective 2:40.516
SHERIDAN Thomas Nukeproof 3:05.490
Madison Clothing Veterans
HOWARTH Darren Grizedale Mountain Bikes 41.37 2:14.847
COBB John Devinci Haven 37.89 (3) 1:19.488 (2) 2:17.909
WEIGHTMAN Mark 36.73 (5) 1:21.009 (3) 2:18.232
LITTLE Peter Pedalabikeaway/Flyup Downhill 2:22.632
BRADLEY Adrian Eryri DH 2:23.247
Madison Master Men
LIST David Pete Yates Cycles 2:07.620
RISKER James 2:09.730
TAYLOR Craig Devinci/Haven Distribution 2:10.655
SPOONER Chris 2:14.129
TITLEY Andrew Ghost 661 2:14.309
Shimano Women
LACEY Suzanne Aston Hill 2:36.675
BARAONA Rebecca University of Manchester CC 2:40.713
GREAVES Jessica John Atkins Cycles Ltd 2:49.479
BARNES Beverley Muddybumbikes.com 2:50.509
BURRIDGE Rachel Mojo Suspension 3:28.961
Schwalbe Elite Women
STONE Jessica Unior Tools Team 2:19.674
WALKER Rachael Team Hope Factory Racing 2:43.132
Fox Junior Men
WESTON William 2:07.067
CARTERS Drew MTBCut.tv/Orange 2:08.022
FARLEY Dan Kona Grassroots/Wheelbase 2:08.366
OWENS Thomas Team Skene 2:08.437
RICHARDS Shaun 2:08.438
Kore Senior Men
EVANS Darren Aston Hill MTB Club 2:05.186
PRIOR Mark TF tuned 2:08.663
ACOTT Richard DMR/TRP/X-Fusion/YBN 2:10.108
HOWE Jonathan TF Tuned 2:10.262
STEER Harry Gawton Gravity Hub 2:10.793
Shimano Expert Men
MARTIN Glenroy Aston Hill MTB Club 2:03.521
LANGHORN Reece Team Skene2:04.086
NOTT Ben Pearce Cycles Race Team 2:04.557
GEOGHEGAN Jack Madison Saracen Downhill Team 2:04.906
GARDENER Perry 2:05.580
Schwalbe Elite Men
PEAT Steve Santa Cruz Syndicate 1:58.277
DALE Sam Madison Saracen Downhill Team 2:00.222
CUNNINGHAM Ruaridh Unior Tools Team 2:00.324
KERR Bernard Pivot Factory Team 2:00.659
SMITH Joe Chain Reaction Cycles/Nukeproof 2:00.836
Full results from Sports Timing Services
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Peaty likes Bringewood, that is for sure. With British Cycling National Championship wins here in both 2003 and 2005 along with winning here last year for rd4 of the BDS he was always going to make the trip. I actually deleted him from the starting list when the South African Worlds Team was announced. He called me up asking why he had been withdrawn. I'd presumed he wasn't going to race as most riders were flying out on this race weekend. He explained he would be flying out on Monday afternoon so a quick apology and the lap top was fired up and he was back in!
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2014 BDS Dates and Venues.
Rd1 22/23 March Antur Stiniog North Wales
Rd2 10/11 May Fort William Nort Scotland
Rd3 31 May/1 June Ae Forest Scottish Borders (Lockerbie)
Rd4 28/29 June Llangollen (Oswestry)
Rd5 13/14 September Bike Park Wales (Merthyr Tydfill)
Healing vibes going out to Roots and Rain mastermind Seb Frost who took a big slam on Saturday afternoon on the last corner. The front wheel slid out and he dived head first into the floor, the medics immediately stabilised him and he was flow out by air ambulance. Good news is Seb will be back up and running in the next few weeks so until then we wish him all the best. Even Steve Peat showed his appreciation on Twitter: steve peat @StevePeat Dedicating today's win to Seb Frost. Hope your back on the bike soon fella. heal up fast @britishdownhill @rootsandrain.
Now checkout his work right here, you will be impressed. Roots and Rain
Saracen BDS Series Standings
Bringewood Forest is open to anyone to go and ride seven days a week. SY8 2JQ gets you pretty close as post codes go. Please park and drive to the venue with courtesy to the locals and take your litter home with you. Pearce Cycles in Ludlow offer regular uplift days at Bringewood as well as having a great shop with all the latest kit in there: Pearce Cycles Website.
![photo]()
2014 BDS entries go live on Saturday 4th of January at 09:00 via the British Cycling website to those with 100 British Cycling points or more. International riders are most welcome and are invited to contact race director Si Paton by e-mail ASAP: si@descent-gear.com
For more info on the British Downhill Series - BDS checkout the Facebook page.
Stay Unclipped.
Si Paton
Located just outside of the beautiful market town of Ludlow in Shropshire, the venue is one hour West of Birmingham. Bringewood itself has been a staple diet of the British Downhill scene for over a dozen years and has been the breeding ground for the likes of Marc Beaumont, Stu Hughes and Neil Donoghue. The original course ran on the opposite side of the hill before Richard Beard and co brought it onto the side of the hill that we now finish on.
The creative taping opened up a few cheeky inside lines that as the day progressed the riders started to take. Expert rider Callum Mcritchie wasn't the first or last to fall foul here, 2:14:781
The weather as usual played tricks on us over the race weekend. Set up on Thursday and Friday saw the BDS crew on course with tops off in the blazing sun. Then as the riders started to land on Friday afternoon the heavens opened and it rained cats and dogs from 16:00 to 19:00. Saturday morning was a damp affair though the forecast was only to improve for the weekend which to be fair, it did, ending in glorious sunshine Sunday afternoon.
CRC Nuke Proofs Nigel Page 2:08:817
The track used was the popular bomb hole track which is some 30 seconds shorter than last years track which started at the trig point. The top section after Fridays down pour of rain was super greasy and many riders took it steady up top before they released the brakes to set her up for the bomb hole jumps and then twisted the throttle into open section. Over the table tops nice and low and boost the step down into the dark and dense woods. We widened the track here giving the riders a few varied options on the now super dry and dusty track that laid in front of them.
Dirt Norcos Ben Reid entering the darkness 2:03:573
And what a contrast to the soil/track conditions, some sections were now six inches deep in dust, corners were blown out and the underlying roots became more exposed, seemed to increase in size and frequency as the weekends erosion continued. Practice was all day Saturday from 09:30 to 18:00 and was mainly over cast weather wise with Sunday slowly turning warmer and indeed brighter which was a God send in those last woods by the time the fast boys started descending.
Hope Technology provided the trophies for the entire series.
Santa Cruz Syndicates Steve Peat 1:58:277
Gary Brain on the timing and results.
Pro-Tec Juveniles
WALKER Matt Rockguardz.com 2:17.831
EDWARDS Kade Torico Morzine 2:18.045
PARFITT Joe Swift Racing/Orange/Sunset Cycles 2:19.389
BARRETT Seth Pedalbikeaway/Flyup Downhill/J-Tech 2:20.714
BATE Conor Stenaline.co.uk 2:21.629
SixSixOne Youth
WARRELL Alistair Aston Hill MTB Club 2:06.426
GREENLAND Laurie Wideopen Magazine 2:07.072
MCCUBBING Frazer Lapierre Cadets 2:07.939
HATTON Charlie Flyup Downhill 2:08.617
STEWART Neil Wolfpax Riders 2:09.634
Stannah Stair Lifts Grand Veterans 50+
STUTTARD Howard Ride On/Slik/Muc Off 2:31.213
FELSTEAD Steven Ticket2rideBC.com 2:34.263
GILES Michael Eckington Trail Collective 2:40.516
SHERIDAN Thomas Nukeproof 3:05.490
Madison Clothing Veterans
HOWARTH Darren Grizedale Mountain Bikes 41.37 2:14.847
COBB John Devinci Haven 37.89 (3) 1:19.488 (2) 2:17.909
WEIGHTMAN Mark 36.73 (5) 1:21.009 (3) 2:18.232
LITTLE Peter Pedalabikeaway/Flyup Downhill 2:22.632
BRADLEY Adrian Eryri DH 2:23.247
Madison Master Men
LIST David Pete Yates Cycles 2:07.620
RISKER James 2:09.730
TAYLOR Craig Devinci/Haven Distribution 2:10.655
SPOONER Chris 2:14.129
TITLEY Andrew Ghost 661 2:14.309
Shimano Women
LACEY Suzanne Aston Hill 2:36.675
BARAONA Rebecca University of Manchester CC 2:40.713
GREAVES Jessica John Atkins Cycles Ltd 2:49.479
BARNES Beverley Muddybumbikes.com 2:50.509
BURRIDGE Rachel Mojo Suspension 3:28.961
Schwalbe Elite Women
STONE Jessica Unior Tools Team 2:19.674
WALKER Rachael Team Hope Factory Racing 2:43.132
Fox Junior Men
WESTON William 2:07.067
CARTERS Drew MTBCut.tv/Orange 2:08.022
FARLEY Dan Kona Grassroots/Wheelbase 2:08.366
OWENS Thomas Team Skene 2:08.437
RICHARDS Shaun 2:08.438
Kore Senior Men
EVANS Darren Aston Hill MTB Club 2:05.186
PRIOR Mark TF tuned 2:08.663
ACOTT Richard DMR/TRP/X-Fusion/YBN 2:10.108
HOWE Jonathan TF Tuned 2:10.262
STEER Harry Gawton Gravity Hub 2:10.793
Shimano Expert Men
MARTIN Glenroy Aston Hill MTB Club 2:03.521
LANGHORN Reece Team Skene2:04.086
NOTT Ben Pearce Cycles Race Team 2:04.557
GEOGHEGAN Jack Madison Saracen Downhill Team 2:04.906
GARDENER Perry 2:05.580
Schwalbe Elite Men
PEAT Steve Santa Cruz Syndicate 1:58.277
DALE Sam Madison Saracen Downhill Team 2:00.222
CUNNINGHAM Ruaridh Unior Tools Team 2:00.324
KERR Bernard Pivot Factory Team 2:00.659
SMITH Joe Chain Reaction Cycles/Nukeproof 2:00.836
Full results from Sports Timing Services
Harrison Page is the first to congratulate Steve Peat on his win.
Peaty likes Bringewood, that is for sure. With British Cycling National Championship wins here in both 2003 and 2005 along with winning here last year for rd4 of the BDS he was always going to make the trip. I actually deleted him from the starting list when the South African Worlds Team was announced. He called me up asking why he had been withdrawn. I'd presumed he wasn't going to race as most riders were flying out on this race weekend. He explained he would be flying out on Monday afternoon so a quick apology and the lap top was fired up and he was back in!
Adam Brayton the Keswick Kestrel came here for the win. He was feeling off the pace all weekend and a little under the weather, that much so he went to see the quacks on the way home. The diagnosis, he has somehow developed a blood infection. 2:02:804
2014 BDS Dates and Venues.
Rd1 22/23 March Antur Stiniog North Wales
Rd2 10/11 May Fort William Nort Scotland
Rd3 31 May/1 June Ae Forest Scottish Borders (Lockerbie)
Rd4 28/29 June Llangollen (Oswestry)
Rd5 13/14 September Bike Park Wales (Merthyr Tydfill)
Healing vibes going out to Roots and Rain mastermind Seb Frost who took a big slam on Saturday afternoon on the last corner. The front wheel slid out and he dived head first into the floor, the medics immediately stabilised him and he was flow out by air ambulance. Good news is Seb will be back up and running in the next few weeks so until then we wish him all the best. Even Steve Peat showed his appreciation on Twitter: steve peat @StevePeat Dedicating today's win to Seb Frost. Hope your back on the bike soon fella. heal up fast @britishdownhill @rootsandrain.
Now checkout his work right here, you will be impressed. Roots and Rain
Saracen BDS Series Standings
Bringewood Forest is open to anyone to go and ride seven days a week. SY8 2JQ gets you pretty close as post codes go. Please park and drive to the venue with courtesy to the locals and take your litter home with you. Pearce Cycles in Ludlow offer regular uplift days at Bringewood as well as having a great shop with all the latest kit in there: Pearce Cycles Website.
Wolverhamptons Will Weston taking the Junior win. 2:07:067
2014 BDS entries go live on Saturday 4th of January at 09:00 via the British Cycling website to those with 100 British Cycling points or more. International riders are most welcome and are invited to contact race director Si Paton by e-mail ASAP: si@descent-gear.com
For more info on the British Downhill Series - BDS checkout the Facebook page.
Stay Unclipped.
Si Paton
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Member since Jul 26, 2006
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I don't think my front wheel washed out though, I think something bucked me over the front of the bike. I feel that I went up for a bit before I started my long head-first journey down into the compression! I might be remembering it wrongly though. Who was an actual eyewitness to the crash, anyone?
How did they get them interested in as a sponsor? Just got to love that.