Cannondale British Enduro Series - Round 5 Innerleithen, Scotland

So here we are round 5 already, where has the race season gone?

For the 5th instalment of the Cannonade British Enduro Series, we travel to Innerleithen in the heart of the Tweed Valley world renowned for 7Stanes Trail Centres. In May 2015 the Tweed Valley played host to the best in the business when the Enduro World Series stopped here for Round 3. Innerleithen is the historic home of downhill mountain biking with over 20 years of racing history producing some of the best riders in the UK. More recently Enduro has taken a grip of the 7Stanes Forestry Commission’s Scotland network of trails and hillsides. More so on the Golfie which is the range of hills on the other side of the village.

The event weekend starts off on Saturday with riders making the 60-minute transition from the Forestry Commission Downhill Car Park to the top of the Golfie to attack the first of two stages that day; Repeat Offender and Waterworld. Practice is in the morning followed by racing in the afternoon with riders leaving the finish arena and riding out through the town. Saturdays overall times will be added together and used for seeding of those riders on Sunday with the fastest riders going off last in each category.

All eyes will be on the Elite Men category with Marin/Stans rider Leigh Johnson only out in front by 12 points due to his unfortunate injury sustained at Eastridge, leaving the door wide open for Whyte's Sam Shucksmith who took the win. With Sam on 655 points it's looking like it'll be an exciting end to the season. As for the Elite women, Tracy Moseley has dominated all season but absent this weekend could potentially mean she'll be overtaken by Becky Cook and Martha Gill if either one come out on top tomorrow.

The Scottish weather has been very kinda to us today, with another day tomorrow and a forecast much of the same the dusty trails look to continue! Yes you heard me correctly, its dry and dusty here in Scotland. Are you sure we're in October?




A quick steezy manual will get the legs warm early doors.


The views from the peddle up are truly stunning.
Early morning steez with Luther Griffiths.
Dry trails meant hucks over roots went down a lot today.


Almost everywhere was bone dry, except a couple of sections which had natural springs catching a few riders out.
Stage 2 seemed to suit the Downhill orientated riders, steep and technical shoots like this one weren't a problem for people like Andrew Titley.
There was even some lightbro to be had amongst the trees.
Many riders found it hard coming from bright sunshine into dense dark woodland, but Wideopenmag's Chris Hutchens didn't look to have any problems.
Couldn't ask for a race to be held in a nicer woodland.
A lot of back brake was used on the steep sections, a lot of people may need new pads for tomorrow!

Can Marin/Stans rider Martha Gill take the win tomorrow and the overall?
Or will Beck Cook pip her to the post?
Leigh Johnson has been flying under the radar a little today without fellow Marin rider Nikki Whiles, none the less he's looking pinned. Will he maintain his dominant form tomorrow?
Or will Sam Shucksmith do the business...
The sun gods shine on Innerleithen, let's hope they stay until close of play tomorrow.
That's all folks, see you tomorrow.

Be sure to return tomorrow evening you'll see stages 3, 4 and 5 action.