Photo Epic: Peaty’s Steel City Downhill 2018
It’s Saturday of the Early May Bank Holiday here in the UK and we find ourselves in a scorching Sheffield for the biggest little race – Peaty’s Steel City Downhill 2018. This is the eighth edition to the well-known event; it takes place amongst the verdant Grenoside woodland just outside of Sheffield. The woods are maintained by the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife trust, who work hard with the local cycling community to strike a balance between nature and recreation. The event is of course endorsed by Sheffield's very own Steve Peat, who toils away behind the scenes alongside Henry Norman, Nick Hamilton and Steve Hardcastle.
Despite some big names attending this event year on year, the true focus is the diversity of riders the event attracts. 300 racers range from 9½ to 74¾ years old, with 40 lasses and 75 under 18 competitors. At the ‘sharp’ end of the field are the likes of Ratboy, Brendog, Craig Evans, and Sam Dale who will all be battling out with the host Steve Peat. Steve won’t go down without a fight, having laid the foundations for a successful world cup career in these very woodlands.
All ages are ready to rock!
Sign on at the boss man's van...
Brendog sails over the gap early in practice
Sam Algar - just 13, came up just off the mark and unfortunately his bike paid the price. Luckily he was able to get up and was assessed by the excellent medical staff on hand
Not one for the truing stand..
The Wildlife Trust, the underlying key to the event
Why can't every coffee cart be this cool?
The Banana Industries boys stall was on point and stacked with wacky merch
Ratboy setting the bar for Brendog
In between runs Josh has been providing you all the with goods via the PB Instagram story
Loosedog kicks her out
Chay Granby flicks the 120mm FlareMax through the tape
The riders of tomorrow poised for action. Sam Meth with eyes on the prize
Rudi Eichorn kicks off the first race runs
The crowd were on hand to get the young'uns off the gaps
Owen Rick looking almost Peaty like - don't you think!?
Harry Hemmingway charging the Santa Cruz Nickel down the beautifully tweaked course
Will Easey certainly not taking it so!
I think the landing was somewhere down...
Anya Tolwinska searching for the win
Brendog educating Northern crowd how it's done
Abigale Lawton took a huge spill in her first run - please rest for a few days!
Becky Skelton proves that the B-line can still be charged!
Andrew Titley on the quest for victory
Loosedog - at it again with the crowd pleasers
Seven Evans makes light work of the set up jump before troublesome gap, turning up the difficulty!
At speed this bombhole is pretty damn deep!
Chris Cockrill leaving the dust hangin'
Seth Baker pleases the spectators
Making the final leap to the line
The sun sinks in the sky but the racers keep on coming
Martha Gill rockets to victory aboard her Marin 29er. She is to watch out for in the EWS that's for sure!
Ratboy vs Father
Peaty charges to victory yet again
The spotlight just keeps on shining on this one!
From the finish line to the bar - Peaty setting record time once again
A big thanks to the organisers - Steve Peat, Henry Norman, Nick Hamilton and Steve Hardcastle.
Drink water kids.. Peaty & co deploy the freebies.
Great to see all ages get given the fizz on the podium! The Juvenille's sure weren't lacking in skill
Womens Pro Podium Martha Gill 1st, Chloe Taylor 2nd, Aston Tutt 3rd
Mens Pro Podium - Steve Peat 1st, Craig Evans 2nd, Brendan Fairclough 3rd
Peaty keeps the young'uns at bay for the second time this year on home turf!
Sunburnt Sheffield - over and out until next time!
Cheers!
So the event is in its eighth year - where did it all begin, and what keeps you motivated?
 | When we began is was a fundraiser for the Wildlife trust to buy the woods, when they were up for sale, and their future uncertain. Since then it has remained the same, we're just striving to make the woods a better place to ride bikes, alongside everyone else who wants to enjoy themselves under the trees. We're getting better at it each year, we're raising more money, we're investing it to make better trails and the event is growing. A massive thanks to everyone that enjoyed the sun-kissed day, invested some time and money in the woods, and enjoyed seeing Peaty win the Steel City DH 2018. |
Results here
The Wildlife Trust
Greno Woods is a nature reserve owned and managed by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. It is an ancient woodland, rich in wildlife and full of historic interest. Covering 169 hectares, it is one of the Trust’s largest reserves and offers excellent opportunities for wildlife watching, exploration and recreation. The Trust has carried out work on the reserve to increase the proportion and quality of priority habitats on the site and maintain features of interest as well as maintain and improve recreational infrastructure such as our downhill mountain bike trails.
Help protect and enhance our local wildlife and green spaces by joining Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. By joining Sheffield and Rotherham’s community of wildlife lovers today you can help care for the wild places you love – preserving them for years to come.
Find out more at www.wildsheffield.com or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Mentions: @steelcitydh // @LadLife // @ratskid23 // @tris400d
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It's a shame because I'd alternate weekends of volunteering with biking.
Awesome to hear about guys (or gals) still out there doing it at that age, it gives me hope!
Best news end ever ! x)