Race Report: British National Downhill Series Round 1
This weekend saw the return of The UK National Downhill Series with round one hosted by Gravity Events UK at Danny Hart's Descend Bike Park in Hamsterley. There was plenty of chat about this event before it happened as the UK DH series normally resides in the mountains of Wales or Scotland so changing to the North of England was bound to spark some debate.
The track may well have been a little short but judging by all the track holds and red flags there was plenty for the riders to think about on this 1:40 second track. The weather however did play a big part on race day (it is the north of England after all) with rain just before the race runs making an already tricky track even harder.
Early morning practice runs were popular but with rain coming right before race time the dry lines were long gone!
After some rider criticisms at the last race held at this venue, the riders were listened to and the uplift was much improved.
There was plenty of the Army Downhill team out racing this weekend. It's always good to see the Forces guys and girls out racing and having a good time!
The British Cycling National Downhill series kicked off at Danny Hart's Descend Bike Park, Hamsterley. In a change to the original series schedule, due to Covid issues around Forestry Commission venues and venues in Wales also being closed, Descend Bike Park came in at short notice. Yes there have been some moans about the length of track etc, but people need to remember how hard it is to put races on normally . . . add in all the other complications into the mix we are lucky to be racing at all!
The timing clock is out, it can only mean one thing - it's time to go racing.
Jordan Williams was the fastest man of the day, well he's a Junior but you get the point. A stunning ride for this young man not only winning the 17 -18 boys race but taking over 2 seconds out of a World Cup racer on a 1:39 track is one hell of an achievement.
Preston Williams was one of the many stand-out young riders this weekend. Preston not only came second in the 17-18 boys field by just .238 seconds but he also posted the second-fastest time of the day by anyone! These kids are crazy fast!
Becci Skelton was on the gas this weekend. The previous series champion took home 3rd this weekend.
Nathan Diwell-Wilson sending it off the fire road. 4th for Nathan this weekend in the 13-14 Boy's field.
Ollie Sinden with his eyes on the wet roots. Good weekend for Ollie finishing with a 2nd in the 13-14 Boy's field.
Ethan Fletcher gapping out of the rock-garden/root-garden (if that's a thing) and out onto the fireroad.
Owen Rick on the gas across the flat midsection of the track.
Jethro Whitfield heading into the root-infested steep chute that claimed plenty of riders egos this weekend. Jethro, however, came out unscathed taking home the win in the 40-49 Men's field
Stuart Houlston finished up in 3rd in the 30-39 Men's field this weekend.
Jenna Fellows finished 3rd this weekend in the under 19 Women's field. A great start to the year for the Ridgehill Race Syndicate ride.
Muddy DH bikes everywhere although putting them at the exit to the finish line might not be the wisest idea
Kenzie Nevard on the gas heading to the step-down.
Dom Platt had one hell of a race this weekend with the Atherton Bikes team rider not only winning the 15-16 Boy's field by 3 seconds but also putting down the 6th fastest time of the day by anyone. This lad has a bright future!
Plenty of mud-covered beauties out racing this weekend.
Always remember to return your timing chips or Chris Roberts will have to send the boys round to get it back.
Megan James with the save of the day off the step down with a cheeky 1 footer. When Megan went off the step down with her foot off I didn't expect her to be landing and riding it out as if nothing had happened. Megan finished 2nd in the 19+ Women's field this weekend.
Abbie Sloan sending it over the finish line. Abbie took home 4th in the Elite Women's field, not a bad start to the year.
Action Sports Timing did an amazing job of running the timing with live times going out throughout the day.
It was a wet, tough day for the riders. A fitting welcome back to National level racing.
Flat out to the bottom from here off of the iconic Descend Bike Park step down to the finish.
The rain came right on cue for race runs on Sunday turning an already tough track even tougher with some sections becoming really slick, as Efan Loring found out. Despite the practice day and race day morning having several big crashes and red flags, we managed to make it most of the way through race runs before the red flags made a re-appearance.
It was a tough weekend for many of the riders but Bradley Shields had a particularly tough one with some nasty crashes on the Saturday resulting in a broken set of handlebars. Topped off by a crash in his seeding run saw the Dirtworks rider up against it in his Master's race run. He was up to the challenge, however, with Bradley taking the win in the Masters 30-39 field by just under 8 seconds
Roger Vieira taking home the win in the Elite Male field. Top result for Roger and his first ever in the UK National Downhill Series! The question is where are all the British World Cup riders? Shouldn't they be racing at National Series races?
John Holbrook powering his way through the only bit of light in the upper section of woods!
Maxine Filby finished up 3rd in the 19+ Women's field this weekend. A top result for the Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling rider
Joshua Mears ping-ponging his way through what looked to be a smooth section of track on the track preview but turned out to be a rock and root covered section that just kept sapping riders speed.
Bethany McCully one of the many women racing this weekend. It's amazing to see the group of women grow constantly. Not a bad weekend for Bethany with a 4th in the Under 19 Women's field.
Jake Cartlidge sliding his way around the corner.
Monika Mixova keeping it pinned into the steep section at the top of the track.
The trophies from Round one were pretty nice. It was a tough weekend for the race organizers Gravity Events with the track getting some criticism before the event for not being tough enough, then being criticized for being too tough in places and too short, it seemed like it was a no-win situation. The Team at Gravity events did a great job and it's good to see some new venues added to the UK National Downhill series. Thanks to Bradley Shields for letting me borrow his trophy for a picture!
The UK National Series heads to Innerleithen next on the 7-8th August 2021 with the entry's now live.
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There was riders at the national at weekend that had never raced before
Hamsterley has short tracks when compared but what it lacks in individual lengths of runs it certainly makes up in the variety of tracks/fun and facilities. Even back in the day when the regionals started from the top of the 4X track the runs were short but they made great fun/racing.
Remember that. FUN. it matters.