Race Report: Mini Downhill 2021 Round 1 - Harthill
With the complications around Covid-19 and the Forestry Commission, the 100% Mini Downhill series has changed up its venues with round one taking place at Harthill Adventure Park in Chester. Harthill is normally associated with the British 4X series and will in fact host the first two rounds of the 4X series over the coming bank May holiday weekend.
The track was a typical 100% Mini Downhill track. It had something for everyone with tight twisting berms and some tabletops. The track allowed the fast guys to go flat out and the racers who are less experienced to enjoy their racing without taking too many risks. The track was short with the fastest guys finishing in around 40 seconds. The riders had 2 runs, after 2 and a half hours practice, with the fastest time of your 2 runs counting for your result.
With a full day of rain the day before and over night the track was a little slick for the riders first runs, but with 309 riders racing and some sunshine the track dried out and just kept getting faster throughout the day with some riders taking up to 11 seconds out of their first run times second time round.
It was amazing to see so many Junior riders racing all the way down to the 8 year olds. Out of the 309 riders racing 201 of them where under18's. Even more impressively there were 134 riders for which this was their first race. It's a credit to how well Naked Racing run their races that so many riders choose to make their racing debut at their events. Chris and his team always work hard to provide these amazing events and the riders love them.
Did someone order some mud? It's not Downhill racing in the UK if there isn't rain and mud. The section leading to the last corner claimed many egos today across all the riders.
Despite the mud the riders were loving the track. Joe Willoughby throwing up the horns.
The Malvern Classic's very own Si Paton not only racing but on the mic too.
Josie McFall having a tough time of it today with a big crash in her second run leaving her in 3rd in the Senior Women's field. Josie is also representing the new Northern 4X and MTB club. These clubs are being set up around the UK to bring 4X riders together and boost 4X in the UK. If you haven't given 4X a go why not check out The Northern 4X Club if you're based in the North or British 4X to find out more and get involved.
Olivia Taylor making it 2 for 2 for the Green Snow Collective taking the win today in the 10-12 category. Olivia also managed the 7th fastest women's time of the day not bad for a 10 year old.
Richard Rae looking pinned on his way to 3rd in the Mini Rippers field for 8-10 year old boys.
William Hughes leaning it in round the berm and taking home 3rd in the Veteran Men's field
Daniel Ritson spotted a penny mid track and had to take a closer look.
Jim Buchanan from Pinned TV pushing hard and taking second in the Grand Veteran's field
Carson Bentley with a cheeky noise bonk.
Kieran Calvert finishing 4th in the Hardtail field and bringing out the classic lefty fork to boot.
Travis Beaumont craving his way though the berms in the upper section of the track.
Joseph Prashner taking the win in the 15-16 field and the second time of the day too.
Tyler Hughes on his way to taking home 5th in the Junior field, narrowly missing out on beating his Dad's fastest time of the day by 0.7 of a second with Stu Hughes taking the win in the Veteran's field.
Jake Cartlidge taking the win today in 17-18 field topping off one hell of a week for Jake after landing a spot on the Green Snow Collective this week as well.
Dylan Shipton with the hero lens out in the sunshine. Despite rain the day before, on race day there was sunshine all day with the track just getting faster and faster as it dried.
Amy Kilhams looked smooth all day and took home the win in the Women's 19-29 field
Pete Crump with a second in Vet's, a good result for the Pearce Cycles rider.
Jack Davies popping over the first set of jumps on the track. Jake came 8th in the 17-18 men's field.
Harvey Rollason making the steep mud-covered chute look easy on his way to 2nd in the 19-29 field.
The mud claimed plenty of egos today.
Arthwr Thomas pumping his way through the rollers in the Mini Rippers field. Athwr took home 4th today, it's amazing to see all these tiny kids racing.
The fastest man on the hill today was Luke Knight who also won the 19-29 class as well.
It was 2nd for Hannah Escott in the 30-39 women's field.
Mountain biking royalty in the house with Steve Peat track side cheering on his sons Jake Peat, who took home 12th in his age group, and George Peat getting 3rd in the Rippers class
Oscar Hakes pushing round the twisty midsection of the track.
James Burney fighting his way though the spray of mud in practice.
It's not a crash if your feet are still on the pedals right?
It was a Mud tyre kind of day.
Si Paton taking the win in the Grand Veteran's field proving there is plenty of life left in this old dog.
Results
Field
1st
2nd
3rd
U10 boys
Freddie PARKINSON
Dylan SPENCE
Richard RAE
Hardtail men
Samuel SWIFT
Scott CORDY
Cameron JOHNSON
10-12 boys
Charlie BAXTER
Harry CARR
George PEAT
13-14 boys
Thomas HAWKINS
Ollie SINDEN
Billy PUGH
15-16 boys
Joseph PRASHNER
Oliver MEILLAM
Kieran CALVER
17-18 boys
Jake CARTLIDGE
Joshua BRAZIER
Brandon TURNER
19-29 men
Luke KNIGHT
Harvey ROLLASON
Efan LORING
30-39 men
Craig GRIFFITHS
Jonny BARTLE
Kevin COOK
40-49 men
Stuart HUGHES
Pete CRUMP
William HUGHES (vet)
50+ men
Si PATON
Jim BUCHANAN
Robert SHAW
U10 girls
Isabelle ROBERTS
Ida MARTIN
Charlotte LAWTON SILVA
10-12 girls
Olivia TAYLOR
Esme DRAKELEY
Cari MORGAN-WILLIAMS
15-16 girls
Carrie COPSON
17-18 girls
Mia HASTE
Hannah DUNN
Lucy WALKER
19-29 women
Amy KILHAMS
Charlotte SNOWDEN
Josie Georgina MCFALL
30-39 women
Reanne ATHERTON
Hannah ESCOTT
Samantha HEWITT
40-49 women
Emily COX
50+ women
Julie MORRISSEY
Author Info:
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Just so cool to see so many newcomers and lil rippers learning the trade!✊✊
Great report and a great event ...