Race Report: XC Marathon UK National Championships in Nutley
Words: Nick Bentley
The National XC Marathon Championship took place this weekend at Pippingford Park, Nutley, with riders taking on a challenging 80km course filled with steep techy forestry climbs, flowy berms, open field sprints and tight singletrack descents – this course was not for the faint-hearted. With a fantastic turnout of 181 riders gridding in the National and a further 123 taking on the Vittoria marathon running alongside, the crowds were out in force, cheering on their riders.
Fresh from the XC World Cup in Val di Sole, Cameron Mason wasted no time in getting back on the bike
Isla Short didn't want to miss out on any of the action warming up in the woodland so she could watch the gridding
A slightly different look than XCO with many riders carrying bags of water and provisions to see them through the gruelling 80km race
Smiles on the start line
The calm before the storm
There was an incredible turn out of riders for this years National Marathon, with a packed gridding in the men's race
The fastest line in the initial descent was to tuck tightly to the tree
Nick Craig rounded off an amazing XC season by taking yet another win in the Grand-Veterans field
In marathons you have to be able to multitask as demonstrated here
The race started with a steep, fire road climb giving the riders time to space out
Alan Gunner had a tremendous race taking second in the veteran field
Early loading of sugar helped riders get off the mark quick
The course crossed the arena twice during each lap, crossing the Vittoria arena bridge
There was plenty of time to get comfortable in the pits compared to XCO with the lead riders completing a 20km lap in just under an hour
The downhill singletrack gave riders a break from the gruelling climbs to enjoy the flowing berms
Speed tuck into the berm
Always time (and energy) for a bit of style
The climbs were the best place to overtake
Kim Baptista was hot on Jane Barr's back wheel for the majority of the race, with Jane putting the power down in the final lap to take 7th overall and second in the veteran race, with Kim following 8th overall and 6th in the senior field
Hope's Thomas Mein had a strong start leading out the pack in a two-man breakaway with Jason Bouttell in the first lap, ultimately coming in fourth overall in the senior race
Putting the power down in the forest climbs
Coffee was in great (and much needed) supply this weekend
After all the kilometres in a marathon, you have to concentrate every step of the way
Even up the climbs the riders were excited to be out
As well as the National Championships, the Vittoria MTB Marathon was running and riders were excited to take on the national level track
Steve Calland was consistent throughout the 80km race, taking home a solid second place in the Grand Veterans field
It was a tough race for all
Cameron Mason was over the moon to take the win and be crowned this years National Marathon Champion for the senior field
Relief for Jason Bouttell taking home second in the senior field
Riders gave it their all on the course
A sprint finish for Dan Howe and Liam Roberts
with the riders crossing the line at the exact same time
James Swadling climbed his way through the break-away to take third overall in both the men's race overall and the senior race
There were high spirits once the race was done
Check out this shot
Cameron Mason waited patiently at the finishing line to see who won the women's race
Isla Short took a resounding win in the female senior category and race overall, with a lead of over 3 minutes
Anna Kay battled hard to take second place in the Female Senior category and race overall
Riders were lucky throughout the day, with the rain just starting in time for cool down
Smiles all round on the finishing line
The perfect place to catch up on the action in the final corner coming into the finishing straight
Sam Humphrey took his first win of the season in the male veteran field, and boy was he happy!
When you find out it was a Scottish double win
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8 Comments
- 17 0
turbohippy
(Jul 12, 2023 at 23:04)
That's me giving it a bit of style, in the pink Pink Floyd t-shirt, baggy short and Vans. I was the fastest non race license rider there!
- 2 0
grm
(Jul 13, 2023 at 1:51)
Good effort!
- 5 0
benniferj
(Jul 12, 2023 at 23:41)
Check me out on the wheel of Isla as she crossed the line there
- 3 0
antiquesroadtrip
(Jul 12, 2023 at 15:20)
Looks better than the national DH event
- 1 0
hardtailhooner
(Jul 13, 2023 at 1:13)
That's not difficult.
- 1 0
BMXrad
(Jul 13, 2023 at 4:50)
Yep thats easy done hahahaha
- 1 0
jaame
(Jul 13, 2023 at 2:46)
Alan Gunner and Nick Craig - blast from the past names but they enviously never retired!
Good on them still at it in their 40s or 50s.
- 1 0
Rocky-Alta
(Jul 13, 2023 at 23:24)
Nick Craig still does a lot for mountain biking - thinks he's still a Scott ambassador or something too
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