Sheffield’s Howard Street Dual - Photo Report
It’s a drizzly Saturday afternoon on the 10th March 2018; we find ourselves in Sheffield town centre, UK. Amongst the hustle and bustle of the high-street shoppers, the scene is set for some elbow-to-elbow dual slalom action, with an eclectic mix of some of the biggest names in World Cup mountain biking, thrown in with some local heroes and a dusting of 50:01 hooligans.
The event is part of Sheffield's Outdoor City Weekender, another reason why the city is leading the way in promoting city-based outdoor lifestyles. In previous years the racing has taken place during daylight hours; this year’s schedule has been pushed back into dusk to add another dimension. Hope Technology are stepping in, providing the lumens to turn night into day.
The course is moderately moist and runs from the top of Hallam square, across the front of the main Hallam university building and down to the bottom of Howard Street. The event has been made possible by Sheffield City Council and organised by ThisIsSheffield.
The men’s line-up includes Sheffield’s own Steve Peat, his fellow 50:01 crew including Josh ‘Ratboy’ Bryceland and Josh ‘Loose Dog’ Lewis, along with 2017 Redbull Hardline winner Craig ‘Seven’ Evans and ‘right hand’ Sam Dale. Matt and Dave Hockenhull will also be taking part along with last year’s reigning champion Brett Penfold and second place Ben Moore. Elite downhill pinner Jono Jones is making his way up from Woburn, too. Team Cotic will be represented by the Rocket Man himself, James Swinden, who will doubtlessly be chased down Straightline Chay Granby.
The women’s line-up is headed up by last year’s winner Carrie Poole who held her 4-month-old son aloft on the podium. She’ll be chased down by last year’s runners-up Anya Tolwinska, Ellie Dewdeny and Katy Thorpe. BMX superstar Chloe Taylor will be challenging for the top step alongside downhiller Becci Skelton.
Peaty arrived early to weigh up the lines
The 50:01 boys are back in town
The chosen ones sign in before Nick Hamilton, event mastermind lays down the rider brief
Some people are just hard to please
Peaty and Ratboy cracking jokes
Two totally different ways to spend a Saturday, fortunately the race kept Peaty out of there!
Mass start to bed in the track and warm up the crowd
Brett Penfold, the man to beat, sporting the number 1 plate
Loosedog finds time for steeze
Your ride awaits, luckily no one required the paramedics today
Slippin n' rippin
Ben Moore keeps the back wheel glued to the ground approaching the tractionless bottom turns
Carrie Poole on the outside
Bringing the sport to the masses
Loosedog zips through the stairs, ankle apparently feeling better!
Peaty hammers the Hallam square steps
Anthony Croft topping out the berm
Names for the dual board!
Peaty obliterates his component through the inside berm on so-called chaos corner
Chay Granby and Ben Moore race to the finish, the final hurdle where many did fall!
Rayboy and James Hughes battle it out across the rollers
Ben Moore last years runner up battles it out of one of the few hardtails against Jordan Gould
Chloe Taylor and Ellie Dewdeny out of the start gate as night falls
The event was fantastic for bringing the sport into the public eye
It wasn't Hardline victor Craig Evans day, knocked out by runner up Brett Penfold in quarter finals
James Swinden and Steve Peat charge the chaos corner in quater finals
Becci Skelton and Chloe Taylor battle it out in semis
Peaty and Ratboy go head to head in semis... 'Rat, I am your father'
Chloe and Carrie battle it out in the lasses final
Foot out flat out, Peaty shortly before his big crash on the final bank
Peaty tumbled through the tape in the first head2head with Brett
Peaty and Brett battle it out in chaos corner
Lads and Lasses outcome boards
A little confusion was had whilst times are discussed and the 1.5 BC Dual Rule clarified, before the winner in announced
Carrie Poole 1st, Chloe Taylor - 2nd, Toni Fryer - 3rd, Becky Skelton - 4th
Peaty - 1st, Brett Penfold - 2nd, Bryceland - 3rd, Sam Dale - 4th
Steve, how does it feel to win on home turf?
 | It feels really good. Brett was on it all night, riding awesome. Until I got to the final, I'd not rode as well as I did. I absolutely hammered it because I knew that Brett was really quick. I over pushed it on the first run and ended up with a 1.5 disadvantage. Luckily, for me, I hammered the second run, and Brett made few mistakes but I beat him by 2.1, so strong yeah. It’s awesome, dual racing is mint and to have one in Sheffield city Centre, my own town, is absolutely awesome. For me to be able to win it – cool. |
Full results:
Lads
Lasses
Mentions: @steelcitydh // @hopetech // @LadLife // @ratskid23 // @tris400d
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Whiner, I been called worse by 4 year olds, hahaha.
Track is still a joke..