Practice Report: UK National Downhill Championships

Jul 23, 2022 at 15:27
by Nick Bentley  
photo

It was a mixed day at Glencoe on practice day for the UK National Downhill Championships. With the morning bringing a dry track, only for the rain to come in the afternoon and totally change the track conditions. The riders battled through the weather and the track was well received by all. However, Glencoe is a tough test and it took plenty of egos today with a red flag strewn day and some big crashes. It will be interesting to see how race day develops when riders will be keener to take a few risks to try and claim themselves a national champions jersey.

All smiles in the lift queue although it was a pretty long wait - not much the organisers can do with the lift here a Glencoe really.
All smiles in the lift queue, although it was a pretty long wait - not much the organisers can do with the lift here a Glencoe really.

Game face time
Game face time!

The calm before the storm at the top of the track waiting to drop in.
The calm before the storm at the top of the track, waiting to drop in.

The track was dry in the most part in the morning however it didn t stay that way
The track was dry for the most part in the morning, however it didn't stay that way

The top of the track is flat out with plenty of jumps.
The top of the track is flat out with plenty of jumps.

Richard Oldham wins the funniest face whilst turning a corner award.
Richard Oldham wins the funniest face whilst turning a corner award.

The views in the morning were stunning and it s good to see the race village so full.
The views in the morning were stunning and it's good to see the race village so full.

There are plenty of young riders too
There are plenty of young riders too!

Greg Williamson is the fifth and final world cup rider in the men s race but the Scotsman will be keen to stake his claim to the national title on home soil
Greg Williamson was one of five world cup riders in the men's race but the Scotsman will be keen to stake his claim to the national title on home soil!

It s good to see plenty of women out racing this weekend
It's good to see plenty of women out racing this weekend!

I m not sure there will be a lot of this on race day with a full night of rain here in Scotland. With some more on the way tomorrow too it s going to be a wet one.
I'm not sure there will be much of this on race day with a full night of rain here in Scotland. With some more on the way tomorrow too it's going to be a wet one.

Joe Breeden is also racing national champs before heading out to Snowshoe. It s going to be a tough race to call
Joe Breeden is also racing national champs before heading out to Snowshoe. It's going to be a tough race to call!

Ad Brayton sending it over the double drop.
Ad Brayton sending it over the double drop.

And for good measure here s a 3rd one of Grandad. Can he back up a good World Cup result last weekend with a win here at national champs
And for good measure here's the 3rd one of Grandad. Can he back up a good World Cup result last weekend with a win here at national champs?

Ad said to me I never include him in my articles so here s another shot of him riding off into the stunning view here at Glencoe riding something that definitely isn t Nukeproofs new carbon DH bike.
Ad said to me I never include him in my articles, so here's another shot of him riding off into the stunning view here at Glencoe, riding something that definitely isn't Nukeproof's new carbon DH bike.

Its always good to see Meg Whyte out on her DH bike.
It's always good to see Meg Whyte out on her DH bike.

The World Cup riders might not get it all their own way with Lachlan Blair looking fast today - can he take the win tomorrow in the rain
The World Cup riders might not get it all their own way with Lachlan Blair looking fast today - can he take the win tomorrow in the rain?

Sophie Cade swapped her 4X bike for her DH bike this weekend and looked pretty fast too
Sophie Cade swapped her 4X bike for her DH bike this weekend and looked pretty fast too!

There are some fast steep sections on this Glencoe track with plenty of line choice to either use the berms or power straight through the middle.
There are some fast steep sections on this Glencoe track with plenty of line choice to either use the berms or power straight through the middle.

Sadly the rain means you don t get to see KJ s super smart button up shirt she chose to wear to celebrate her last race as national champ
Sadly the rain means you don't get to see KJ's super smart button-up shirt she chose to wear to celebrate her last race as national champ

A snapped bar is never a good way to end a run but it left this rider a long hike down to replace them with a set he happened to remember to bring.
A big crash left this rider with a long hike down to swap out his broken handlebar.

There are plenty of rock drops to keep the riders on their toes.
There are plenty of rock drops to keep the riders on their toes.

Eyes on the next corner.
Eyes on the next corner.

Maxine Filby is out to defend her Veteran s women s national title this weekend and looking quick to on her enduro bike.
Maxine Filby is out to defend her Veteran's women's national title this weekend and looking quick to on her enduro bike.

Leonardo Conway-Johnson enjoying the Glencoe rocks
Leonardo Conway-Johnson enjoying the Glencoe rocks

It s not all rock at Glencoe - there are some wooden wallrides if you can call them that at the midway section of the track
It's not all rock at Glencoe - there are some wooden wallrides, if you can call them that at the midway section of the track

Stacey Fisher is the current leader of the National Series leader and coming off the back of some impressive World Cup results she has to be the favourite for the women s title this weekend.
Stacey Fisher is the current leader of the National Series leader and coming off the back of some impressive World Cup results she has to be the favourite for the women's title this weekend.

Muc-off young guns rider Luca Thurlow has been out racing at the World Cups and it shows. He could be in with a chance of taking the junior national title this weekend.
Muc-off young guns rider Luca Thurlow has been out racing at the World Cups, and it shows. He could be in with a chance of taking the junior national title this weekend.

Jamie Edmondson watching on from the chairlift. Could this be Jamie s year
Jamie Edmondson watching on from the chairlift. Could this be Jamie's year?

Towards the end of practice the Scottish summer rain started and began to turn the rock gardens in to ice rinks.
Towards the end of practice the Scottish summer rain started and began to turn the rock gardens into ice rinks.

Taylor Vernon is one of the few British World Cup races in attendance and the Welshman is looking fast. Could he be the man to take the title
Taylor Vernon is one of the few British World Cup racers in attendance and the Welshman is looking fast. Could he be the man to take the title?

The lower section of the Glencoe track is a series of switch backs most of which are strewn with rocks for the most part but some offer the opportunity to get the power down.
The lower section of the Glencoe track is a series of switchbacks, most of which are strewn with rocks for the most part but some offer the opportunity to get the power down.

Carrie Copson had a nasty fall and ended up with a suspected concussion. The tough Glencoe track kept the medics on their toes all day at times dealing with multiple issues at once but they handled it all and kept racing running for the most part.
Carrie Copson had a nasty fall and ended up with a suspected concussion. The tough Glencoe track kept the medics on their toes all day, at times dealing with multiple issues at once, but they handled it all and kept racing running for the most part.

With a rider down already needing a stretcher it was a very careful walk down the track with a helmet provided by the medics. It s good to see concussions being treated seriously by both riders and medics
With a rider down already needing a stretcher, it was a very careful walk down the track with a helmet provided by the medics. It's good to see concussions being treated seriously by both riders and medics!

It was a rough day for KJ Sharp with a big crash at the end of practice but I m sure she will be back tomorrow to defend her National title.
It was a rough day for KJ Sharp, with a big crash at the end of practice but I'm sure she will be back tomorrow to defend her National title.

We will be back tomorrow with the race results and more action from Glencoe.

Author Info:
Mandownmedia avatar

Member since Nov 28, 2019
245 articles

17 Comments
  • 11 0
 Imagine finding yourself on pb and you're not running goggles
  • 1 0
 could be worse, could be immortalised wearing goggles with a half shell.
  • 1 1
 worst comment section ever , nat DHs 16 comments , forget to put bottle bosses on frame pinkbike meltdown
  • 6 0
 Really ought to be some TV type coverage for this considering all the other sports that get time on TV like rock climbing on pretend rocks which seems to be on Eurosport 300 times a week at the moment.
  • 2 0
 coe is probably one of the few courses you could film the entire length of due to being pretty short and entirely out in the open
  • 1 0
 rock (resin) climbing is SO easy/cheap to broadcast, that's the reason. Add a bit of hype due to a couple movies and there you go.
  • 1 0
 Thats another sport that discovery have recently bought the rights too and made a bit of a hash of the broadcasting by all accounts……
  • 8 1
 Who in British Cycling thought it was a good idea to schedule this 6 days before a WCDH in the US? Way to go to ensure lots of top racers don't show up.
  • 4 0
 There is a bunch of WC racers heading to snowshoe tomorrow morning on one of the most direct flights so I guess it's not too difficult to factor in champs and snowshoe. Glencoe black is probably a good warm up for snowshoe. Snowshoe will feel like a blue to those travelling from here.
  • 2 0
 @betsie: absolutely. One of the toughest anywhere.
  • 1 0
 If i remember its piggy backed onto one of the SDA races, I'm guessing for cost reasons it was cheaper to link up with a previously organised event rather than schedule something seperately
  • 5 0
 National champs weekend is set by the UCI and is pretty much the same weekend in July every year. Deciding to put a world cup on different continents either side of it is the stupid bit.
  • 1 0
 @KrisLord: That makes it even worse, when it's the same governing body responsible for scheduling both the domestic champs and WC calendars. Why am I not surprised though.

@betsie I know some WC racers are there, but Mandownmedia said in the preview that Matt Walker wasn't racing because of the proximity of the Snowshoe race and I'm guessing it's why Hart, Greenland and a good few others aren't either. I'm guessing the same has also happened in XC.
  • 6 0
 @commental: maybe it's too gnarly for them. Bless their little hearts.

Glad Mat Walker wasn't there, meant his boss didn't beat me and I got the win. xxx
  • 1 0
 @betsie: as long as jet lag is gone by TT day, that's all that matters. Risky, given the current state of airlines though.
  • 2 0
 @betsie: congrats!!!
  • 1 0
 It's a Renthal, don't be gentle?







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