The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series, Round 4

Aug 23, 2017 at 10:05
by Mathew Weale  
The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4

So, it's the penultimate round of the 2017 British Downhill Series at the infamous Llangollen. This much-loved venue with both riders and supporters brings a new challenge this year in the form of a brand new track crafted by Brian Mundy of the RidePortugal team. With an open day for the builders to show off their handiwork and the riders to get a bit of sneaky pre-race practice in a few weeks previously, its fair to say excitement levels were peaking!

With the rain hammering on the drive from South Wales to the track on Friday night and the weather forecasters promising more of the same over the weekend, no doubt everyone was wondering how the brand new track would hold up in the appalling conditions. On arrival at the venue, however, the sun was shining and luckily it was a sign of things to come.

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
After appalling weather all day the track was slick and dangerous

On the track-walk, riders would find a variety of features and terrain. From big doubles and fast, open sections straight out of the gate where they could really get the hammer down lead into some tight turns on some super slick mud. Although, this was merely a warm up for the most the most technical section, a steep and slippery gully that caught more than a few riders out, after this there was a few more tight, slick corners and before the final motorway section full of big jumps, deep berms, and fast straights all the way to the finish line.

Saturday morning started with heavy rain which cleared quickly, that meant a leisurely start to the day as riders were waiting for the track to dry and nobody wanted to be the first down the hill. Once things got going though riders were loving the track with smiles for miles across all of their faces! Some riders loved it more than most with one trooper putting in more than 12 runs on Saturday alone!!

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
After most riders had retired to the pits the shone and continued to do so for most of the weekend

After a solid day of practice, it was all down to business on Sunday as riders dialled in their lines ready for seeding and race runs. With the track getting dryer and dryer times were falling. This could only mean one thing, a close and exciting race for all the supporters who made it out on race day.

With the Elite Women, the first major category down the hill all eyes were on Tahnée Seagrave as the only world cup regular racing everyone expected her to take the win, maybe by not such an incredible margin of 26 seconds which was by far the biggest winning margin of the day.

In the Junior Men's race though it was a different story; with the top three, Kade Edwards, Joe Breeden, and Matt Walker all coming in on the same second! With Joe Breeden an agonizing 0.097 seconds off first place and the fastest time of the day.

Elite Men's downhill racing seems to be cursed this season from world cups to nationals events all being a wash out where the weather is concerned. This race was no exception, the only plus side was it was a fair race for all involved as the rain started before the first man left the start hut. The rain didn't stop the best in the business setting the track alight with close racing though, only two-seconds separating the top three! Adam Brayton set the fastest time of the day with Alex Bond making a well deserved return to national podiums slotting into second place; and continuing an outstanding first year in elite with consistent top results Charlie Hatton crossed the line in third.

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
This lad was killing it on the hardtail all day

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Polished off camber roots can be a subtle feature that a lot of riders were having a long look at

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
The first trail bike category was popular with the riders

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Jumping into turns to keep the photogs happy, good on this lad!

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Big compressions in the turns and gully section contrasted with the super high-speed sections meant bike set up was super important

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Mates trains were steaming town track all weekend, clearly, everyone was loving the new track

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Shaun Richards pushing her through the first technical corners

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Nils Williams of the SPS sliding into the deep dark woods

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Queues were a regular occurrence in the gully, with more red and yellow flags here than any other point

photo
Tahńee made everything look easy

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Saturday practice is all about learning the track and having fun with your mates, Matt Walker, Mark Beaumont, and Matt Simonds seemed to be having a good time training together!

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Beaumont still rips

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Joe Breeden is on fire this season

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Subtle steeze, the best kind

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Riders were sending the big step down on the first runs

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Tractors trundled up the steep road all day taking riders and bikes to the top

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Finding flow is best done by pulling steezy whips, just ask Leon Rosser

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Like father like son, Tyler Rosser is learning quickly! Watch out for this kid in the future

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Kade Edwards was all business on Sunday, clearly winning is as important as suicide no handers!

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
It all gets serious when the start sheets come out and the beeps start

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
All the nerves are felt in the gate waiting for those beeps to count down, then there is nothing but focus

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Full gas out of the gate

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Oliver Morris, team manager of Intense Racing UK sails over the first double

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
This jump is bigger and more technical than it looks

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Joe Breeden making the bridge jump look easy

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Back into the woods as Shaun Richards Sends one of the step downs on the fast motorway section as the rain started to fall

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Oliver Morris on an awesome run finishing 7th, beating a few World Cup regulars

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
With the most technical sections done it was time to hold on tight and keep off the brakes

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Joe Breeden an agonising 0.097 seconds off the win and fastest time of the day

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Cai Grocott took the win in the 19–29 Single crown men's category

The New School - Llangollen British Downhill Series Round 4
Charlie Hatton on another belter of a run coming home in P3


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Mat-Weale-Photography avatar

Member since Dec 3, 2016
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