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Report: Hope XC Race Series Round 3
Event: 25th July 2010 | Source: www.brownbacksracing.co.uk | Images: Steve Ball - www.steveballphotography.co.uk
After the glorious weather of the June race the Brownbacks team set up a radical new course running many trails in the opposite direction to that designed to make sure their tenth race at the quarry was something special. The weeks of rain since the announcement of the hosepipe ban that saw other events turning into mud plugging walk/ pushes had no impact on the all weather trails in the quarry and the race day early faint drizzle disappeared long before the start. The scene was set for dramatic racing.
The Leisure Lakes sponsored Racer category is always tense with tight racing, in their quest for speed riders run lightweight tyres and equipment which at other venues are more than adequate but at Lee Quarry are at best a gamble. The practice lap always lulls the racer into a false sense of security as the quarry trails are cruised around just before the start, the trails dry, fast, and flowing, obstacles are ridden and marked in the memory for when the racing starts. Then the pause at the start, the wait for rider brief, the banter, the checking out of the latest new part, and keeping half an eye on the weather. The action starts with the howl of the siren and the real test of man (and woman) and machine commences. The clatter of cleats and crunching of gears follows as racers desperately try to get going on the steep incline, one slip is ten places lost in the first 10m. The crunches and shouts of the losers in this "start game" are soon replaced with heavy breathing as desperate attempts to cling onto the tail of the field are made. The "Buff/ Express Asphalt" marshals cheer and encourage the riders around the course, comedy moments are provided when Dave Powell (JMC/ Ragley) loses his saddle bag and desperately searches for it whilst both his and the next category race through. He finds it and starts plan B "catch the person in front, overtake them then drop them. Repeat. Go flat out until someone tells you it's over." The leaders then hit the key section of rock slabs on a fast downhill and the real attrition starts, four riders stopped with punctures within 20m, tubed or tubeless, Lee Quarry claims them all. The rest of the group drive on down the fast technical singletrack on to the quarry track and through the finish the leader claiming the prime and they start their second lap.
Racing at Lee Quarry is like Paris-Roubaix, the winner doesn't have good luck, he just doesn't have any bad luck and the winner in this microcosm of evolution is Nick Butcher (Yorkshire Velo). Simon Rogers (CPH) and Carl Draper outlast the other podium contenders for second and third respectively. Dave Powell (JMC/Ragley) managed a charge upto third place until "while lapping one of the slower racers I rode straight into a Big Pointy Rock and punctured. The tyre took a while to deflate, so I rode as far as I could and, thinking I was on my last lap, jumped off and started running (which wasn't easy over the rocks, in carbon soled shoes). 4th place re-passed, offering his condolences (which was nice of him) and I'm pretty sure 5th went past too before I reached the start/finish line, only to discover that I had another lap left to do." Overall over half of the racer field failed to finish.
The Bardon Aggregates sponsored Racing Diva's saw new riders challenging Joanna Holden a previous race winner, Joanna riding strongly suffered a puncture on lap 2 and never recovered the time lost finishing third. Susannah Goddard claimed the first lap prime and first prize with Deborah Goodall (Big Bear Bikes) claiming second place in her first race at the quarry. The sponsorship from Bardon Aggregates sees prize parity with the Racers with £200 of Leisure Lakes vouchers up for grabs at each race and the series prize of a pair of Hope Technology wheels and we hope to see a very strong race building through the series.
The Blazing Saddles sponsored Weekend Warriors are an eclectic group with some just turning up to race for fun, others going for the prizes or in the case of Team Cheese a complete lack of a clue about what they were letting themselves in for. They ride the same course as the racers and although often slower on the climbs give the Leisure Lakes Racers a run for their money on the swooping trails and technical singletrack. In contrast to the racers many are on their trusted kit and their bikes suffer far less on the quarry rock. Their bodies however sometimes decide enough is enough and slowly but surely a "laughing group" builds up just short of the finish line of riders whose bike or body wants a rest and to later cross the line to record a result. Mike Aitchison (Big Bear Bikes) came out on top building on his previous performances with Chris Dwyer (Fanylion Racing) second and Paul Langley third. Team Cheese had a great time with two members retiring to the laughing group after 2 laps but Paul Partington (Team Cheese) held out to put in a creditable 5 laps, not bad seeing as they only entered on the spur of the moment in the car park. The Hope sponsored series competition is still wide open with riders like Pat Rowland improving fast.
In the trade team competition Leisure Lakes under Director Sportif Matt Chester are under pressure with a massive entry from Big Bear Bikes challenging their race one and two dominance. With two more rounds to go it's all to play for.
The Astounding Adventures Have-a-go Heroes category saw a tight race with 7 laps of the have-a-go easier course being completed by nine riders. John Walker bagged the first prize of a training course provided by the sponsors and a promotion up the categories to Weekend Warrior, Neil Etherington grabbed second place and Nick Blades also let his skills show and got third place again. The rest of the category saw close racing with riders battling hard and all getting to the finish. The Astounding Adventures Have-a-go Heroine category saw two women take to the start line with Steph Pegg in her second race still on an old school rigid single speed jump/mountain bike giving the eventual winner Izzy Styles (Honister 92) a real race. She too gets an Astounding Adventures "course in a bottle". The Polaris Apparel sponsored "Lads" category for younger riders again ran with a small but quality field with strong competition for the prizes. Harrison Cahill (Leisure Lakes) started strongly claiming first prize by 8 seconds from Joshua Morris (Leisure Lakes) and Tom Baker.
Thanks and appreciation go to the marshals and the sign-on/ timing team who gave up their morning lie-in to let others race, additionally to Lancashire CC for use of Lee Quarry and the local residents who tolerate the early morning disruption.
Race 4 is on the 22nd August and pre-entry is still open. As usual new course should see some more changes to shake things up and there is the added attraction of trade stands from Leisure Lakes and Astounding Adventures, on-site catering, facilities and plenty of car parking for riders and spectators.
