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2008 British National Championships
Rhyd-Y-Felin, Nr Bala
Words & Photos: Jim - 22nd July 2008
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Bala is one of the best tracks in the country, and its something you can do yourself. Bala doesnt have a ski slope, or a chairlift, or a big budget construction. It was made by a collective of mates and a crazy Welshman with a digger. And what a track. From the flat out fireroad stints up top, to the huge epic berms and then into the lower woods with 5 main line choices through the most technical section its got something for everyone. And in the years events have been put on here its barely changed, and that says something in an age where new is supposedly better.
The view on race day morning!
The big change this year was the road bridge, this meant that the race could finish across the road in the bigger field with plenty of area for the pits and it meant a really good atmosphere at the finish line come race day. Turning up on race day the weather wasnt ideal, the sweeping corners on the final field were pretty damp and the track had plenty of puddles but by seeding run time it'd dried up considerably and there was even dust in the forest sections. Qualifying runs didnt bring about any big surprises, Rachel Atherton was fastest lady, Gee fastest guy and Emyr Davies in Junior putting down a quick time to secure fastest Junior.
Race day dawned, and with a light rain overnight the track was nice and tacky. Practise was mostly uneventful apart from a huge crash courtesy of Rachel Atherton, she came into the first right hand berm in the forest quick and washed out and hit the tree on exit pretty hard, fortunately despite the Air Ambulance landing in the field it was a quick trip to hospital and she was given the all clear with just massive bruising, no broken bones! She'll be hobbling for a while but should be back on it soon.
Rachel pre-crash in practise
Right now racing action, in Juvenile it was almost decided already with the massively quick Fraser McGlone taking the win with a 12 seconds margin with Bo Jango Cann (CF3) in second and Zac Emmett (Pearce Cycles) in third. Remember these names because with the sort of pace they're putting down now they'll be on World Cup podiums before you know it. Junior was similar, hotly tipped Arran Gannicott (Santa Cruz) was pipped to the post by Jamie Maller (Knox) and then Mark Scott 2 secs back in third.
Danny Hart pushing hard in Junior
Junior was packed with talent with Emyr Davies (Santa Cruz/Reverse) having the fastest seeding run, Sam Dale (Cannondale) came down the hill in typical super fast time but Josh (Santa Cruz Syndicate) had put together a stonking run to place himself 5 seconds up on Sam. It was all down to Emyr but when he hit the loose corners in the final field he crashed and left it wide open for Josh to take the champs jersey, and it turns out Josh's time wouldve placed him second in Elite!
In the technical wooded section
In Veteran Alastair Maclennan made the trip down to take 1st with Martin Crockett in second and Trevor Harvey in third. Steve Parr made an appearance to race, a welcome break from organising and made 6th. Masters was one of the biggest categories here and despite stiff competition Mark Millward (Swinnerton Cycles) took top spot from Chris Akrigg (Mongoose) with Andrew Titley (Kona Sombrio) in third.
Mark Millward on the way to Masters National Champion
In the ladies Emma Wareham won Senior Women and Jessica Stone (Trek/ExtremeMedics) put together a solid run in Junior to take the win from Monet Adams (Solid/Quad/Cwmdown) to make up for the bad run she had up at Fort William a couple of weeks ago. Watch this one, she's getting faster all the time.
In the Elite Women with Rachel putting herself out of the picture it was all up in the air to who would be on the podium. In the end Tracey Moseley took the win ahead of Helen Gaskell with Katy Curd in third.
Tracey Moseley on the way to 1st
Now it was all down to the Elites and it was typically pretty tight. Matt Simmonds put together a quick run to stay in the hot seat for a while until team mate Ruaridh Cunningham knocked him off by 0.3 of a second. It was local Neil Donoghue who put a second into Ruaridh but it wasnt long until defending National Champion Marc Beaumont put another two seconds into Donnys time. All eyes were on the next man down the hill, crowd favourite Steve Peat crossed the line to put himself 4.5s faster still. It was all down to Gee as the last man down, sound familiar to anyone?
Gee crossed the split time beam 2 seconds faster and secretly everyone knew he'd got it, the hard work was over. Just the final few grassy corners to go, but as Gee launched into the field into the first corner he crashed and that was it, Steve had finally won. A Santa Cruz 1-2-3 on the podium, not bad for a weekends work?
Big thanks to Pearce Cycles, all the marshals, the uplift drivers and the medics for keeping the event running. Props also go out to Mikrotime for running a super slick timing service and getting the results online by the time I walked through the door at home!
Steve Peat - your new British National Champion
Gee shortly before launch into the final field
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