Back in time (more than 20 years ago) my first MTB race was a Southern Area Mountainbike race (SAM series) and I have been supporting the premier southern series ever since. In the old days there use to be up to 200 riders in some classes. The numbers slowly dropped until a few years ago when Steve Jones and a new team became more involved and now it is re-establishing itself with good courses and attendance.
Sunday was a hot day and at 27C and the SXC organizers were pulling riders off the course if they considered they were suffering heat stroke.
For those who haven’t ridden at Pippingford, if it wet it’s horrible, if it’s dry it’s good.
And good it was with new sections including steps, drop offs, ditches, roots and the fantastic top gear decent with burms all waiting to catch you out. The organizers admitted they set a challenging course, but that suits my 2009 Specialized S-Works Epic perfectly.
In my race I was seeded 2 from round 1 but after my poor race last week at Gorrick (caused, I think by overtraining and DIY) I was very cautious about rushing at the start so slipped into 5th place and didn’t rush for the first ½ lap a policy that really worked; by the end of lap 1, it was 4th, lap 2 it was 3rd and at the finish 2nd. I am very pleased with the result as I was several minutes ahead of 3rd and 4th places.
Southdowns Bikes team member Max Filleul also won the Sport class on his Specialized.
Well done to you both, was there anyone still out there from the Muc-Off event!!
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