After 2012's wet race this year we were roasted with temp in the mid 80's, with a good turnout of team and club members we had a mixed day. Fay, Julia and Olive took a 1,2,3 in the Ladies 2hrs, James D'Arcy 1st 2hr Vets, Ben Connor 4th 4hrs Male, Ian Petherbridge 6th 4hr Vets with John D and Andy G 23rd and 24th. To Emma's dismay after riding 8 laps in 6 hrs finishing first lady only to be told there was no ladies cat and that she was 14th in an open event, poor show guys. To make things worse Marc's seatpost snapped 200 yds into the male 4hr and his day was done.
A change in venue from Porridgepot to Frith Hill saw depleted entries, not sure if it was down to the weather or the venue. I certainly think the course is more suited to xc race more than an enduro but it was nice to ride somewhere different. Very deceptive course extended to 7 miles with 500' of climbing taking in all of the Gorrick twist and turns. For a change the forecast was right and we all slapped camel backs on and had plenty of water track side. Avoiding cramp and taking on as much water as you could were paramount and everybody had more than there usual pit stops. In all another tough day but what else would we do on a sunny July day?
Good write up John,
ReplyDeleteIt was a good turn out for the team. A real pity that Emma was treated so poorly by the organisers. Profit seems to come first with the Gorrick organisers. southern XC and the Eastern series organisers seem rahter better disposed towards riders.