Northern Downhill Round 1 Alwinton

This winter has seen some change to the top half of the course. The objective, to set a race route where the majority of riders can get down. I know not a lot to ask but we have a steep bit of hill!

The track started in the trees with a pedal off the pallet start ramp out into the sunshine with tufty grass and a ditch hop onto a right hand berm with your weight on the back wheel ready to manual off a small drop on the exit of the berm, weight still back for a second stump drop. Not hard but awkward. You now entering a newly planted section which is straight and good light with the odd chicane to keep you focussed. Drop down over the fire road and plunge into the dark. This section went from loamy loose to slick peat to grippy fine roots over the weekend and the odd big white polished root in their for good measure.

Back out into the sunshine which shone all weekend apart from two hours of rain Saturday after practice but didn’t really effect racing.
Next up was a right hander which had a blown out ledge to hit on the exit and a collection of roots just where you needed to grip. A foot out was mandatory unless you where one of the few that took the blinkers off to see the corner could be straightened by getting a high grass approach. The next left was steep and needed full commitment to tip the bike into a position that felt like a crash but trust yourself and be rewarded with a loose gravel right which did finally grip.

Off the brakes for a second before braking hard to get the hairpin left. The next right was tricky the corner is a mix of slick flat rock angled down and off camber, tree roots with holes behind. My theory was to creep in, spot the exit shoot then off the brakes to grip the high side. Remember not too much speed or you would miss the next blown out left. A good crowd had gathered here and the atmosphere pushed me to a mistake on my first run.

Heading back into the trees on a series of switchbacks there was the main line cut into clay/dry slop but the tapes were wide and the best way to carry the speed through the tight corners was to get up high off the line onto the fresh straightening the corner.
Before joining last years track, a wet rooted corner had to be negotiated which was tricky to get without looking like a fool. Either high boshing through, try a hop from off camber to hipped left, very hard! or roll the roots at the trunk and stick the left turn in after. All were tricky and that spot had another small gathering of spectators looking for skill or carnage.

Onto the original track on the straight which is now beaten up with braking bumps right then left over the log drop and into the darkest section of the hill. If you have eaten your carrots, your eyes will have adjusted by the time its getting light again.
The straight before the bridge has had a bus stop added to slow riders down. I was sceptical worried it would slow riders down too much and leave the pedal uphill impossible. But it was a good call and left you enough speed and the feeling of control as you dropped onto the bridge and the uphill pedal was easy.

The final shoot was untouched and as steep as ever as you hit the valley floor you where shot across the ditch bridge and finish line with a grin on your face.

There was a couple of comedy moments from the weekend the first being from myself managing to crash on the final shoot and ended up missing the bridge and crashing in the stagnant ditch. Luckily only around ten people witnessed it, but I did stink and feel a bit of a cock!

I was rewarded by having the pleasure of witnessing a Junior rider looking for a shortcut to the ford only for his front wheel to disappear into the stream and spitting him over his bars face first onto the ford.! Luckily he was ok and took his round of applause from around 50 onlookers very well. The look on his face had a few of us rolling around. Brilliant.

It was good to see World Cup rider Adam Brayton showing his support rolling downhill here at Alwinton rather than the big flat pedal in South Africa.

Saturdays uplift was cut short and disrupted due to one of the vans breaking down. I know I managed six runs taking it steady but I know some boys were rightfully a little upset. That uplift track is rougher than ever at the moment and has this takes its toll on the vehicles. On a positive note the uplift trailers leave your bikes scratch free and I did not hear any complaints there.

Overall the weather and track made the weekend, for me other niggles were more than made up for with good crack with friends.

Thanks to:

• Everyone that helped make the weekend happen. Especially marshals and Carls family, extended NDH family that all muck in.
• Thanks to Jamie Sharp for our new podium
• Hope Tech for there valued support again with prizes.
• Premier Fitness Supplements again for prizes and taking time too see what we do.

We have managed to tame the hill and most could get down, which is good. But to be honest I think this could have led to the faster riders pushing harder leading to more injuries. We wish those that did break themselves a speedy recovery!
Next up Kidland on the other side of the valley 21-22 May entry forms from www.northerndownhill.co.uk

Results

Juvenile
1st Andrew Dorritt 3.07.613
2nd Chris Kennedy 3.17.856

Youth
1st Peter Hook 2.24.320
2nd Rory McRitchie 2.29.034
3rd Anthony Preston 2.31.682

Junior
1st Matty Leggett 208.515
2nd Josh Lewis 2.08.537
3rd Ben Stanley 2.16.755

Senior
1st Robert Tait 2.13.501
2nd Calum McRitchie 2.13.802
3rd Al Ward 2.15.401

Master
1st Jayson Cavill 2.15.219
2nd Chris Lazonby 2.17.781
3rd Phil Grimes 2.18.760
Veteran
1st Shaun Kelly 2.27.146
2nd Pete Hoggan 2.37.422
3rd Ritchie Molloy 3.50.359

Grand Vet
1st Alan Turnbull 2.40.276

Ladies
1st Rebecca Kennedy 6.26.542
2nd Gina Robertson 8.38.219

Expert
1st Liam Little 201.306
2nd Steven Turnbull 2.09.607
3rd Nick Turner 2.10.652

Elite
1st Adam Brayton 1.54.314
2nd Alasdair MacLennan 2.26.555

Full results on www.rootsandrain.co.uk