Sunday 16th of January 2005. Hopton Woods near Ludlow

Many, many thanks to Specialized who have now sponsored this event for the 5th year running now, thanks Caroline! Specialized also had a stand there with a range of bikes, frames, catalogues and advice, just the support we need! We'll have a bike test coming soon!

A dark start, driving to and from an event is draing when both are in the dark! Nice and scary over Clee Hill in the fog though with 20yds visibility and sheep with no road sense! Landing in the new finishing field (2 across) from the usual mud pit we were guaranteed to get into the event and out more importantly!

The Commencal duo of Harper and Faulkner pitched the Comencal pitch up, very "Pro" looking, good lads.. Chopper was hanging around for his bike, read that later..

Pratcice started at 08:30 sharp with bad news. A legion of a 10mins walk to the uplift by the old winter course step down. That last 5mins walk is so steep, an absolute killer. This wasn't intentional, the fire road planned for use from top to bootom was unuseable due to the previous weeks heavy rain.

The course was the same old trusted Hopton course from the steep crest at the top..

Wayne Tabernor

Stinton Charging

Plenty of spped at the start and so, so many exposed roots! The middle section was new with felled trees and welcome daylight, loads of stumps sprayed fluro green and orange, due to the speckled sunlight. This was a nightmare as the shadows cast meant it was so hard to "read" the land infront. It really was point and go in so many places. Or should I say point and crash for the unlucky ones?

We cut down onto the real old National course which has some lovely switchbacks followed by that stepdown jump into the big left hand berm. Many a dead sailor and heavy landing touched down here. Then the fun.. Fast and flowing before we cut right before the start of the old dual course, some 30ft below..

All new loose off camber with a choice of lines was welcome. High or low we still don't know! A shady double into carnage. A small drop only 2ft high or so onto the fire road and then back off down a long slope for the finishing straight. That age old suspension problem of landing a drop, the suspension and your body compresses, then before you and your bike gets chance to rebound your taking off again.. NIGHTMARE! This saw so many crash and enter the crowd like a bowling ball in a skittle alley. Loads went flying, even a spectator went down injured.. Come 1/2 time the 1st drop was shaped and ramped down avoiding the mare of the 1st runs.

The next race is February 29th at Bringewood with an uplift the week before and a track maintenance day the week before that 13th I think, just check.. Get your entries in now or you will be left watching Hollyoaks next month!

Juvenille Men
Mrs Brewins always happy as is any Mom when little Johnny wins..
Dower on the new Vario, lets see if they will let us test one!
Gareth Brewin - Brooks/Ingear
Adam Neesham
James Dower - Vario

Youth Men
Groves shows the horsepower and rips 17secs into the lead! Brycleand has the skills but not the size as yet, 3 shredded wheat from now on son! Andrew Cooper has a bad day all round at the office as did Elliott Machins mechanics, top 10 next time please. Louis Swann sowed might down the finish straight in pedalling all the way stood up.
Damian Groves - Goldtec
Alex Bond
Joshua Bryceland - Royal/Orange

Which rider was ordered by the commentator (me) to stay in the arena after his run and invited the crowd to look and laugh at him. Why? He raced with his helmet undone.. You have been warned.

Junior Men
Simmonds led on the 1st run after Brendan forgot to turn right at the 1st corner!
Brendan then pipped him by 6/100ths on the line. Was he wearing flats? He wa in practice, God Lad! pincher gets 4th with Strickland back from his broken backinto 6th. Both Nikki Whiles and Stephen Thompson 7th and 9th respectively will know more than us that the top 10 here are the majority of the UKs finest.
Brendan Fairclough - Royal Orange
Matt Simmonds - Muddy Fox
Ralph Jones

Vets
Chopper was in the house but not riding, just upset how his 2 bike deal with Commencal fell through. Phil Smart is a Grand Vet but still keeps it real. Was that really a school bell he nicked to "Ding Ding" the riders on? Adrian Hume abscent as was Munn.. Dai Jones who I guess is Welsh? Makes a welcome podium after someone told him there were sheep in the finishing field!
Ian Hutchinson
Dai Jones
Marcus Tett

The one and only....but he didn't podium!

Masters
Was Ian Warby of Aston Hill hiding all day? Barracuda Bob finishes! Alan Hawkes (custom bike builder featured in Dirt) has recovered a broken wrist. Jamie Armitage out with a bust up shoulder after going down at Sheffield indoor. Steve Jones showed age is always before beauty and beat of new breed of Masters, Jonesman is unstopable and someone to look upto. Williams up there as is Burg of Burgtec Penthouse Flats both virgin masters turning 30 anyday soon..
Steven Jones – Dirt Magazine
Colin Williams – High Peak Cycles
Richard Burgoin - Burgtec

Ladies, well does Jules like rubber from Kenda? Belton really is the darling of Masters women ask Bob and everyone else. Jnr ladies, Aimee Dix from Wales and casually styling the podium, good to see.
Pro Women
Jules Coventry – Ancilotti UK

Master Women
Nicky Belton – Aston Hill
Helen Dixon – Murt

Junior Women
Aimee Dix – Team Skene

Seniors
Peter "Racoon" Yates gets 6th on the MTN Cycle, with Nev Dugan fighting for the podium but only 4th and some 5secs off. Coneron on the Norco invasion but still 13secs of Price who took the win. Ricky Crompton stayed on his bike? Si Faggot top 15 but no mates, were hwere the Cannock massive? Matt "XC Rider" Pearce (son of Dave & Lindsey) did his 1st DH as bet against Jonny Wise and beat him by a whisker which resulted in a crisp 20spot in his back pocket.
Dave Price - Pearce Cycles
James Coneron - Norco
John Simpson - Horswills Cycles Bournemouth

Expert Men
Smith moves up from Jnrs and romps home 1st in the Experts. TD takes a strong 2nd place with Englands tallest man grabbing 3rd on his 37lbs Orange (Carbon bars / Ti everywhere) Ian White misses racing due to a scrotal injury and Adam Wilmott fresh from Seniors goes down with a suspected collar bone. Damian Stintons back on form with after those 2 broken wrists at Caersws NPS. Englands smalest man, John Finney goes from Masters to Experts so go show em big boy..
Robert Smith – Pearce Cycles
Tom Deacon
Dave List – Stourport Specialist Cycles

Danny Harper

Elite
Billy on the new 05 IronHorse DW Link, they are all about to land in the UK within 2 wks! Jenkinson shoots home after 1st run, he's in Monaco Mon with the Ford Rally Team! Dave Smiths hair needs cutting but is still fast.. Stanny will be defending his BUSA National Student DH Champs title at Innerleithen this year. Again sponsored by a "Descent" website! Also note Stannys selling his 888s brand new from the fastest time of the day at a Dragon last year.
Richard Cheetham – Pearce Cycles
Dave Smith – Pearce Cycles
Dan Stanbridge – Muddy Fox

Many thanks to MikroTime for the timing funnily enough.. For a full list of results click here

Medical cover provided by Extreme medical Ltd, the only UK medical provider who specialises in nothing else but extreme sports events. Led by one of the UK's highest qualified paramedics our team is the number one choice for MTB racing in 2005. See their new website at www.extrememedical.co.uk

Sam Mitcham...Camo'd up

Were at the Extreme Snow Race in Leeds on Friday the 21st so get yourself there guys! Expect to see the pics and race report here first! Saturday the day after a load of us will hit Sheffield indoor 4x/BMX track. You really must get there, all welcome, it's ACE! 11:00a.m onwards..

The full range of Maxxis Tyres are available at most races as well as mail order, check the shop section or mail Superfly@Descent-World.co.uk also note Troy Lee 05 Helmets are due in the 1st of February!

Keep Spinning.

Si..