Karen Van Meerbeck broke her collarbone over the weekend
at the first NAMBS round Ramsgill. BIKEmagics DH correspondent Ben Pinnick was there
to tell us exactly what happened.

“In practice, everyones hurtling down the grassy
run out to the road jump and a lot of people are finding the lack of kick on the
jump (its really a step down not a full on double) means they just kind of forward
roll onto the front wheel. This happened a lot, and it happened to Karen too. She
just went over the top onto her shoulders, hit the ground hard and fast, breaking
her collar bone in the process. She was visably gutted beyond consolation about the
whole thing, understandable I suppose. She has been in and out of form over the last
couple of seasons and she was looking quite fast this time round. Guess shes gonna
miss at least two of the Nationals now… Bugger. Another guy landed clean on top
of some one (I mean chain-device meets helmet style on top) going round the chicken
run, very funny, luckily no injuries.”

Karen wasn’t the only rider breaking things this weekend.
Barry Clarke also wrapped himself
up in an XC race and ended up breaking his wrist.