On a barmy hot day in Whithaugh Park, Newcastleton last weekend the UK’s very first UK Solo MTB Championship went ahead.
A modest turnout made the long journey (well it was from London) up North for the inaugural event and, following several exceptionally cold weeks leading up to the event – and even talk of snow – it turned out to be easily the hottest weekend of the year so far.
The event had attracted some of the UK’s most talented 24-hour racers, which we previewed before the event, and anticipation levels were high for some close racing. And we weren’t disappointed.
Young gun Josh Ibbett took the race by the scruff of its neck and set a blistering pace quickly building up a comfortable buffer between himself and his rivals. With the hot temperature and the savage course (some 500m of climbing in 12 miles) it was a race of attrition; several front-runners were forced to pull out early on, but this didn’t lessen the closeness of the racing on bit.
Behind Josh, Matt Page, Rich Rothwell and Ant White battled hard, jostling for position throughout the race. The secret to 24-hour solo racing is pacing, and after 18-hours of some impressively fast and determined riding, the relentless pace began to show as Josh slowed, exhaustion clearly setting in. Sensing the opportunity, Matt gradually closed in and with just a handful of laps remaining, passed into first position and with it the title of UK Solo MTB Champion.
And, with even less time remaining in the closing moments of the race, Ant closed in on Josh and overtook the youngster to finish second on the podium. Josh hung onto third and in fourth was Rich Rothwell.
The racing was just as close in the women’s category, with the title going to Cotter Rickie, who should also take home the unofficial title of ‘The Most Cheerful Rider on Course’, always smiling and full of banter throughout the race. Behind her and two laps down was second place Nicola MacLeod and third placed Jane Chadwick.
Local rider Keith Forsyth claimed victory in the Vet Male race while Sally Daw clinched glory in the Vet Women class. First singlespeeder home, and with an impressive 16 laps, was Jon Hobson.
Results
Open Men
1 3 22 23:21:00 Page Matt, Wiggle/Focus
2 4 21 22:51:12 White Ant, Exposure/Skins/KCNC
3 12 21 23:03:25 Ibbett Josh, Syncros Endurance
4 2 21 23:55:02 Rothwell Rich, Enigma/Exposure
5 7 19 23:01:07 Leavesley James, Genesisbikes.co.uk
6 10 18 22:43:43 Miles Jason, Ragley
7 38 18 23:06:20 Morris Luke, None
8 9 18 23:34:45 Hall Mike
9 15 17 23:44:36 Howett Andrew, SWCC/Chandlers Mitsubishi/The Solo Club
10 16 16 22:38:12 Jordan Anthony, Cloud9Trails
Open Women
1 76 16 21:45:20 Cotter Rickie, WXC Mountain Bike Team UK
2 75 14 22:15:48 MacLeod Nicola, adidas TERREX
3 73 14 23:42:04 Chadwick Jane, Chevin Cycles/Bang & Olufsen
4 74 13 22:55:40 Duggan Nicola, WXC Mountain Bike Team UK
5 71 13 23:45:56 Baron Hall Amy, Cookson Cycles
6 72 11 22:59:51 Marquis Jac, None
Vet Men
1 113 19 23:09:50 Forsyth Keith, Innerleithen MTB Racing / i Cycles
2 102 19 23:29:26 Powell Ifor, Severn Road Club
3 103 18 22:32:26 Fettis John, Team Corley Cycles
4 100 18 23:14:07 Hitchens Rory, USE-EXPOSURE
5 122 15 23:05:34 Sharp Ski, None
6 117 14 22:49:11 Pullen Nik, marjislarge
7 111 14 23:10:49 Pitchers John, thebikelivery.com
8 109 14 23:21:41 Campbell Glenn, Bedgebury CC
9 106 12 23:04:24 Blackburn Dave, None
10 121 11 20:47:53 Catmur Simon, The Filth & The Fury
Vet Women
1 82 14 22:38:45 Daw Sally, Team Sludge Racing
2 81 11 22:41:57 Dickins Anne, PETRA CYCLES/ Oxted/mtb
1st Singlespeeder
12 34 16 23:18:30 Hobson Jon, Chevin Cycles/Bang & Olufsen
Rookie Male
3 103 18 22:32:26 Fettis John, Team Corley Cycles
Rookie Woman
1 76 16 21:45:20 Cotter Rickie, WXC Mountain Bike Team UK
Full results, reports and video coming soon.
Photos at www.joolzedymond.com
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