An extended spell of warm, dry weather brought the perfect excuse to usher in the Easter Vacation with a spot of high intensity bicycle racing in the usual student style. Hopton Woods, Shropshire, a favourite venue on the NPS circuit due to the highly technical nature of both the downhill and cross country courses, played host for the weekend. Thanks to the venue’s easy accessibility, the field of Universities entered was the biggest in years and the racing lived up to the billing.
 |
Downhill
Saturday saw the DHers steer their rigs to astronomical speeds on the uber-grippy, rooty course, in an effort to claim the title of BUSA Champ 2003. With around 220 riders and a field split between downhill specialists and have-a-go XC racers (complete with lightweight hardtails and high seats) it took a while to get them all down. All managed to finish with a smile on their faces, and in the end that’s all that mattered. At the top of the field there was some serious racing, with a few Pro-Elites gunning for the glory. With all the runs complete, it was Stu Thomson of Stirling Uni in top spot, narrowly beating Neil Harris of Sheffield Hallam and setting a new course record. Rowan Sorrell picked up Bronze for Glamorgan.
The ladies’ race ran alongside the mens’, and experience here was the winner with Scottish series regulars Jaymie Mart (Aberdeen), and Kim Boffey (Northumbria) claiming 1st and 2nd ahead of hardtail riding Helen Bennett (Bath). Bath (Bennett, Baines) grabbed the Team Gold here, despite their strengths really lying in XC racing.
Post race celebrations were traditional BUSA style as Sheffield hauled out their jump ramp on to a hill near the finish for a long jump competition. An unknown nutter on a Schwinn Straight 8 managed a massive 50 feet before his bottom bracket snapped, and Ian McIntosh escaped lightly when he careered off into the watching crowd after a less then graceful landing.
 |
Cross Country
Bright and early Sunday morning, the Sport XC race set off to the gunshots from Samuel L Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction. John Laughlin (Bath) led off from the gun, closely chased by Andy Robson (Nottingham) and Josh Morgan (Loughborough) up a steep, loose climb through the tress. John pulled out a 30 second lead by the bottom of the first technical downhill, and lead through the arena, only to be out-climbed by Andy as the killer hill came round again. Riding a full suspension bike, John clawed back time on the rooty downhills, but it wasn’t enough and Andy Robson took the honours. John Laughlin held onto 2nd, with Josh Morgan two and a half minutes behind in 3rd. With three riders in the top eight, Bath took Team Gold (Laughlin, Darling, Phasey), ahead of Nottingham (Robson, McKay, Choppin), and Loughborough (Morgan, Turner, Van Lopik).
The Championship race kicked off at a ferocious pace, with favourite Simon Richardson (Sheffield) establishing an early lead ahead of Matt Ward (Bath) and Tim Dunford (Southampton), who battled continuously for 2nd place. As each lap passed Simon further extended his lead, in an awesomely powerful display of xc racing. Matt and Tim continued to tussle for the 2nd spot, with the place exchanging hands several times on each lap. Matt showed incredible strength to keep with the two pro-elite riders, but was suffering with an awkward handling bike, only built on the morning of the race! By the time the final lap bell rung Tim had crept into 2nd place, and managed to hold this to the line. Final results: BUSA Champ 2003 – Simon Richardson (Sheffield), Silver Medal – Tim Dunford (Southampton), Bronze Medal – Matt Ward (Bath). Team Gold went to Bath again (Ward, Newton, Spragg), second was Loughborough (Adams, Jones, Tibenham) and Bronze Team was Nottingham (Stewart, Rogers, Metcalfe).
 |
The womens’ race set off five minutes after the men, and Jules Toone of Loughborough quickly pulled out a lead at the front, closely chased by Jenny Tudball (Birmingham), Sara Whelan (Loughborough) and Anna McGlaughlin (Loughborough). However, it was not to be Loughborough’s day, as Sara dropped out after lap one, and Jules retired after a massive crash whilst holding a commanding lead on the final lap. Anna McGlaughlin persevered after a heavy stack, and crossed the line covered in blood, to take Silver for Loughborough, behind a knackered Jenny Tudball of Birmingham who stayed on the bike long enough to take Gold. A strong, consistent ride from Helen Baines of Bath brought her the Bronze medal. With only one Loughborough rider finishing, it was left for the Bath girls (Baines, Bennett) to take Team Gold for the second day running.
A mention must go to Danny Beswick of Sheffield, who had to undergo a discrete name change to Dannielle, as he lined up to race in the women’s XC championship race as part of an effort to ride in every race of the weekend. Good Lad! Also, a mention must go to the poor guy who, thinking that the XC championship race was only two laps, decided to run the whole second lap pushing his bike after a mechanical. He managed to smile all the way round, even when he was told it was actually a four lap race.
This year was surely Bath’s year, with eight positions on the ten possible podiums, but with the nature of universities, and students coming and going, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen next year…
Share