It certainly was one way of marking the start of a brand new event, one that will not be forgotten in a hurry. Pre-entries for this much-anticipated event were full to over flowing and little did we realise the true meaning of that phrase would ring so true.

With weather warnings popping up all round the UK, the organisers were confident that this new circuit based at the Rushmoor Arena would stand the worst and it certainly had its work cut out. The previous night saw water fall from the skies as if someone up there had left the taps on full flow, and the hot one had run out long ago. Hopefully fingers crossed it would rain itself out.

The morning started pretty promising, with little rain and indeed a few glimmers of sun. Riders quite literally started pouring in from 8.00am ready to get stuck in at 10am. Well that was the plan. The uptake was so overwhelming that queuing for your race number took a wee bit longer than anticipated resulting in a 30 min delay for the 1st race – the 2 hour enduro, followed 10 min later by the 4 hour riders with the Fun riders quite literally bringing up the rear.

As the last back wheel disappeared into the distance it started to rain. Just gently at 1st, nothing too major and then it came in bucket loads. I can honestly say that had to be the wettest daytime enduro I have had the pleasure to stand around in this year and probably ranks in the top three of all time for sheer wetness!

Still, the hardcore riders just got stuck in, thrashing, slipping and occasionally swimming (I hear some of those puddles were pretty deep) completing as many laps as they could before they lost all braking or just lost the will to live. The course itself did indeed hold up pretty well despite all that was thrown at it. Though the sandy base just turned into a fine grit that swiftly ground down all brake pads, still there were enough trees to provide ample tree hugging moments to stop yourself from going a bit too close to the edge.

There was a true British Bulldog feel out on course as young and old just did the only thing they could and pushed on, overcoming the challenge put before them. Some unfortunately were forced to retire due to mechanicals but most just did their best and ploughed on through the never-ending deluge.

Out in the 2 hour race Scott Forbes looked like a man in a rush to get to a warm bath as he made short work of the race. George Budd did his best to stay with the Pedal On rider but slipped back on one section and Forbes just kept pushing on, trying hard to dodge the rain drops. Four laps later and Forbes claimed the victory with Budd trailing in over 8 min later. The only other man to complete 4 laps in the 2 hour was 3rd placed Paul Troughton just 9 min later. In the Veteran’s race Little Dean as he’s affectionately known as, braved some pretty deep puddles, and very nearly swapped his SPD’s for a set of flippers to take the win with a comfortable margin ahead of runners up Paul Isaacs and Danny Coote.

Samantha Jones battled hard with Joanne Middleton and Elizabeth Gilmour, all three clocking up 3 laps taking them nearer to 3 hours rather than 2. After 2 laps just 30 sec separated Jones and Gilmour, but through the last lap Middleton with Jones pushing on overtook Gilmour. Jones eventually took the win with Middleton hanging onto 2nd just ahead of Gilmour.

In the 2 hour Vet’s women’s race experienced rider Lydia Gould was obviously feeling pretty chipper giving the rest of the field a healthy head start, as she pelted off in chase mode after turning up late. However, her late start had cost her the race as she had everything to do and no time to do it in. Louise Parker took the win with 3 laps and over 3 hour of riding with Gould settling for 2nd.

The 4 hour race was real hardcore and a true battle of attrition as hail joined the rain and in some cases found themselves mixed up in a local hunt. It also provided one of the closest finishes of the day as only 62 sec separated the three top finishers in the Vet’s race. As the race unfolded the lead seemed comfortably in the hands of Craig Dolwin, with Daryl Cavill and Colin Smith trying to keep a close eye and get on terms with him.

Then in the closing stages it was all change with newcomer to the Vet’s field, Paul Howard surging through on his trusty singlespeed. Dolwin saw his lead slip from his grasp, as Howard pushed on and by the end of the 4 hour, with a healthy if not soggy 5 laps later Howard took victory while Smith came in to take 2nd and Calvill 3rd. Dolwin limped home in 4th after a mechanical mishap saw a podium position slip from his grasp.

Meanwhile in the senior race, elite XC rider Tim Dunford powered on for 6 strong laps to take the win nearly 30 min clear of 2nd placed Ed Rose, while enduro specialist Anthony White came home for 3rd. Elaine Burroughs battled through to take the Vet’s women’s 4 hour with four hard fought laps from rival Viv Hazelton.

The women’s 4 hour saw a surprise entry from Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Romero, taking part in her 1st mtb race, so all eyes were on this accomplished athlete to see what she would do. A couple of laps in she had to come in for a bit of a mechanical but the gutsy lady went back out and racked up 4 incredible wet laps to finally finish sixth just 6 minutes off 4th.

However, it was Jo Munden who went about the winning business pretty much undisturbed, recording 5 soggy laps in just over 4 hours 30 mins. 2nd spot went to Kathy Beresford, while a big shout has to go to 3rd placed Sam Hart who smiled the whole way through and despite coming home with just minutes to spare before the cut off was desperate to get out and do a final lap!

It was indeed an epic; both in terms of the amount of water that came down and the way that riders just got stuck into the event and there were smiles underneath all that mud, with everyone I spoke to saying it was indeed rather good fun. Seven miles of fast flowing singletrack that in places was just fast flowing didn’t deter the riders, so a big well done to you all.

Let’s hope that round 2 just after Christmas on 28 December is a bit kinder. Round 2 takes place at Ash Ranges, Ash, Surrey.

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