The third round of London’s Beastway is tonight, kicking off at 7.30pm at Hog Hill (Redbridge Cycle Centre).  

Last week Bikemagic ventured forth to take part, and enjoyed a fantastic evening of blasting around quality singletrack trails racing shoulder to shoulder with nearly a hundred other mountain bikers.

A lovely warm evening offered some great racing, and which saw Phil Lenney and Matt Webber swap the lead until the former moved ahead to win. Not far back a huge and close fight for third was being conducted by riders in the top ten. By race end Paul Sheers had pulled away from Steve Hambling and first Master rider, Rob Purcell, to take third overall.

Purcell’s fifth spot gave him the Masters category victory, but he had his hands full fending off Gabor Doroghazi, Mark Shepherd, Chris Dick, Dan Lucken and Fian Andrews.

Top veteran was Graham Pentney having had a race long contest with Kurt Winter and Neil Cooper. Dennix Dix had to contend with a strong challenge from Stuart Lockyear in Grand Veteran.

Leona Kadir made it two from two in the women’s race and in fact was also the first sport rider male or female. Sue McIntyre made her 2012 debut to claim second.

In the youth race James Flury won in front of a fantastic battle being fought out by Sam Titmarsh, Luke Mitchie (first youth B), Toby Martin,  Reg Pay and Scoop Callard, for second spot.

Last week’s results

Pos No Name Cat Club/Team Laps Tot time

1    38 Phil Lenney EXM Springstarter.com/Activ Cycles   8       55:29

2    74 Matthew Webber EXM London Phoenix   8       56:01

3    80 Paul Sheers EXM Vicious Velo   8       56:55

4    42 Steve Hambling EXM Activ Cycles Folkestone   8       56:59

5    21 Robert Purcell MAM Mountain Trax   8       57:15

6    68 Gabor Doroghazi MAM Fruit4London   8       57:30

7    22 Mark Shepherd MAM    8       58:15

8   107 Chris Dick MAM London Phoenix CC   8       59:28

9    73 Dan Lucken MAM East London Velo   8       59:32

10    89 Simpson William EXM Mule Bar   8       59:37

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