Baz Fenton dipped under 37 seconds to win the 2010 RAF Downhill Championships/Discovery Day at Aston Hill.

Rather than using a normal downhill race format, participants were coached by Ian Warby and Richard Abbott in the morning before completing a timed run on a section of downhill track.

After lunch, the techniques learnt in the morning were developed with the aid of more coaching and to finish the day, a second timed run was completed on the same section of downhill track – with the majority of riders improving by anything between 0.5 and 26 seconds.

And Fenton’s time of 36.13 seconds proved quickest, with Jon Gates second on 37.39 and Andy MacMillan completing the podium with 40.32.

Despite a host of inexperienced downhill riders, there were no serious injuries despite the slippy conditions.

Special mention goes to Nicole Way who was on parade at RAF Benson at 8:30am on the day but was still able to turn up and shave almost three seconds off her first run time – and beat her husband by 0.84 – to take taking the female title in 47.77.

Best newcomer was awarded to Matt Verrier, who came fourth on a borrowed bike but could have made the podium if he hadn’t crashed on his second run in fading light conditions.

Most improved award went to Craig Jenkins after a second run that was 12.22 faster than his first.