 The past few years have been anything but soggy (pic ©’Simon Kirk) |
It may have seen it’s share of World Cup racing over the years, hosted a few enduros and international 4X events but come winter time you can expect to get only one thing at Plymouth’s Newnham Park… a Soggy Bottom – well 3 of them actually.
Devon’s Soggy Bottom Series has become a bit of a blast from the past over the last three years with rider numbers growing each year and startline numbers rivaling some of the UK’s biggest mtb events. A lot of these riders are newcomers to the sport or people that come out of ‘retirement’ each year before the race season gets too serious.
“The formula to a successful Soggy Bottom is no great secret,” says organiser Martyn Salt. “You have to make winter racing fun, get people motivated when it never seems to actually get light and make tracks that are good to ride. The tracks aren’t easy to ride but that works, beginners find a challenge in the terrain and the old dogs get to blast it.”
“It is not as complicated as organising 24 hour events or the nationals but that doesn’t mean that you can’t apply the same set of rules to make a small event great.”
Returning sponsor of the event is the UK’s smallest bike mag, Shred Magazine. Shred Editor Steve Toze said: “Every year we’re pushing Martyn to set the dates for these events as they are such good fun, when he offered us the opportunity to get on-board as an event sponsor we thought it worked – a small event that knows its place but has big ideas. That’s a match made in heaven for us.”
This year’s events also boast the first ever inter-county showdown in the ‘Battle of the Bottom Borders.’ Riders from Devon’s adjoining counties, (Cornwall, Somerset & Dorset just in case you flunked geography) will try to prove their county has got what it takes to beat the might of the South West’s biggest county. Expect pasties, cream teas and cider to fly.
The events are being held at Newnham’s all purpose hardstand area with all weather parking, a nice warm cafe, toilets that won’t leave you gagging, and some of the finest bacon rolls in the land (we know people that turn up just for the bacon). All events are BC registered and count towards national points.
Get these dates in your diary and we look forward to seeing you there.
Event dates
The event is co-sponsored by Certini Bicycle Co, Bike Cellar and Plymouth Cycle Scene.
For full details, to download and entry form or enter online go to www.xcracer.com/content.php?pid=187
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