Racing News
Merida Brass Monkeys - Round 2 Race Report - The chilly one!
by Joolze Dymond, 26 Jan 10.
Oh heck, I've suddenly realised that we're very close to the final instalment of the superb Brass Monkeys Enduro Trilogy. Now here's a thing, I've also realised I've been somewhat slack and not written about the ever so chilly fun we had at round 2. So here goes. Sorry for the lateness, that's what happens when you try to have some time off!
After the first Brass Monkey, which certainly was a 'splash' hit with the riders, hopes were high that R2 would be remembered for hopefully drier moments! Pre-entries were showing that riders were looking keen to shake off the Xmas excess and as race day dawned riders were not put off by a mind numbing –5C that flashed happily on car dashboards as they made their way to the venue. Despite the biting cold, the day itself was offset by a glorious blue sky and riders eagerly made there way to find out what delights the organisers had in store for them this time. With the Army CU behind this brilliant series aided and abetted by the Gorrick folk, venues have been inventive and R2 proved no different with the Army shooting ranges at Ash Common being brought into good use. Riders now had an enjoyable 5 mile loop that ended in a dash across the shooting targets, but don't worry the army were given the day off and no snipers were laying in wait ready to pick off any moving targets! Though that may have added another dimension to our sport...another day perhaps!
As the start of the race edged ever forward the temperature itself was rising to the heady tropical climate of around –2C a real incentive to get round as quickly as possibly to keep that cold at bay! First up were the 4 hour riders, then with a 15 min gap it was time for the 2 hour competitors, and finally a few minutes later polished off with those bedding themselves in gently to this enduro malarkey, the 1 hour riders. Soon there were over 500 riders surging in waves of energetic outbursts, traversing and discovering mile upon mile of singletrack heaven, interspersed with a number of short but ever so draining climbs, at least the descents made it all worth while. So under crisp blue skies thousands of tyres crunched and squelched their way over ice bound trails, in pursuit of individual challenges and for some the honour of reaching the podium. In homage to R1 an incredibly muddy puddle was included which claimed more than one victim as riders had to brave the icy depths on their way to glimpse the finish straight.
It obviously had no effect on Ben Thomas who seemed to skim over the muddy excess numerous times on his way to an emphatic victory, racking up an incredulous 10 laps in the senior 4 hour race. A neat ending to a long career with Mountain Trax as Ben now moves to pastures new. Enduro specialist Sam Humpreys was probably wishing conditions were on a par with the La Ruta as he chased Thomas down, but in the end he had to settle for 2nd.
In the Veteran 4 hour theirs was a race within a race as riders who completed the first race vied with each other for those all important points as well as trying to keep an eye on the win. First to show his cards was Mike Saunders, romping through the first lap in just over 26 mins. However fun with a constantly unshipping chain left him down in the doldrums for the next few laps leaving Tyrone Fletcher to breach the void. Saunders would not roll over just yet and with his chain sorted started kicking back, regaining his lead and taking the win a clear lap ahead of Fletcher. Meanwhile Colin Smith achieved his plan of thwarting rival Paul Howard to the line giving him valuable points leaving the overall series with everything to play for in the last round.
A similar story was played out in the Veteran ladies race with Viv Hazelton feeling quite at home romping around the course leaving round 1 winner Elaine Burroughs to pick up 2nd. The third round will obviously see all guns blazing for the overall spot! Jo Munden remained unchallenged in the women's 4 hour, with Sam Hart swapping her first round 3rd for a hard won 2nd. Can she go the next step and take the final win in the third round or will Munden complete the hat trick?
Scott Forbes continued to kick dust in his rivals faces as he took the second straight win. However Paul Hopkins was hot on his heels, with just over 2 1/2 minutes separating them, having eased George Budd into 3rd with 10sec to spare between the two. In the Veterans 2 hour Dean Morgan once again took control of the race despite a handsome challenge from lee King, making it 2 wins out of 2, a good finish at round 3 should see him walk away with the overall, but mountain biking is a fickle mistress so we'll just have to wait and see!
There seemed to be a battle royal brewing between Maxine Filby and Caroline Goward in the women's 2 hour, with very little to choose between the two over the first couple of laps. However experience played dividends as Filby began to suffer slipping back on the final lap leaving Goward to take the win having built up a comfortable 4 min lead. I'm sure Filby will be back hopefully showing her rivals a clean pair of heels for the final showdown! Round 1 winner Sam Jones fought hard but couldn't quite get on a par with the two XC racing regulars, she still claimed the important final podium spot, putting her in pole position for the series win going forward to round 3. After her late start at round 1 where she still claimed 2nd, Lydia Gould was at the front of the action and definitely on time as she took the Veteran women's 2 hour race in a time that would have seen her win the women's 2hr. Nicky Hughes couldn't stop the orange and black train, try as she might and finally took 2nd.
In light of the weather conditions that rounds 1 and 2 took place in, it stands to reason that round 3 will bound to be something extreme, undoubtedly tropical conditions will prevail. If not, ah well never mind it will still be a blinding end to a very special series. See you there whatever the weather for more Merida Brass Monkeys fun! For more info head over to: www.meridabrassmonkeys.com
Elaine Burroughs – 2hr Veteran
It was much easier out there than the last one; it was cold, it was fast, a bit icy but at least the sun was out! Great course, short and sweet just over 5 miles, very enjoyable. It wasn't very technical, a few short sharp climbs that suited the fit rider rather than the technical one. It was a real tussle in my category, all of us after those points for the series and Viv did really well out there. Now we have one apiece so the last round will be very interesting with all to play for. She had a massive lead, nearly a whole lap at one point. I hadn't been very well over Xmas, but that's no excuse. I just didn't train and she was way quicker than me. For me it was just a question of finishing but racing just 2 days after Xmas is quite interesting, especially as I polished off half a bottle of champagne and half a bottle of wine last night, maybe for round 3 I'll go for the beer as that worked for round 1!
Samantha Hart – 2nd woman 4hr
It was cold, but really, really beautiful out there, which was so distracting. I just spent the whole race looking around enjoying the scenery. It was so different to the first round; at least the course didn't disintegrate this time! It was genius having the race this soon after Xmas as it was excellent to get away from it all for a bit and have a blast out on the bike. I really enjoyed it; I can't wait for the next one! I just love riding my bike!
Ben Thomas – 4hr
That was my last race for Mountain Trax so I thought I'd go out with a bang. I didn't really mean to go from the gun and lead it from the start! I wasn't sure who would be here so just went for it to see what would happen. The course was excellent and the organisers did really well considering the bad weather we'd been having recently. I came round after the first lap and maybe there were one or two other riders with me, then I kicked up the climb out of the start and got a gap and that was it really, I didn't look back!
Mike Saunders - 4hr Veteran win
That wasn't too bad, I had a mechanical on the first lap, the chain kept coming off so that was a bit of a nightmare. So I stopped and fixed that and then I was away! I guess I was back in 8th spot when I finally got going but managed to get up to second by the next lap. I didn't find out I was in first until the last lap. Better race than the first one for me, I crashed after 2 hours there and injured myself. The course was really nice today, it held up really well and on the singlespeed it was really fun!
Colin Smith – 4hr Veteran
It was superb out there today, the course was excellent, it flowed really well. The main objective today was to keep Paul Howard who's leading the Veteran's cat at the mo out of the points, but I couldn't, he was on an invisible bungee cord. I got him back on the climbs then he'd be off and that cord finally snapped after 4 laps and after that Paul just cramped big time at the 7th lap and I took full advantage and just put the hammer down and just made it, I was in front of him at the end! The two rounds have been chalk and cheese! This one was definitely colder, but there was no comparison. It was a bit hillier, nothing major just lots of little climbs that after a few laps really added up! I came all the way back from Wales to do this! As I came 2nd in the first one, I really wanted to do well in this one, people thought I was really mad but it had to be done! It'll be interesting when the points go up to find out how the 3rd round will unfold, I think it will be close!
01 Dec 24
26 Jan 25
