Racing News
Spring Series Round 5 - Surrey Hill - The Hot & Dusty One
by Joolze Dymond, 20 Apr 10. Results [ 1» ] Photos [ 1» ]
With the planes grounded, the trains grounded and fuel reaching an all time high, the only thing left to do was surely head for the trails! That’s exactly what over 500 competitors did at the fifth round of the ever-popular Gorrick Spring Series. Plus with the prospect of picking up a holiday thanks to series sponsors Saddle Skedaddle, just for having a go and also a good chance of taking home a trophy for the top 10% of each race, all you had to do was soak up the rays while going as fast as you could over a marvellously fun 5.5 mile course. Based at Surrey Hill it was of course going to feature a few killer climbs but it more than made up for those stings in the tail by masses of dusty swoopy fun as the ribbons of sweet singletrack threaded effortless through the tall pines.
Another wave of racers start out on the 5.5 mile lap
Photo by Joolze
And so the scene was set, with waves of races starting and finishing almost seamlessly throughout the sun soaked day. While exhausted riders headed straight to the food van for a well earned cuppa and bacon bap after their races, using what was left of their reserves to cheer on everyone else heading for those pesky hills!
As ever the younger element of the cross country community were keen and eager to get off the mark, with another healthy turnout of riders ranging from 8 years old upwards. In the Youth race Matt Lewis and Jack Spicer threw down the gauntlet with their two lap spat. Lewis had the edge in their close fought race and took the win after 54 mins of racing.
As is traditional as the cross country season gets ever nearer and the temperature gets ever higher in amongst the droves of regular Gorrick supporters new and old we occasionally find some of the UK’s top riders using the excellent courses and competition to hone their skills and Sunday was no different. The Expert ladies race saw two top international riders taking on all Surrey Hill could throw at them. World Cup XC rider Rosara Joseph, currently biding her time until she can get out to join her team looked ultra comfortable as she romped round the race. Behind her in hot pursuit was Gabby Day, more known for her prowess on the Cyclo Cross World scene. Day is now using the warmer months to tackle mountain biking and in her third offroad race ever picked up 2nd behind Joseph.
World Cup XC rider Rosara Joseph riding to a comfortable Expert win
Photo by Joolze
In the Super Masters yet another internationally renowned rider was making life a lot harder for the regulars. Ian Leitch more known for his feats of endurance showed he was no slouch on a shorter XC race, giving Stephen James a real run for his money. These two dominated the front end of their race, with Leitch finally taking the win from James after a close fought four laps.
Ian Leitch is shadowed by Stephen James as they thread
their way through Swinleys finest trails
Photo by Joolze
Having only recently moved into the Super Veterans Merida’s Paul Hopkins was keen to stamp his authority on this race. He did so with gusto taking a clear win a good three minutes ahead of rival Robin Smith, while Gorrick stalwart & web maestro Paul Howard took third.
Super Veteran Paul Hopkins pushed on alone for four laps overtaking
many of the earlier starting riders in Super Masters too
Photo by Joolze
With Emma Bradley opting to race in Experts, Jo Munden was spared the usual ding-dong style racing these two have been having on most of their encounters. Munden’s usual rival when Bradley is elsewhere has been Fay Cripps, but today Cripps had no answer to Munden’s pace. While in the Veteran women’s race Jackie Roberts looked confident as she took the win from Sarah Whelan.
Beyond Mountain Bike's Jackie Roberts rode two consistent
laps to finish with a four & half minute lead
Photo by Joolze
Racing in the Master’s category looked pretty close with just 60 secs separating the top three. First spot eventually went to Rob Purcell, whilst the Kinesis Morvelo squad of Frazier Clifford and Oli Pepper brought in the remaining podium spots.
Kathy Beresford headed a buoyant Open women’s race taking the win with just over an hours racing, while Aiden Bishop took the honours in the Open men.
For Tim Dunford his performance in the Expert men’s race came at just the right time. With the first World Cup on the horizon at Dalby, Dunford was delighted that his form is on track as he romped around the course in the capable company of Scott Forbes and youngster Steve James. James was forcing the pace early on but an unfortunate puncture left him high and dry whilst Dunford and Forbes took full flight battling out the remaining laps between them. Dunford made his move on the last lap leaving Forbes in a trail of dust as he headed for home and his first win of the day, confidence boosted ready for his World Cup onslaught.
And so yet another Gorrick race came to it’s conclusion. A brilliant day’s racing was had by all and of course the added dose of sun and fantastic trails were of course just the cherry on the cake!
Round 6 - the rescheduled round 1 - will give you another chance to grab some Gorrick XC fun. Though in just a few weeks time you could head back to Surrey Hills for an even bigger dose of those brilliant Swinley trails at a more sensible pace at the Gorrick 100. See you there!
How did the race go for you?
Paul Hopkins – Super Veterans
After having a week with a really annoying cough, there could not be a better way to sort it out than by sweating it out over 4 laps around Swinley Forest.
That was, without a doubt, the best weather this year, it was great to be clad in only summer gear today. It was an early 9.45am start for my race but the temperature was already about 15 C. Not having time to pre-ride the course, the first lap was good fun to ride blind at pace. Robin Smith, Steve Jones and Paul Howard were fast out of the blocks and first into the dusty sketchy right-hander. I managed to catch and overtake the three of them on the first climb and a mile in managed to get a comfortable lead. Hats of once again to the Gorrick team for putting a great course together, it had the lot - from twisty rooty descents to lung busting power climbs.
Halfway round the first lap I started to pick off the tail end of the Super Masters. Having these guys to chase and tussle with, keeps you riding hard and the further up the class you catch the harder it becomes to pass and break away. By the fourth lap I had managed to catch and pass all but four of the Super Masters. With another person to chase around every corner my lead was just under 4 minutes by the finish line. Second went to Robin Smith and third went to enduro specialist Paul Howard.
Gabby Day – Expert women
I am happy with my race as I am still getting used to MTB racing. This is only my third race, but I feel I am getting better every time. I liked the course, it was tough and quite technical in places. I am strong on the climbing just need to get used to the twisty technical aspect, but I will practice!!
Rosara went off very fast at the start & I tried to stay with her but her pace was too much for me, & she was a lot quicker through the first section of single track. She is very strong! So I settled into my own rhythm to maintain second position. Overall it was a great event and made even better by amazing sunshine.
Tim Dunford – Expert men
Summer arrived at the fifth round of the Gorrick Spring Series and with it beautiful, dry, dusty trails. A quick practice lap revealed this was going to be a tough race. The course had some beautiful sections of twisty single track and some brutally steep short climbs. Fortunately, there was a chance to take a breather and a welcome drink on the sections of double track.
The Expert race started flat out as always with Pedal On's Steve James setting a punishing pace. Steve is still a junior, when he moves up to Elite in the near future I might give Masters a try! At the end of the first lap Steve had pulled out a lead of 20 seconds over Scott and Luke with me chasing just behind. After a heavy week of training I started to feel better on the second lap and managed to catch Luke and Scott. Steve was still in sight so we plugged on. We caught Steve midway round the third lap. No sooner had we caught him, Steve punctured leaving me, Scott and Luke out front. Luke was nailing the single track, not really my forte but I clung on to his coattails.
Towards the end of the third lap Luke took a bit of a spill leaving just me and Scott out front. My legs had come round by this point and I was starting to feel good. I managed to open a little gap on one of the climbs but Scott pulled me back. Scott then put in some monster big ring attacks on the fire roads but I clawed him back each time. Into the last lap I took a caffeined Torq gel (shameless plug!) for a last lap energy boost. My plan was a big attack on the steepest climb of the course. As it happened I got away just before and managed to keep the lead to the line. There was universal agreement that we'd enjoyed an excellent course so a big thanks to the Gorrick team for another top-notch event.
Next week it's off to the first round of the World Cup at Dalby. The win has given me a great confidence boost but I doubt Absalon is losing too much sleep! Hopefully the weather will hold for what promises to be a fantastic weekend of racing.
01 Dec 24
26 Jan 25
