Racing News
Gorrick 12:12 TORQ In Your Sleep - Race Report
by Joolze Dymond, 02 Sep 10. Results [ 1» ] Photos [ 1» ]
August's last weekend was celebrated in style by nearly 700 riders who lined up to tackle the 3rd edition of TORQ in Your Sleep at Minley Manor. With 12 hours to complete as many laps as possible on a fun filled 8 mile course that threw in enough challenges to keep you on your toes on plenty of flowing singletrack to keep the grin on your face even in the darkest hour, the pace was high as was the enjoyment factor.
The mass of riders set off behind the quad like the pied piper of mountain biking,
on a start loop that spread them out in a bright display of lycra,
zig zagging down the hillside ready to start the lap proper.
Dead on midday under a broody sky, the mass of riders were off behind the quad like the pied piper of mountain biking, on a start loop that spread the hundreds of riders in a bright display of lycra, zig zagging down the hillside ready to start the lap proper. A couple of laps in and that broody sky broke into big wet droplets providing another fun challenge, transforming the ample tree roots into hero traction sections! The rain however unlike the race was short lived, stopping after it's 10 minute hissy fit leaving behind the last remnants of summer; big blue skies that slowly faded into a lazy evening glow that soon enough plunged the riders into total darkness. The trail now taking on another dimension, interspersed with the occasional grotto of fairy lights and glow sticks, plus a banging disco under the Bridge to Nowhere.
On paper the course had more than a passing resemblance to a large intestine as it wriggled it's way, this way and that. Fire road gave way to loose gravely climbs which in turn transformed into sweet singletrack in equal measures, giving the riders mile after mile of intense challenge as well as heaps of fun over which to battle for the ultimate top step.
And what a battle it was, with some top enduro names popping up in various teams honing their speed for the upcoming Kielder100 no doubt, along with a couple of superheroes!
Even Superhero's need a rest! The BananaSplitz Team from event sponsors Mountain Trax
added a splash of colour. "When Eric eats a banana..." became their trademark call to pass.
With a team full of 'Eric's' all dressed up as Banana Man, were the Mountain Trax / BananaSplitz team. Unfortunately having to save the world as well as competing in the 12 hour took it's toll on the team and despite clocking up an impressive 16 laps, and leaving a trail of banana skins they only managed to claim 15th spot, but were the undoubted Fancy Dress Champions. TORQ Performance Racing, who led from the start and were pretty much unchallenged, racked up an impressive 20 laps, one more than runners up Lordswood House Mafia. In the women's team it looked like a full on battle between Kruising So Far and Larkfield Cycles / Hedonism Hotties. With the lead constantly changing hands, eventually the Kruising So Far team had the edge and continued to build, with both teams clocking up 12 laps. The Kruising girls took the win with a 27 mins 35 secs margin.
Sion O'Boyle on a hot lap for TORQ Performance Racing.
The Mixed Team race was another hotly contested category, with the Lufbra Allstars battling it out with the XCRacer crew and Cyclezone UK hot on their heels. A mechanical on lap 3 for Cyclezone member Ruth Mordaunt left her running for home putting the team on the back foot as the remaining two lead teams fought in earnest for top spot. In the end Lufbra managed to score 19 laps to take the win a lap clear of XCRacer.
Jess Roberts rode for the Lufbra Allstars mixed team to a convincing win with 19 laps.
The Men's Pairs race was one that went down to the wire with the 3 top teams all in the running. The pairing of top elite rider Dave Collins and enduro specialist Craig Bowles looked good and were running at a 5 minute lead ahead of TORQ's Tim Dunford and James Lister, while Josh Ibbett and Anthony White fought hard in 3rd spot. As the hours ticked by TORQ put in a death or glory run moving them from 2nd to 1st in the closing stages going on to take the win by just 10 mins. Collins and Bowles picked up 2nd while just another 20 mins down but still with 19 laps were Ibbett & White.
Local rider and enduro specialist Craig Bowles paired up with good mate Dave Collins
in a hard fought race against eventual winners TORQ to take second place.
Despite a valiant challenge the Mountain Minxes had to concede a one lap advantage to the Charge Bikes girls in the Women's Pairs, with the Charge pairing racking up 14 laps to take the win.
In the Mixed Pairs Ed Rose and Natasha Barry of Progression Fitness held off the competition, leading from the start going on to take the win with 17 laps, 1 more than the runners up, Lite Option VC10; Rick Fetherston and Iwona Szymd.
Ed Rose of Progression Fitness powers up Pheasant Plucker Hill.
All the Solo categories were close fought battles with just a handful of minutes separating the winners from the runners up in most cases. For Pete Harris, in the Vet's race, it looked like it would be a battle to the end as he led convincingly for the first 8 laps with Robin Smith, Chris Clark & Russell Rout all snapping at his heels. Then as night fell and the lights were brought into play, Harris soon discovered his lights failing him, leaving him no choice but to climb off after two more laps, leaving the win to be fought between Smith, Clark & Rout. By the end 5 riders had completed 14 laps but it was Robin Smith who held the trump card, just 13 mins ahead of Clark, who in turn just held off Rout by a handful of seconds.
Robin Smith slowly edged himself into the lead of the Solo Veteran
race to win by just 13 minutes over Chris Clark.
A similar story was playing out in the Women's Solo race. This time however Malin Tindberg had set the blistering pace, which by lap 5 started to take its toll. Local rivals Kathy Beresford & Louise Robinson both riding for Four4th Lights and The Tunnel Hill Trolls rode consistent laps. Beresford took the lead on lap 6 which she held to the end racking up 13 laps to take the win with nearly 23 mins over runner up Robinson, while Tindberg held onto 3rd a lap down.
Local rivals Kathy Beresford (#1) & Louise Robinson (#8) both riding for Four4th Lights
and The Tunnel Hill Trolls rode consistent laps but Beresford took the Solo win.
After riding single speed last year, defending Solo Men's Champion Steve Webb relented to a few more gears running 1x9, but still stuck to his rigid steed as he blasted round the course. Only one other rider could match his pace, Sylvain Garde. Both riders clocked up a massive 16 laps, but Webb once again had the edge taking the win with nearly 30 mins on Garde.
Defending Solo Men's Champion Steve Webb racked up a race winning 16 laps.
With the midnight oil well and truly burnt, it was now time to celebrate. Bacon butties were the order of the night and as competitors waited for the last remnants of racing to be completed soon tales were flowing (along with the free beer thanks to Flowerpots Brewery Cheriton!) of daring do and what could have been! Then in the early hours of the bank holiday it was time for the presentations. TORQ in Your Sleep, may as the name suggests leave you short of an hour or two of dream time, but what the event lacked in z'eds it more than made up for in their attention to detail, which overflowed to the bulging piles of booty on offer not only to the winners of the races themselves but also to random riders. In fact two lucky riders were the recipients of a holiday break thanks to Saddle Skedaddle even before a pedal had been turned as spot prizes were hidden in the sign on packs!
The consensus of opinion seemed to agree that TORQ in Your Sleep once again hit the spot for a friendly enduro with all the whistle bells fun that you'd want! Next year should see the event up the ante once more so make sure you keep an eye out for this enjoyable event. Many thanks to everyone who came along and made the event, especially the sponsors; TORQ, Mountain Trax, Lumicycle, Saddle Skedaddle, Shred, 2XU, RapidRacerProducts, Joolze Dymond Photography, Army Cycling Union, Flowerpots Brewery, Chelmer Cycles, 1st Gear Cycles, & Camberley Osteopathic Clinic who were generous to a fault! Not forgetting All Events Marquees of Ash for providing somewhere to shelter during the squall!
Full results can be found at: www.timelaps.co.uk
Event gallery: www.joolzedymond.com
01 Dec 24
26 Jan 25
