Race Report: North West DH Champs 2012

This was the third round of the North West Mountain Bike Series and it also incorporated the North West Champs. The races at Farmer Johns in Stockport always seem to attract a good entry and this one was no exception with the event selling out in the preceeding week.

In a contrast to the last round where we saw a mostly bone dry and dusty track, the week leading up to this event didn't bode well for a repeat. With torrential rain and winds gusting it was starting to look as though it was going to be a wet one, luckily though the rain had all but subsided come race day and some people even mentioned that they'd spotted the sun.

The track being used at Farmer Johns is one of contrasts, from the flat pedally hardpacked top section to the steep, muddy and root strewn lower part. The rain in the preceding days had slowed the top section down slightly, making the riders work that little bit harder to keep their speed but it was the lower section where it had really take its tole.

Out of the start the riders came across a right left combo of berms which spat them out onto a fairly flat straight littered with pump lumps and jumps. As the riders dropped off the gravel surfaced bridge at the end of the straight they were faced with another flat section of track punctuated by a small rock feature and wooden bridge jump. The competitors were back on the pedals for the next choice of features, most riders opted to hit the double but a few went round the berm in the centre of it. Blasting through a small patch of trees, the riders entered the lower field and were immediately faced with a couple of rock gardens. Carrying speed through these was critical as they were immediately followed by a series of berms weaving in and out of the trees. Popping out of the tree line it was up and over a bridge past the burger van before rounding a couple of berms and plummeting into the woods.

This is where the track changed massively. Dropping off the north shore chute, the riders descended down towards the section fittingly named on the day, "carnage corner". Roots criss crossed the track at this point and options for the riders were either to stay high to hop them, ride over them risking sliding out or to take the low line and risk getting sucked into the crash mat clad tree. If they got past the top roots then the track dropped away once again into a right turn between the trees. For the unlucky ones who got this wrong they ended in the well positioned crash pad. Most riders came a cropper on this part of the track over the weekend and during practice the racers found it was difficult to get a clean run through without crashing or getting caught up behind someone else's accident.

Come race time the atmosphere at "carnage corner" was awesome, spectators lined each side of the track equipped with horns and megaphones. Standing at the start gate it was easy to tell when a rider went down as a wave of noise erupted from the bottom of the course.

On to the results and in the Rippers category for ages 10 to 12 it was Oscar Home who took the win followed by Matthew Jubb and Owen Maplenson. Juvenile honourrs were taken by Kyle Havard who came down in 1.50 closely followed by Kade Edwards and a bit further back by Jack Tennyson. Dan Farley's 1.37 put him in first position in the Youth class and was also good enough to put him in third position overall. Callum Havard secured second position in Youth followed by William Weston in third.

Junior was won by Thomas Owens with a 1.43 with Jack Read and Joe Mallinson following in second and third. In Senior Jonathan-James Foster-Smith took the win with a 1.40 five seconds faster than the rest of the field. Stewart Escritt came down in second and Jonathan Coulier took third. Alexander Bayne took the honours in Master with a 1.37 followed by Seb Frost on a 1.39 and Mark Weightman who posted a 1.43. Veteran was won by Jamie Armitage on a 1.55 closely followed by David Andrew and Steve Felstead. As with most of the rounds at Farmer Johns there was a good turnout of hardtails with eight making the start. Richard Acott won the class with a very respectable 1.49 and was followed by Paul Farrar and AJ Howie. The Womens class was won by Dot McCarthy who was over 30 seconds clear of the rest of the field on a 2.10. Cath Short took third and Anna Widdup got third.

Expert was won by Kurtis Knowles who came down in 1.39 and was followed by Joe Flanagan and Alex Moss. The fastest rider down in the Elite class, posting a 1.33 was James Swinden who also took home the fastest time of the day. Liam Little took second with a 1.38 and Stuart Jackson followed in third.

The event once again ran smoothly and without problems, all thanks to organiser Mike Marsden from Borderline Events. Farmer John and his guys built the lower section of the track for the event and certainly added some action.

Words & Photos: Richard Easton or www.photo-moto.co.uk