RG Timed Practice: 20th Feb
We were treated to a misty merky morning for Febuary's Racers Guild timed practice session. The rain held off on the day but the trail was already well watered and super slick. We chose to run Wonderland for this session which been rescued after the recent logging on the hill and with some hard work it was ready to go.
I think the poor weather brings out the best from the Guild faithful, you need to love this sport to turn out on such a grotty day. There was a decent turn out of 45 riders ready to pit them selves against the all knowing clock. Old faces mixed with new and we had a couple of first timers having a go, Elliot's dad Paul Machin and our regular 1st aider Liam got involved in the action for the first time feeling there way in with some 'steady' runs, hope to see you guys next time.
Wonder land is a mixed bag of tight rooty corners and fast rooty corners, rooty straight bits and some more roots and a load of mud. The first section of tight corners require good technique to clear fast and then once you drop in over the gas line it's all about holding your speed through the fast sweeping corners that lead to the jump, berm, jump. After this the trail flattens out. Is it best to pedal or pump? I heard the Worral boys found a line round the slop over some stumps that was helping keep the speed up. Which ever way you went, this flattish section is tough. There is a new section of trail towards the end that many found tricky and then of course, the RG traditional finish straight sprint pulled what ever you had left out of your legs.
We had just four lads in the under 16's with Jonathon Stewart topping the sheet with a quick 1:16.1 a time many seniors would be happy with. Well done to all the U16's it's good to see the future.
An early broken wheel meant ex Squadron rider Mitch Ingley was once again on a borrowed bike (thanks Mark) and set some quick times (1:06.0) but it was down to RG Squadron rider Andy Huges to represent for all the RG crew with some scary quick times. It really is great to see Andy in such good form so early in the year. He put a 1:04.3 on the timing sheets on his first run and spent the rest of the session chipping away and getting closer to the minute mark. Would he top the timing sheets at the end of the session? Back to that later......
Sunday saw the return to the hill for Haydon after months off with a broken arm, there was no taking it easy for him with a decent 1:21.3 at the end of the session showing his peers that he's back on form.
Trail clearing supremo Paul Robson was at last not working the day of the Guild and gave the Horse a good thrashing with mega consistency, 1:15.1, 1:15.1 & 1:15.0! We also went international with our new Columbian friend Manuel Ramirez throwing down on the cold and sloppy English hill with a 1:11.8 I bet he will go quicker when it's a bit warmer on the hill.
Squadron new boy Adam Halling (RG Squadron/Bikeschool turned up late in the day after a spot of work to put himself up against the clock. Would he be as quick as his Squadron team mate Andy? Well, after a couple of sighting runs Adam put a lightning quick 1:02.8 to top the sheets. This just made Andy more determined and just a few minutes later he shredded the hill with a 1:02.6 which sent Adam marching up the hill for another run. This was classic old school Racers Guild fun, a proper head to head. While all this was going on Ben Worral put in a 1:04.7 to put himself closer to the Squadron boys (Ben we need your number back you Git!) with what would turn out to be 3rd fastest time of the day.
Adam on really cut wet screams just couldn't quite do it and after his rear brake gave up it was all about Andy who just to make sure he completed a triple of quickest times at the RG put in a stunning 1:02.1.
to finish in style. Special mention has to go to another ex-squadron rider Elliot 'Sketch' Machin who after watching his dad's lines from earlier stuck a 1:07.8 on the sheets on his XC bike.
Good luck to all the riders for this years season especially the Racers Guild Squadron, make us proud boys (and Mick!)
Many thanks to all that make the Racers Guild what it is and thanks for the donations. Much appreciated. Another great session
Don't forget, build day Sat 5th March, if you ride the Cop you should come and make your mark on the hill. (remember no un-official building on the Chase)
Provisional date Saturday 19th March for the next session.
Harry
harry@racersguild.co.uk
I think the poor weather brings out the best from the Guild faithful, you need to love this sport to turn out on such a grotty day. There was a decent turn out of 45 riders ready to pit them selves against the all knowing clock. Old faces mixed with new and we had a couple of first timers having a go, Elliot's dad Paul Machin and our regular 1st aider Liam got involved in the action for the first time feeling there way in with some 'steady' runs, hope to see you guys next time.
Wonder land is a mixed bag of tight rooty corners and fast rooty corners, rooty straight bits and some more roots and a load of mud. The first section of tight corners require good technique to clear fast and then once you drop in over the gas line it's all about holding your speed through the fast sweeping corners that lead to the jump, berm, jump. After this the trail flattens out. Is it best to pedal or pump? I heard the Worral boys found a line round the slop over some stumps that was helping keep the speed up. Which ever way you went, this flattish section is tough. There is a new section of trail towards the end that many found tricky and then of course, the RG traditional finish straight sprint pulled what ever you had left out of your legs.
We had just four lads in the under 16's with Jonathon Stewart topping the sheet with a quick 1:16.1 a time many seniors would be happy with. Well done to all the U16's it's good to see the future.
An early broken wheel meant ex Squadron rider Mitch Ingley was once again on a borrowed bike (thanks Mark) and set some quick times (1:06.0) but it was down to RG Squadron rider Andy Huges to represent for all the RG crew with some scary quick times. It really is great to see Andy in such good form so early in the year. He put a 1:04.3 on the timing sheets on his first run and spent the rest of the session chipping away and getting closer to the minute mark. Would he top the timing sheets at the end of the session? Back to that later......
Sunday saw the return to the hill for Haydon after months off with a broken arm, there was no taking it easy for him with a decent 1:21.3 at the end of the session showing his peers that he's back on form.
Trail clearing supremo Paul Robson was at last not working the day of the Guild and gave the Horse a good thrashing with mega consistency, 1:15.1, 1:15.1 & 1:15.0! We also went international with our new Columbian friend Manuel Ramirez throwing down on the cold and sloppy English hill with a 1:11.8 I bet he will go quicker when it's a bit warmer on the hill.
Squadron new boy Adam Halling (RG Squadron/Bikeschool turned up late in the day after a spot of work to put himself up against the clock. Would he be as quick as his Squadron team mate Andy? Well, after a couple of sighting runs Adam put a lightning quick 1:02.8 to top the sheets. This just made Andy more determined and just a few minutes later he shredded the hill with a 1:02.6 which sent Adam marching up the hill for another run. This was classic old school Racers Guild fun, a proper head to head. While all this was going on Ben Worral put in a 1:04.7 to put himself closer to the Squadron boys (Ben we need your number back you Git!) with what would turn out to be 3rd fastest time of the day.
Adam on really cut wet screams just couldn't quite do it and after his rear brake gave up it was all about Andy who just to make sure he completed a triple of quickest times at the RG put in a stunning 1:02.1.
to finish in style. Special mention has to go to another ex-squadron rider Elliot 'Sketch' Machin who after watching his dad's lines from earlier stuck a 1:07.8 on the sheets on his XC bike.
Good luck to all the riders for this years season especially the Racers Guild Squadron, make us proud boys (and Mick!)
Many thanks to all that make the Racers Guild what it is and thanks for the donations. Much appreciated. Another great session
Don't forget, build day Sat 5th March, if you ride the Cop you should come and make your mark on the hill. (remember no un-official building on the Chase)
Provisional date Saturday 19th March for the next session.
Harry
harry@racersguild.co.uk
posted by Alex Thompson at
09:41
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home