2013 National Mountain Bike Championships

Two years ago I won this Title, and I was about to battle for it again. It was a long journey up from Plymouth but I had great company from the guys of Mondraker UK and Juice Lubes.

The course was very similar to Hadleigh Farm where the Olympics were held; bone dry with rock gardens, twisty switch backs and step downs, but it was all good fun.

Sundays race was at 12.45; not what I’m used to so it felt like forever, but was able to watch the mornings races, which included Mondrakers Brendan Murphy competing in the Vet male category. He finished just outside the top 10 in 12^th position.  

As time drew nearer it was my turn to race. Nerves were creeping up on me but I was more relaxed then I usually am before a race. I knew I could achieve a podium position it was just going to be a battle for each place, which in a way I was quite looking forward to!

With the Elite Females and Juniors setting off before the U23s’ it gave me a good target to chase, as well as the girls in my category. The gun went and we went; best start I’ve had in a long time! We all pretty much stayed together around the start loop back through the start/finish line. Beth Crumpton (Hargroves) and Becky Preece (Scott Contessa) slowly drifted away from me. We had the Veteran females chasing us so it pushed me on a lot. For the whole race I held 3^rd position. On the final lap through the rock garden I crashed and flew over my handle bars; the pain was screaming at me but I couldn’t hang around worrying about that so I grabbed my bike rode on. As much as I wanted to stop and take a breath, there was no time for that. I pushed hard for the last part and into the finish. A Bronze medal in my final year as an U23…I was happy with that. Well done to Beth Crumpton (Gold) and Becky Preece (Silver).

The racing was not over yet. Elite men in the afternoon was classy to watch; you see a lot from the feed station!

Mondrakers Dexter Hurlock, Stephen Hodge and Juice Lubes James Porter all had a top race. Dexter; who was gridded 41^st smashed his way up to finish 20^th. Porter gained an excellent 12 places from his starting position finishing 31^st and Stephen finished a very respectable 34^th in a tough race.

Thank you to every one for the support and encouragement over the weekend and to WXC World Racing for being a smashing team.

My main thanks goes to the guys of Mondraker UK for letting me travel up with them and legend James Porter (Juice Lubes) for driving all the way up, racing and driving back! Top Guy!