What it means to me to be a National Champion? I asked my five year old daughter the same question last year after winning the jersey. My response was “don’t mess with me, I’m the National Champion”. Obviously I was joking, but to my embarrassment she told the same tale to the parents of a fellow racer when I went to put my jersey on before the start of a race, “don’t mess with my daddy, he’s a National Champion”, which they delighted in ribbing me about later!
It’s taken me a long while to get to this point. I’ve been racing since the early 90’s and started off initially doing cross country, but after suffering from Post Viral Syndrome I turned my attentions to downhill. I had some good results racing Elite. I won the Northern Area Mountainbike series three times, won the NEMBA series, came second in the National series and rode for Great Britain in the Worlds and European Champs, which was a great personal achievement, as I still struggled from time to time with fatigue. Unfortunately I never managed to win the National Championship as an Elite.
I took a break from downhill, but couldn’t resist the lure of racing two wheels again and as a kid I had always dreamt of racing motorcross. I was now able to afford a bike and ended up racing in a variety of enduros and motorcross events. I also won a few races at Clubman level. My brother Jed and some friends started racing downhill again and suggested I got back into, so I ended up back doing downhill in the Masters category, which is the last thing I dreamt I would end up doing in my naive younger years, but I guess I am just addicted to downhill!
I never thought I would do so well and still be winning. I won my first National Championship in 2009, but to win it a second time in 2012 is awesome, especially as I am nearing the end of my time as a Master – the big 40 looms next year! I have full respect for everybody who races in Masters and the older categories, as like me most people have family and work commitments, so there’s more at risk if you hurt yourself. I feel very proud achieving these results for my sponsor and of course my family. The support from these guys is brilliant, although my daughter is my worse critic if I don’t perform well.
