Quicksands.

Words and Pictures from The Butcher.

Four Cross. Four men, or women for the record, on mountain bikes. Flat out from the word go. Pedal, pump, pedal, jump, manual, turn. It’s a dive for the finish line. If you blink, you miss it. If you hesitate, you’ve lost. It’s kind of like a gun fight but without the saloon and cheap liquor. It is what it is, nothing more, nothing less. If you like roller coaster rides but don’t want to queue at Alton Towers – enter one. If you don’t like that sort of thing then stay at home.
The Chicksands race was a perfect example of what a Four Cross race should be. The weather was kind, the track was in perfect condition and with the new World Cup random gate start coming in to use, the stage was set.

“Attention”.
“Ok riders, let’s set em up. Riders ready? RANDOM START.”
Procession like racing this was not. Full of gutsy moves and wall to wall adrenalin- it certainly was. It’s not really important who won or lost. Some riders had a good day, some had bad. Some rode like a ballerina (not a butcher) and some (mentioning no names ) are just so precise, smooth and professional that they make their own luck.

If you’re looking for your inner child then get yourself to the next race at Bridgenorth.
If you are a child then there is no excuse.
If you need inspiration go and watch. I guarantee you will have wished you’d taken your bike.
Four Cross boys and girls – I salute you. You all rock!!!!

Check out the full race report in DIRT magazine. Big Mike sent the Professionals down. Cunny disguised as Bodey ( words) and Grant club foot disguised as Doyle ( photos ) were both at the Sands race. That must make me the old b******d that hung around in the background then! If you are too young to know who the Professionals were then you should be in bed!

Never forget – your butcher is for life, not just for Christmas. Thanks for reading!
The Butcher.

PLATE NAME PLACE

1 Scott BEAUMONT 1st
Rocky Mountain
138 Martin OGDEN 2nd
Ram Bikes
8 Duncan FERRIS 3rd
DMR Bikes
414 Lewis LACEY 4th
charge bikes

Junior 17-18 (11 Riders)

PLATE NAME PLACE

58 Bernard KERR 1st
54 Scott ROBERTS 2nd
Flow Bikes
21 Dale RUSSELL 3rd
MAW Racing
32 Daniel WHITTINGHAM 4th

Senior 19-29 (31 Riders)

PLATE NAME PLACE

25 James GOODWIN 1st
RELENTLESS DIALLED BIKES
49 James WILSON 2nd
Ram Bikes
52 Mick RIDGWAY 3rd
Dialled Bikes
53 Tom GETHIN 4th
Flow Bikes

Master 30+ (20 Riders)

PLATE NAME PLACE

205 Steve WILLIAMS 1st
hardcore hobbies crew
216 Aidan BISHOP 2nd
Rapidracers
236 Stefan GLEED 3rd
Rapidracers
175 Steve JONES 4th
Veteran (6 Riders)

PLATE NAME PLACE

208 Keith WILLSON 1st
219 Sean HANSON 2nd
233 Gary GRAY 3rd
Team Graysmiths
181 Tim WEBB 4th
Red mist Racing

Girls (7 Riders)

PLATE NAME PLACE
270 Charlie PHILLIPS () 1st
189 Suzanne LACEY () 2nd
Flow Bikes
199 Rebecca VAUGHAN () 3rd
271 Sarah Jane HEWITT () 4th

Youth 15-16 (17 Riders)

PLATE NAME PLACE

224 Tom KNIGHT 1st
MTB-Bitz
244 Arran SHROSBREE 2nd
269 Ashley RAILTON 3rd
213 Alexander CRANE 4th

Juvenile 12-14 (7 Riders)

PLATE NAME PLACE
166 Alex METCALFE 1st
MAW Racing
250 Matthew JONES 2nd
Team Identiti
251 Jonathan JONES 3rd
268 Nathan SHIPP 4th

Novice 17+ (41 Riders)

PLATE NAME PLACE
170 James RENWICK 1st
273 Blake SAMPSON 2nd
153 Neal BLAKES 3rd
272 Raymond SAMSON 4th

Novice 12-16 (25 Riders)

PLATE NAME PLACE

248 Sam BURTON 1st
239 Jet STRIDE 2nd
234 Jacob GRAHAM 3rd
246 Ashley LANE 4th
Rutland Water Cycling

News just in from Houffalize, Belgium, where the 4-cross season has just kicked off.

Results Elite men

– 1st Joost Wichman – Cannnondale Factory Racing
– 2nd Kamill Tartakovic – RaceBike Suzuki
– 3rd Jurg Meyer – R.S.P. Giant

NPS 4x Chicksands