Ace ‘Of Hardtail Spades” gives you his run down of Combe Sydenham race day.

Words and photos: Ace Woodley

Vets winner Nige Page and woss his name on the mic.

Well, it’s race day, Saturday practice was a touch damp, a damp start on Sunday but also a clear blue sky with the sun nicely drying things out. Got in early, just after uplift had started so things in motion.   Just going to wade in with a stack of photos, took 102, junked about 20, knocked a few more off, got down to 50, then about 30, so maybe another photo heavy spread later.

Shimano service team was kept busy as racers get things dialled in for race time, and crash damage patched up, J-Tech where also on hand with a mobile suspension tune up service. A walk around the pits, drop into Balfa Uk for a look at the FOEs on display and a hardtail in the back of the eze-up, photos might show how much detail is in the frame, very nice and another prototype landing next week !

Found a Dirt Norco parked up as well.

Was looking at the Burgtec bike, and spotted a Gamut Gwinner or the prototype chain device (production ones should be out very soon) seen the finished model but had a quick look at the proto.

A walk up track to see how things where doing, a fairly constant stream of riders coming down the hill.

The Outlaw Riders bought Sponge bob out for the day, by mid morning spectors where lining the track from start to finish, and the start was quite a walk to get up to, most action was in the field as you had a good view of a large portion of track and some riders where more than happy to put on a show of weapons grade styling for the baying mob, some dodgey stem shagging bow legged, dead sailor whip action on show, some just railed it straight.

I got up to the start to catch some seeding run action, only ever having done one national before (07 Rheola, the very very wet one) well I am used to hanging out in the hardtail category which mostly involves being unhealthy and hoping your bodged up bike makes the run. Haven’t seen this before, turbo trainers ? and a quick pre run workout from the girls.

Seeding runs seemed to go well, some minor stoppages, the crowd got bigger by race run time.

606 is Emma Wareham and 952 is newbie to nationals Traharn Chidley, both on there way up for the final run. I will finish here for today (getting late, day job in the morning) and dump more photos Monday night, but to save suspense any longer Marc Beaumont took the win 2.25, sheet results for mens final were not out so I don’t know the rest, however I did find the Vets and Ladies, which Manon won.

I did have the mens seeding result sheet, that should be an idea of what went on until the final results go live.

For a season opener I think it went well, big crowd, cracking weather, track went down well, suited more to those with legs than can power down it, some more photos to follow.

Ace