Racing

Welsh Gravity Enduro, Eastridge. The Tactics of Racing the Clock!

23.05.2016
by

Steeped in MTB racer history, going back nearly 30 years, Eastridge, Shropshire is a place where legends honed their craft. It had been untouched since it was planted as Forestry a very long time ago. But after a winter of local rider discontent, during which the foresters came in to harvest their crop, could this forest provide the goods for a tough challenging enduro race now?

Charlie Williams, the man behind Welsh Gravity Enduro.
Charlie Williams, the man behind Welsh Gravity Enduro.
The rolling hills of Shropshire.
The rolling hills of Shropshire.
Freshly forest harvested, giving the old race mecca a new lease of life.
Freshly forest harvested, giving the old race mecca a new lease of life.

There is something about this small forested hill nestled in the heart of the beautiful rolling Shropshire hills. It’s not too steep, the transitions are short and the terrain doesn’t look that daunting. But this place is known for it’s small ‘sniper’ rocks, little pointed tyre destroyers, making a rider’s choice of tyre, pressures and suspension set-up the most crucial part of racing there; especially as the hill and all its tracks were set to be wet on the race weekend.

There was some odd wildlife in the woods!
There was some odd wildlife in the woods!
Locals looked on at these crazy folk on their bicycles!
Locals looked on at these crazy folk on their bicycles!
It was a joy to be at this event, riders loved it!
It was a joy to be at this event, riders loved it!

This was our first time doing one of these mash-up race formats, as all the others previously had been held at more trail-center type tracks and we looked forward to this unusual type of racing. Basically it is a one-day format, where racing goes on between 10am and 3.30pm, with three timed stages. The format is more like that of the ‘mates racing’ style, but the main difference is that you can race any of the stages in any order, as many times as you can muster, all timed, but with your fastest run to count. There were no start times, no running order and no seeding, so riders had to sort themselves out in a way that no rider caught another. At a bigger venue with massive transitions this format definitely would have been a tough call, but with Eastridge’s full circuit of the three stages being achieved in 12 kilometers with only 400 of meters of climbing it really worked well.

Times were live all day, making for some addictive re-runs!
Times were live all day, making for some addictive re-runs!
As the rain came in, some sections became tough to keep traction on.
As the rain came in, some sections became tough to keep traction on.
Once the main man around these parts, The Don (Neil Donoghue) would need to train again to make this podium!
Once the main man around these parts, The Don (Neil Donoghue) would need to train again to make this podium!

Although it is sold as a one-day format, the stages were taped from Friday onwards, so some riders had been checking the trails out prior to Sunday’s racing to get an eye in on the terrain. The weather had been rain and sun on and off leading up to Sunday where things started off with a damp but sunny start to the day. The trails slowly started to revert from slimy to tacky in places, but it was never going to be dry. It was all about which trails to do in which order; the dumping of rain was expected at 2pm, and everyone knew that stage 3, the fast very DH style gnarly one, would benefit the most from the sun and drying out. Most riders decided to leave this as close to before the rain as possible; the whole day was about being tactical with weather and stage choice!

The smile says it all!
The smile says it all!
The banter was not lacking in the Vets category - author Jim (left) asking the winner, Keith Horsnell how he could make back those 5 seconds between the two of them!
The banter was not lacking in the Vets category – author Jim (left) asking the winner, Keith Horsnell, how he could make back those 5 seconds between the two of them!

Stage 1

There's 'how too' and there's 'how not too'! Eastridge takes no prisoners!
There’s ‘how too’ and there’s ‘how not too’! Eastridge takes no prisoners!

This was the long stage, known locally as Big Log, it was the true enduro stage and was the one leaving riders exhausted on completion due to it’s several short but punchy flat bits and climbs, testing the strongest of lungs. The top consisted of a shallow trail winding down through the nasty sniper rocks and roots, tough rooted turns and a fast shoot, testing the best of suspension. Across the fire road riders hit the next section of loamy banked and bermed turns, which being in the non-forested area were tough, as lots of these corners had hidden apexes with trees blocking rider’s views. This sped up nicely in places, with a very tricky section of off-camber roots to tackle before the final uphill sprint section, ruining those lungs before a short but tricky off-camber steep section of more roots and stumps to hit at speed before the finish.

Fast Womens Elite UK DH rider Monet Rose Adams won the series overall.
Fast Women’s Elite UK DH rider Monet Rose Adams won the series overall.
Timing was immaculate throughout the day.
Timing was immaculate throughout the day.
Dropping in, stage 3.
Dropping in, stage 3.

Stage 2

This stage, known as 93 DH, was off into the newly deforested section of woodland, on the pedals all the way down but to maintain rather than gain speed. Here those loose pointed rocks were in full force, making accurate line choice a must for all racers. At speed, racers had to attack tricky corners, some whooped out, then another pedal across the thinned out woodland tackling a small double and a couple of tricky shiny rooted turns. The track then crossed a fire-road to the final section of untouched old forest with a very tricky off-camber turn around a fallen tree then flat out through the final trees to the finish. This was more gravity-fed than stage 1, but not as steep as the final stage 3.

It was great to be able to come down for food and a brew, before trying stages again.
It was great to be able to come down for food and a brew, before trying stages again.
Out of the woods, ready for the open sections.
Out of the woods, ready for the open sections.
Local boy John Owen, put in some impressive times on his Orange Alpine 160.
Local boy John Owen, put in some impressive times on his Orange Alpine 160.

Stage 3

Known as Student Champs, this was the one that riders hoped would dry out. It was a deceptive start; loamy turns through the trees, with some great launching jumps, pitching bikes over the jagged rocks. Speed up through the last section of wooded trail and the terrain became more rooted and rocky, again line choice was high on the agenda as riders prepped up for the fire-road crossing followed by the steep drop-in to the biggest open section of fast tricky and very DH-bike suited ex-woodland. Here there were fast drops over nasty roots and stumps, rocks that pitched riders off toward areas they didn’t want to visit, but when lines were held correctly it was all so rewarding. A final fast crossing through a root-strewn gateway saw riders slam through a small stream crossing followed by getting on the pedals for the open field switch-backed corners to the finish.

Some lines to take were not so obvious, Jim rides over a stop to set up for the next corner.
Some lines to take were not so obvious, Jim rides over a stump to set up for the next corner.
Stu Hughes, another local, taking 8th Elite spot, not bad for an old dog!
Stu Hughes, another local, taking 8th Elite spot, not bad for an old dog!
Riders check out results, to wether to go back up or not.
Riders check out results, to decide whether to go back up or not.

With Shropshire being bang in the heart of the UK’s Midlands this race saw riders come from all over to try their luck, all categories were stacked with some top riders. The Elite field saw 14 of some very fast lads, including UK no.1 Leigh Johnson, Nikki Whiles and local boys John Owen and even Neil Donoghue who donned his race attire after a long break from competition. Once the easy favorite here and at many a UK track, Neil was the rider other riders wanted to knock down a peg, showing the new breed of Pro riders were stronger in 2016. Also there was a dark horse amongst the pros, in the form of Rob Smith, top UK DH rider, very strong, very talented and very fast, could he swap over his DH talent to enduro? surely Big Log would finish him off!

It was a tactics game, as to wether riders rode a drying up trail or a wet and slick one.
It was a tactics game, ride a drying up trail or a wet and slick one.
Eastridge is like a different place now felled.
Eastridge is like a different place now felled.
The small pits village out in the field.
The small pits village out in the field.

The times were live throughout the day, as riders (who had phone signal!) could get their times direct or check it out on finishing stage 3. Neil Donoghue was leading in the early part of the day, but was soon seen away even from a podium spot, by the more race ready top boys. It was a great format, as, with the oncoming forecast rain, riders could check their times and see which stages to repeat and could then decide which ones they did before and which after the earlier than predicted downpour. Riders could be seen checking their results, only to cart themselves off up the hill again to have another bash at the stage they thought they could do better at. This format is very addictive when it comes to repeating stages, as it has that ‘just one more go’ affect on riders, but they then get more tired and their runs start to get more scrappy!

Phones can be so useful nowadays.
Phones can be so useful nowadays.
There wasn't much pushing up needed here.
There wasn’t much pushing up needed here.
Without these guys, we'd all be screwed, big thanks.
Without these guys, we’d all be screwed, big thanks.

By 3.30pm all riders were done and checking out their results, no waiting needed. It had been a brilliant format that had worked perfectly for the type of place it was held. The big beast of a rider that is Rob Smith took the top overall spot, showing his skills, fitness, power and local knowledge was unbeatable, lets hope he makes the switch over to enduro! All riders seemed to be buzzing with their own stories of how their day went and, with Eastridge being in the 2016 calendar for the UK Enduro Series, the British Enduro Series and another Welsh Gravity Enduro race, the place is set to be reinstated right up there in its rightful place as a top rider’s spot.

Some zoo animals had escaped that day we think!
Some zoo animals had escaped that day we think!
Leigh Johnson, one can only guess at what he was doing!
Leigh Johnson, one can only guess at what he was doing!
Trails had to be ridden smooth and fast.
Trails had to be ridden smooth and fast.

Results

The winners were- Under 18- Kyle Havard (Team Skene) Hardtail- Tom Dunn (bikeglovestore.com/Centrax/Hot Pursuit Cycles) Senior Women- Kelly Guy. Master Women- Amy Thomas (Bike Doctor) Grand Vets- Mike Corkill. Veterans- Keith Horsnell (Team Skene) Masters- Ajay Jones (Mojo/Team Skene) Seniors- Chris Kenward. Elite Women- Meggie Bichard (Fuji Cycles) Elite- 1st Rob Smith (Silverfish UK) 2nd John Owen (Orange Bikes) 3rd Leigh Johnson (Marin/Paligap/Stans No Tubes)

Elite Males Podium.
Elite Males Podium.
Elite Females Podium.
Elite Females Podium.
Your author Jim made it to 2nd in the Veterans in a tough field of competition.
Your author Jim made it to 2nd in the Veterans in a tough field of competition.

Full Results can be downloaded here and for more information on the series you can check out the website:http://welshgravityenduro.com

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Words: Photos: Doc Ward

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