Southern XC Round 3 - 05.06.11 - Crow Hill

This race was one of Southern's that I was really looking forward to, having raced there last year and really enjoying the course, also winning by about a minute helped my spirits.

I had been on holiday the week prior to this race, in the new Forest, so I didn't have that far to travel. I arrived at the venue and it wasn't quite the nice weather I had had in the week, in fact it was quite cold. So, once all the warmers were on (legs and arms), I went round for a practice lap.

The lap, felt quite long in practice and this was because of many roots and a very soft bark like surface, which was hard going when not carrying alot of speed. I was looking forward to racing on it, but I knew that it would be bloody hard work!

I had a fairly good warm up, and was on the start line ready for the gruelling 2 laps ahead! I had a great start and was in second most of the way up the long starting fire-road, however I lost one place when race favourite (Harry Franklin) stormed past and took the lead from everyone!

Me and Josh

After about 2 minutes or so, a group was formed at the head of the race, this consisted of Harry Franklin at the front, then Sam Stean, Me and Josh Parkin. We was still as a group when Josh went from the back and got in front of me when entering some single-track, however after about 30 seconds or so of him leading me, he has a washout at a corner, and I just managed to squeeze round the outside of the corner, and get past him.

I pushed on, but because of Josh's fall, I had to almost stop rolling as well, this gave Harry and Sam the encouragement they needed to make an attack and open up the gap. This meant, that there was Harry and Sam at the front, them me (a bit further back) and Josh (a bit further back), having got back on after his fall.

I knew that I wasn't going to catch Harry and Sam, but I had to fight hard in order to keep the gap open from Josh. I got to the finish hill on the last lap and sprinted all the way up and gave it my all, and managed to keep Josh off my wheel, and rolled over the line having secured 3rd spot! :D

It turned out that in the end Harry won, with Sam 9 seconds behind him, I was 32 seconds behind Sam. However Josh was only 17 seconds behind me.

I was very happy with the result and it is great being able to ride with these type of riders, with me being only a first year under 16, the nearest first year under 16 on race day to me was in 6th place.

My next race is the British National at Wasing Park.

Thanks-for-reading

Ciao