Racer's Guild: Jan 24 Results + Write Up

Results are now posted! The BUM Chart (series points) won't be updated until after February's timed runs.

Twas a typical English winter day, cold and bright, the soil was thawing into a power sapping mess. Alex had taken one of Cannock's more technical tracks and turned it into an absolute beast of knife-edge riding. Once in the trees, no one was safe, and dare I say, all but one would be taking soil samples. About the only thing left shiny and clean were the roots. Roots that would haunt our dreams for nights to come.

But what good picture opportunities! The vultures clicked away to their hearts content. Just check out the carnage in the slide show below. Seriously, is there any better way to spend a Saturday in January?

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The gallery includes pics from all our talented snappers: Andy Dunwoody (http://www.andydunwoody.com/), the Kitman (http://www.kitman.ownlog.com/), and Troy Overton. Thanks guys!

This course was one that you love to hate. I think anyone who made it down without touching earth felt a huge accomplishment. Personally, after three runs I was getting pretty aggravated. But the fourth was magic, and it did feel good to get it right! For some, like Smithy, that magic run never happened - the frustration must have been immense! Still, Andy caught this pretty awesome pic of him threading the needle and getting the front end up to avoid that nasty, nasty root (friction = zero!).

In the under 16s class, hardtail phenom Sam Maddison was back, hacking away at his time with a very smooth style that makes everyone notice. Sam did more runs than anyone else, committed to pinning it. After 7 runs, he would score an awesome 1:10. But there was another under 16 on the hill who was not going to lie down. He knew Sam had landed a 1:10, and the bar had been set. This young man, only 13, has actually been training this winter, and decided to put the power down and pedal the pins of his flats on the last run and netted a killer 1:08. Can we get a WOW for Elliot Gill? (Just don?t let it go to your head!)

The awesome thing about the Under 16s is that the class is growing and there is some good talent. Sam Hopkins will have his hands full protecting his title in 2009. This is what grassroots is all about!

For the rest of us older guys, the talk on the hill was about local favourite Mr. Sketch, the bigger Elliot. He'd showed up late, no gloves, no armor, front brake missing, and was seen taking a scouting run and passing Dean C (who is no slouch when it comes to speed) on that crazy slippery steep root section! Check it out:

Earlier, Tom Knight had set the gold standard with a 1:03. Tom's a sponsored 4x champ, and I didn't really think anyone was going to touch him. It was another local though that would give him a real scare, the Peat Beater, Dan Green. He pinned a 1:01. Dan just keeps getting faster and faster, and at his rate of improvement, he'll be racing World Cups by 2010! Tom wouldn?t let that stand though, and on his final run blazed a 1:00.

So that was that. Except for Mr. Sketch with no front brake. He didn?t think his run was any good. 59 seconds said otherwise. One run, that's it, then he disappeared. I simply cannot wait to watch him race for the Squadron all year.

What's missing from this picture?

I know I usually only write about the fast guys, but everyone really deserves a pat on the back after running such a nerve racking course. There was a really good vibe and everyone was battling with a smile. Donations were great on the day as well: 98 squids, which will help pay for the new number plates.

Ryan Edwards, the best photographed rider of the day!

Special thanks goes out to Si Paton for not only showing up with the van and giving all of the RG members some awesome deals (10% off for all members all the time!), but also doing an awesome write up on pink bike. Check it out: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/racers-guild-january-2009.html