29th August Write-Up

OK, first things first: Results are up here.

This months Write-Up is bought to you by either Rich, Richie or Richie_Boy, depending on who you know me as!

Right, down to business! The regulars might have noticed one or two faces missing from the organisation side of the day. Most notably our fried Mr Aaron Neumann, who month in, month out pulls the RG show together for a great days riding. As far as i can remember this was the first month Aaron has missed since the Guild started out in 2007! With Aarons absence, coupled with most of the usual crew holidaying or otherwise busy, it came down to a matter of canceling the whole show for August.

After a weeks worth of frantic Emailing and courier pigeons we started to gather a tatty list of names who were interested in stepping to the plate and keeping the show on the road.

"Stinky" Harry quickly stepped up to run the show, and lets be honest he had some big shoes to fill. A chap called Ian (from either Chase Trails or the FC, sorry I'm not sure there!) came forward and offered to fill the role of first aider for the day. The usual Chase trail XC contingent of Rob "Bobble" and Bruce came to the rescue, with Rob at the top all day, dealing with sign on, start times and generally keeping the rabble in check at the top and Bruce did a great job at the bottom taking times down. Big thanks to all the usual Martialls, who again did a great job of keeping things clear on the hill (more thanks to Harry for organising the Martialls!). I took over timing at the bottom for the first half and Bruce took over for the end stint while i got a couple of rides in. All in all the show went off without a hitch! Top bombing!

Harry taking a minute out (or more precisely a respectable 55.8 seconds) from running the show!

This month saw the addition of a new category on the hill, the 40 plus/veteran category. This time only 6 riders fell into the new category, not to say this didn't lead to a good shoot out! Early on Bob Dangerfield set the bench mark for the bus pass brigade with a 58.8 second run and then followed that with a slightly faster run at 58.5 seconds. It seemed like it was all over, but then, positively barreling into the finish, came number 15 Paul Robson with a 57.5 second run. With that Paul stole the show and took the fastest time of the veterans, Bob Dangerfield 2nd fastest and Pat Poole took 3rd fastest in the vets.

Paul Robson on a hot one to take the fastest time in the newly formed Veteran category.

The Veterans put on a good show, but on the other end of the scale the little rippers in the Youth (15 and under) Category came out swinging! This months biggest smile award has to go to Jack Austerberry, who was delighted with is time of 1:33.1, now that may not sound like a great time... But I'm sure you'll agree with me that for his age (whatever exactly that might be), as the picture shows below 1:33.1 is a great time!

Jack Austerberry looking pinned and focused through the tricky berm after the step down.

As impressive and inspiring as Jacks runs were, there's no escaping the speed and style of Sam Maddison. Let us back track a few months to the start of the year... Sam was turning up on his hardtail bike, running single speed and a pair of old Marzocchi XC forks, not that it ever seemed to hinder his efforts. Moving forward a few months and Sam rolls onto the hill wielding a new Iron Horse Sunday! Now we're talking! Straight out of the box Sam takes to it like a duck to water and the rest is looking more and more like history! Sam took the fastest time in the youth category with a 52.0, Alistair May took second fastest with a 'close but no cigar' 52.5 and Elliot Gill took third fastest with a fast 55.8 .

Sam Maddison getting a bit sideways on the way to another fastest time in the youth category.

We've heard from the oldies and the younguns, now its time for something completely different, the womens category. This month saw only 2 entrants, but this didn't stop either rider having a great day shredding the hill. Joan Dangerfield managed to take nearly 10 seconds off her time over the afternoon and went away with a 1:30.7, anyone who rides downhill will know that to find 10 seconds on a track isn't an easy feat! This months fastest fem however was Becky Hilton with a rapid 1:13.4 .

Becky Hilton tucked fast and low over the infamous Ridge Jump.

OK, we've narrowed it down and the only thing left to talk about is the Seniors category. This month 54 seniors hit the hill and whole rolls of fast times started to reel off the timing sheet at the bottom. After about a half hour into view came an unusual looking frame, going at what might as well have been a speed Captain Piccard of the Enterprise would have been impressed by. It was of course Kurtis Knowles (a strange face round these parts, but a well known name around the top step of the podium in the Northern series). Kurtis set the first hot time of 49.4. This was quickly answered by the Squadron rider Greg Hampton with an equally smoking time of 49.1, however Gregs time didn't stick for long and Adam Halling put in a 49 flat. They think its all over? well it was after Kurtis got a chance to answer back with a victorious 48.2 . At the end of the day Kurtis took fastest, with Adam Halling taking second fastest and Greg rounding things out with 3rd fastest. A very closely packed top 3 to close a great day on the hill!

Kurtis Knowles flying his way to the fastest time of the day.

Besides the riding (as if that wasn't enough!), as usual the hill was a-wash with photographers and videographers. Aside from the timing and riding, this has to be the next highlight of the day for me. Its great to come online a day or two after the guild and find the Internet flooded with great pictures and videos of the weekends riding. As usual Kitman was there with his camera and 'drifter' Jon who seems to be becoming a welcome part of the woodwork was also in on the action. All pictures above owe credit to Jon and Kitman, thanks guys! I'm going to leave you with a couple of atmospheric shots from the guys. Links to Kitman and Drifters albums... And last, but by no means least Team Boons video edit of the day!

Kitmans gallery

'Drifter' Jons Gallery

Thanks everyone!

Rich.

'Drifter' Jon captured the moment with this typically artistic, moody black and white number...

...Whilst kitman gets into the action with this sniper style action shot!

Role up, role up, for Team Boons video!

OK, i can't seem to get it imported into the page, but just follow this link! Doh!

Team Boons Video, Click Here!