Write Up- 29th November

Results are posted here, read them and weap: Results

Well that special time of the month has been and gone again and normal service is resumed. This month we prepared an unusual mix of lines to try and put on something a bit different. The start was onto the top half of the black run, which then peeled off through a flat bog to join the big 180 degree berm on the red run. Straight after that there was a right turn onto the low level woodwork of snakes and ladders, this led into the steep part of the track and plunged down into a huge catch berm that as well as holding riders was holding a pond on the day. Once round the berm there was a short link up hill to either kill off your speed or stop you dead, before a tight corner back downhill round a rooty tree. After that a couple of tight switches to join you back onto the bottom section of the red run, a quick sprint across the fire road then an option of drifting on the off camber inside or railing the berms on the bottom 2 corners, then over the humongous greasy root to finish. We test rode the combination of trails in the dry and it worked very well, however after the deluge of rain in the week before the event things got a little more challenging....

Tom Austerberry going round the pond to keep his socks dry.

Timing this month started at the earlier time of midday in order to make use of what little light we have to play with at this time of the year and the first fast time of the day was to be set by Guild founder Aaron Meumann, 1:20.1, that time stood as fastest for some time and later on in the session Aaron would shave seconds off his time to land a 1:17.7, 8th fastest overall.

Aaron 'Mr. RG' Neumann giving a free lesson to a lot of younger riders on the hill.

As usual Andy from the Squadron was up there with the rest of the fast boys, as well as Adam Halling, Lee Gratton, 'Mad' Sam Maddison and Chris Derry. All putting on a good show with times under 1:17. However this month saw the return of the northern invasion to Cannock Chase, and as expected in tow was Kurtis Knowles, who as you might remember was one of the dominating names in this years Northern downhill series. You've probably already guessed it... But Kurtis went home with the fastest time of the day 1:13.3, 1.2 seconds faster than 2nd fastest!

Self professed northern monkey Stephen Tomlinson went home happy with a time of 1:24:4...

... And Kurtis here styles it up over the bottom jump on his way to fastest time.

Thanks to all the true believers who came out to help, either offering First Aid assistance, Martialling or help with timing and signing on, we can't do it without you lot!

Ever ready Mick Whyte keeping us safe and offering words of encouragement in between chomping on a banana and taking the fastest time in the Veteran category.

Other notable mentions from this month have to be Declan Whyte, our youngest rider (by a long way!) with a time of 1:44.5 to manage 13th fastest out of 19 youth riders and Dan Green who managed a time of 1:26.3 on his jump bike with a slick/street rear tyre!

As usual we had a mass of photographers on the hill snapping away, credit to the photos used in the write up must go to Kitman, Martin Sutton and Thomas Gaffney, links to all galleries below:

Kitmans gallery

Tomos gallery

Martin Suttons gallery

Pauls gallery

Bisks gallery

Last but not least I will leave you with the usual video offerings from Team Boon and Lance, enjoy: