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Motion Fitness Autumn Race 2 - Who says XC racing is dead?

by Luke Webber, 08 Nov 04. Results [ 1» ] Photos [ 1» 2» 3» ]

A Masters field of 48, a Fun field of 66 and 84 Novices made for a day that saw close racing on a classic Crowthorne Woods course at Gorrick's second Motion Fitness Autumn race of 2004.

The damp weather left plenty of slippery roots, as the lap took on the usual uphill start which led to some superb fast singletrack, eventually ending up at the corkscrew and a quick loop around the finish area making for excellent spectating.

Matthew Hill (GT Racing Tuckton) is having a great year and he continued his good form by taking his second consecutive Gorrick Autumn win. Two minutes later and in a re-run of the first race, Jay Spetch (GT Racing) came home for second, with Scott Clipstone (Army CCU) taking third. Jason Emery (PedalOn) took the win again in the Supermasters, three minutes clear of team-mate Nick Onslow. Dean Frost (Liphook Cycles) came in third.

The Masters race was without doubt the best of the day with seven riders wheel to wheel vying for the top step onto the podium. Kerry Scotson (Team Fearnz) broke free to seal his second consecutive win, closely followed by Andrew Snell (Army CU) and Paul Howard (Gorrick MBC).

Alan Tilling (slickrock.co.uk) pulled clear from 43 Veterans, riding full on to pull out two minutes in the first two laps. Ray Crossthwaite (PedalOn) took second ahead of Ashley Roles.

John Watkins took the spoils in the Grand Veterans, with Ian Petherbridge (Beyond MTBs) unable to hold on to the pace for the final lap.

84 Novices rammed the line to capacity, making for one of Gorrick‚s biggest ever fields. Alex Darby (Singlespeed Lovin) took first, pulling a minute out on Jake Moxham (Owens Cycles) and two minutes on third placed John Cordery (Basildon Timber).

The Sport race saw George Budd (Titus Cycles UK) lock horns with Youth racer David Sinclair (Owens Cycles). For three laps things were tight, but youth was better than experience on this occasion and Sinclair took a minute out of Budd on the final lap. Such was the pace set, Grant Leavy took another five minutes to come round and finish in third.

Jamie Newall (Evans Cycles) went about his usual business and destroyed the Expert opposition. Jonathan Webb took second, with Brent Collyer battling back from last to third.

In the women's races Nicky Hughes (Team Walton) won the Supermasters, Helen Copeman (Berks On Bikes) beat eight Masters/Veterans and Carol Yarrow (Berks On Bikes) won the Novice race. Janine Ryan took top spot in the Sport race with Rebecca Webb winning the Expert race four minutes ahead of Iwona Szymd.

The final race of the day saw 22 riders from the local Berks on Bikes club line up to take on a handicapped one lap sprint. The top 15 riders were split by only one and a half minutes, but it was Dan Grey who emerged to take the win.

Two great Autumn races later and it‚s time to face the winter head on, with only the hope of February and Gorrick's Spring Series to spur you on through the mud and rain. Today's racing was all about bumper fields and a race for everyone, whether you were fighting back to third in Expert, or just trying to keep going at the back of the pack (and that applies to all races!)

That may be the end of the Autumn races, but fear not, Gorrick are back on Thursday November 18th with the first of the Southern Exposure short course night races. Everyone is in with a chance to win a fantastic Exposure SLED light and other prizes courtesy of USE and Cyclosport.