Flat Out in a Field - BUCS 2011

Last weekend saw the annual BUCS Mountainbike championships go down in Moelfre, Wales. I had never ridden Moelfre before but some of the lads told me it was fast.... Great i thought, Should make a good change from the super technical terrain we have got used to in Wharncliffe. We met up Thursday night to load the van and travel across to Wales. We eventually got there to find not alot was going on so all got an early night.

Friday Brought with it fair weather and the first day of practise for the DH riders. All being super keen to get riding we signed on walked the track and jumped on the uplift tractor. After a few minutes we set off down the track. I was running behind Tom (Pro) Richards who managed a whole 30m before stacking it over the bars in spectacular fashion resulting in A broken Collerbone. Eventually the medics turned up and got him off the hill, Weekend Over. I was gutted for Tom as he has been riding super quick since getting his new bike and was looking good for a good result.

I was left with two bikes on the hill so i rode his down before hitching a lift up to fetch my own bike down. Once i got to the bottom i headed over to the medics tent to check up on Tom. It was pretty clear he needed to go to hospital and that even if by some miricle we got through quickly he would not be best in a tent on the side of a welsh hill. In the end i drove him back to AandE in Sheffield before heading back to wales that evening ready for the race on Saturday.

On saturday Morning iwe broke out the team race kit kindly privded by JeJames and i managed to get two practice runs in before the uplift closed ready for the race. As i was unseeded i was one of the first down. i had to make up 84 places to qualify for a second run as only the top 200 riders got a second run, i clocked a 3.12.1 this eventually put me in 220th Just 1.3s off the cut off time for the top 200 riders. All in all i am pretty pleased with my result as i had very little practise.

The other lads had a bit of a mixed time with Marcel crashing badly and not making the start of the race. Will had a good run a squeezed into the top 200 along with Tom, Jammer, Whitehead and Johnny. our top seeded rider Sam had a massive off and didnt finish along with james who didnt make the top 200.

In the second runs Will Tom and Whitehead Crashed, While Jammer lost his chain and ended up of the pace. the rest of the race was kept entertaining as the rain came down for the last 20 riders and the track required a completley ifferent approach. Saturday night was spent relaxing and drinking a few beers before we all got bored and went to bed! Sunday saw the XC riders do there racing whilst being heckled by 300 Downhillers on the tightest and steepest section of the course. I'm sure it would of made a pretty intimadating atmosphere for all of the riders.

All in all a good weekend and Im sure Hallam Cycling will have even bigger presence at BUCS next year, I know I'l Be there!