Sherwood Pines 11-12th May 2007
It's not often we get race reports from Youth riders so here's a treat from Sam Bryant who races for Marin UK, watch out for her in the future too!
We travelled to the course and set up camp on Friday and due to the severe weather warning we took the caravan. I rode the course that evening and found it fast but not too technical so I opted for my Marin Pine Mountain on Continental Twisters.
With overnight steady rain, my tyre choice was very difficult but I still decided to run on the Twisters due to the amount of fireroads on the course.
We lined up for the start of the race; there was no Rebecca Thompson and we were gridded this time. I decided to take an energy gel before the start which I had tried one before in practise.
The race started and - as we left the arena - I was leading, but then disaster struck. The gel, under these conditions, started making me feel sick and sat badly on my stomach.
Three of the girls in my age group went past me and I just couldn't respond. Keeping the girls in sight, on the second lap it started to rain and I felt a lot better and took off after the girls in front. With a lot of effort I managed to catch Jessica Laird who was in second place, but was unable to keep the same effort maintained, and so finished a disappointed third place.
The race was won by Ruby Miller who finished 4th at the race in Thetford. It was a good podium after feeling so poorly during the race so it was not a terrible result for me. I'm going to watch the gel usage though!
Youth Women Results
1 Ruby Miller Maindy Flyers Youth CC Youth 60 0
2 Jessica Laird North Down CC Youth 0 0
3 Samantha Bryant Marin UK Youth 52 0
4 Carla Haines Bikinmotion Cycling Club Youth 49 0
5 Zoe Raw Hetton Hawks Cycling Club Youth 46 0
6 Danielle Rider 0 0
Trek British Marathon Series Round 2
With the rain that came down on Saturday the course had become all churned up so I decided to ride my Marin East Peak running on Continental Speed Kings.
Half an hour before the start of the 25/50km race I lined up on the second row of the grid .Due to the number of riders starting (over 200) we had a walking start to the arena and then started racing.
Just as we were about to start Kate Betts entered the arena with riders shouting “we're coming to get you.!” Very quickly I overtook my Marin colleague Kate and headed out for my two lap race.
Amy Thompson disappeared into the distance and Claudia Barham and me rode together, half way round the first lap heavy rain started falling and at this point I dropped Claudia. I kept up the same pace and was riding with other racers.
With the finishing arena in sight, Claudia had put in a massive attack and people were shouting at me 'to go for it' but my legs were saying: “No way!”
The commentator announced me as second 25k woman by a margin of 4 seconds. The East Peak bike and the tyres had done me proud and even though still covered in mud I was over the moon with my second place. Thanks Marin, Continental, Jim and Dad for the weekend.
25k Women results
1 Amy Thompson Trek Volkswagen Junior
2 Samantha Bryant Marin UK Youth
3 Claudia Barham Junior
4 Noelle James Team Velo Club Nottingham Over 23
5 Sarah Adams Red Kite Cycles/Torq Bar
6 Sharon Smith
7 Helen Baines
8 Ann Edmondson
50k Women results
1Nadine Spearing XCracer.com Over 23
2 Marcia Reinhart Oxford University CC Over 23
3 Ruth Owen-Evans Over 23
4 Lynne Coldray Team Milton Keynes Over 23
5 Helen Haworth Oxford University CC Over 23
6 Jayne Molnar
7 Jane Edmondson
50k Veteran Women
1 Amanda D'Arcy
2 Sally Daw
3 Jan Holmes
