Photos thanks to Michael Humphries
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The second weekend of July saw the second half of the 2006 season begin, after a break of four weeks since the last race at Margam. During the break time I have completed a pretty intensive training block, which should see me through this set of races, this weekend's event being the first of four races during this period. The third round of the Premier National Series was held at the popular venue of Drumlanrig Castle, just outside Dumfries in the Scottish border country.
Despite being surrounded by distant mountain views, the course at Drumlanrig is deceptively flat, being composed of short power climbs and long, tight technical rocky, rooty sections of singletrack. This course plays a crucial role in the national racing calendar since it provides considerable technical challenges. While no single part of the track is exceptionally tough, the constant level of concentration and consistent bike handling required leads to many mistakes, particularly in the late stages of a race when fatigue begins to kick in. In this sense it is a true mountain bike course favouring all round strength and ability.
With threatening grey skies on Saturday morning it looked as though things may become even more challenging. Fortunately the rain held off until after the elite race and conditions were greasy but fully rideable. The womens' race was a small field but contained most of the strongest riders, my main rivals Kate Potter and Jenn O'Connor lining up beside me. I started hard from the gun as this course had a short fire road climb leading straight into singletrack descending. I got to this in front and continued to lead from there on, although it took me some time to shake off a determined chase from Jenn, Kate and Sophie Johnson, who was having an excellent ride. By the end of lap one I had a small lead of 20 seconds but was still feeling the pressure of the chase and knew that I could not afford to make any mistakes on the technical sections.
Jenny Copnall (Photos thanks to Michael Humphries)
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After a smoother lap two I increased my lead to a more comfortable margin. Lap three went equally as well as I rode off the front and further consolidated my advantage. By the fourth and final lap I had enough of a gap that I could afford to ride a slightly steadier paced lap. While this idea sounds luxurious things do not always turn out as planned and my small sense of relaxation saw me manage to crash pretty hard twice during this lap. While I lost very little time on either off I did pick up a full complement of bruises and grazes and also managed to bend my saddle and lose my heart rate monitor. I was pretty irritated with myself for these mistakes as any impacts lengthen recovery from a race effort. I guess it just shows how this course bites back at anyone whose concentration lapses.
So, I crossed the line happy to have secured my third win of this season in the UK and maintain my unbeaten record but also frustrated at my mistakes in the final lap. Behind me Jenn O'Connor finished a comfortable second, her best result this season and in third was Sophie Johnson, gaining her first ever podium in a National Series event. Meanwhile Kate Potter had limped home in fourth with loose bars after having been riding strongly in third.
Next weekend I have to defend my National Champion's jersey and I hope to have a less eventful race. The next round of the National Series takes place on the first weekend of August at Newnham Park near Plymouth on the former World Cup course. It promises to be a great event.
Elite women results
- JENNY COPNALL SUBARU/GARY FISHER
- JENN O'CONNOR TEAM SPECIALIZED/
- SOPHIE JOHNSON RALEIGH/ERV
- KATE POTTER TEAM SPECIALIZED
- RUTH MCGAVIGAN XCRACER.COM/GARY FISHER
- GEMMA COLLINS ACTIV CYCLES
- KIM HURST SPORTSTEST.CO.UK
- DAGMAR BORROWMAN HIMBA/SQUARE WHEELS
- NICKY HUGHES ACTIV CYCLES
- HELEN FINDLAY THEBYCYCLEWORKS.COM
Expert women results
- KATE GEORGE SPECIALIZED STARLETS
- JULES TOONE CLIMB ON BIKES RT
- MARCIE REINHART OXFORD UNI CC/MOUNTAIN HIGH
- RENELL BRENNAN MTB-MARATHON.CO.UK
