NMBC XC Sprint Championship
Heroes! What a fantastic turnout for the inaugural NMBC XC Sprint Championship in Gosforth Park, Wednesday night, 14th July 2010.
After a dodgy-looking weather forecast the Gods were kind to us until 15 minutes before the scheduled start, then they got nasty. It was horrible with a capital hori. Torrential rain is the only way to describe what we got caught in, with most not dressed appropriately and being immediately swamped through to nicker material and beyond. Peter's bonny leg damage from Sunday's spill at Hamsterley prevented his participation, so he just got soaked watching!
Chris D was first to volunteer, not wanting to get any wetter before having to race. As the team waited expectantly on the bridge with the stop watch ticking on Chris, Jon took off on the second timekeeper's piece to cut down the very uncomfortable waiting time. Chris arrived back, mud spattered, with tales of forced dismounts in the several water-filled whoop gullies and moments later Jon did likewise.
Next off were Justin and race mastermind Steve Wa, vanishing into the starting twisties to rousing cheers from the others, and on their return it was Tim and Matt next to the startline. Off they went, both upping the pace considerably as trail and overhead conditions worsened, very commendable, especially as Tim had headbutted one of the overhanging branches and looked distinctly dazed at the finish!
Time for Alex and Jeff to demonstrate their beastie Commencal 55s' prowess with Alex steaming home (quite literally) in what looked like an unbeatable time.
Last off, or so we thought, were Terry and Steve B. The former came a cropper almost immediately in the third gully but Steve blasted around and almost caught his race partner before blitzing Alex's already amazing time on his wee carbon Spesh.
These were no conditions to stand around yapping in, so a bunch set off to clear the marker tapes so brilliantly erected by Speedy and Steve Wa. Just after they'd left, who should turn up but Mark, who'd tried to reach base by phone and then began a sweep of the whole park trying to locate the event area! Only fair to give him a go so without a sneak preview like the rest of us had, Alex offered to lead Mark around the trail so he could concentrate on staying aboard and not worry about going off-track.
So, when the final timing sheet was compared, it produced an intensely exciting finish, with Steve just pipping Alex by a mere 15 seconds!
We continued to gather in the marker tapes and quickly decided this was not barbeque weather, so we've postponed that for a later date, most likely on a regular Thursday nighter with adjustment to the ride time.
Timing Sheet (provisional - subject to confirmation - I have been known to make slight errors):
- Steve B 3m 21s
- Alex 3m 36s
- Tim 3m 54s
- Steve Wa 4m 07s
- Chris D 4m 07s (10 second reduction for card collection)
- Matt 4m 11s
- Jon 4m 14s (may have 10 second reduction! - tbc)
- Jeff 4m 15s
- Terry 4m 15s
- Justin 4m 23s
- Ian A 4m 54s
- Mark 4m 54s (tbc)
- Peter Unclassified (sane)
Here's the Winner's Certificate which was in the van at race time but conditions prevented its presentation!
Stevie B is 2010 NMBC Champion!
And not only that, because while Steve was confirming his tremendous bike handling skills and sheer speed as he has many times before (Wild Boar Captaincy is a great example) this was only half the story. The other half is that he trekked all the way up from Harrogate to ride in the hissing H2O for precisely 3 minutes and 21 seconds before heading back down again! What kind of club allegiance is that?
