The Nutcracker MTB race takes place this coming Sunday at Camp Hill Near Bedale.  Looks like myself, Dan Joyce and Ruth and Mike Thompson will be there.  So if anyone fancies coming along be great to see you there.  Dan was saying in a previous post that the race might not go ahead because of poor entries not only would that be a shame but also we could lose this series in 2011…

Would also be a great race for some of the Youth Academy to try out.   Details below are off their website   http://www.nutcrackermtb.co.uk…..ll_02.html yo can even watch a video of the course on their site.

In stark contrast to the bog that was in April, the September instalment of the event looks to be dry, dusty and superfast! It's a stonking course: quick, twisty, bermy and dusty!

The start has been moved to a bigger field a little closer to sign on. From the off we blast up a hardcore track, twisting past the house up to the quarry. a zigzag up and around the lumps and bumps brings us out onto a grass field leading to the birch wood. Twisting and turning this doubletrack leads onto a snaking, powdery singletrack through the pine woods. We have cut the singletrack in and added a few small berms to the corners to make a great flowing ride. The course snakes its way through the singletrack woods with ruts, roots and small bumps to add to the fun. We then break out onto the fireroad for a small section before jumping back into the singletrack for the sprint back to the finish.

The course is flat but its perfect for all out racing. We were a bit apprehensive after round one but Adey has come up trumps again.

Novice/Fun Race

Camp Hill is perfect for novice or fun riders. Its a great ride with a few small technical sections to ease you into the world of XC racing. With the lack of any hills, all levels of fitness will be able to ride and enjoy the racing. If you want to try Cross Country racing out or you know somebody who will, we have now reduced the entry fee for all Novice/Fun entrants to £10. Enter now and have the time of your life.

• Sign on opens 8am
• Course opens 8.30am for practice
• Race 1: 10am - Youths (U16), Fun (Novice – non ranking)
• Race 2: 11.30am - Experts, Elite, Juniors (17-18), Sports (19-29)
• Race 3: 1400 - Masters (30-39), Veterans (40-49), Grand Veterans (50+)
• Presentation: 16.15 (ish)

Pricing:

Entry is priced at £20 in advance for all senior and veteran categories; £15 for Juniors and £10 for Youths and Fun/Novice entries.

Entries on the day (but we would prefer online entries to speed up the registration process) are available at a premium: Senior / Veteran £25, Junior £20 and Youth £15.

Well four riders from the club made the Nutcracker at Camp Hill.  A flat course which was always going to be fast. It was in places but quite bump single track and some tight turns through the wood kept you concentrating.

Results:

Mike Thompson - Youth first place he now has about £240 in winnings!!

Ruth Thomspn - female vet first place

Mark Grange - Male Vet - no idea!!!  I had good start and reckon I am around 10th-14th place

Dan Joyce - nightmare seat broke!  But he carried on - How did you do Dan? 

Yes I enjoyed it as well.  We met Joyce and Adie in Majorca so it was good to see them again.  Well you know how to make your racing hard not only did you go for single speed but also the no saddle approach - I reckon to reduce some weight??  a bit extreme

Mike is now joint 1st in the youth cat and with only one more event to go he has to beat Jack Thomspon to take the series.  I was looking at Mike lap times and he was about 4 min per lap faster than me and less than 11 months ago I could beat him… just shows you how quickly these young riders progress!!