TORQ in Your Sleep 2011 Report

Words & images - Joolze Dymond

Year on year this friendly event has continued to grow, attracting a huge range of riders from complete novices through to World XC riders and Iron men competitors all rubbing shoulders, bumping along enjoying the compact 8 mile circuit. This year the event saw nearly 800 riders line up, all eager to get to grips with lashings of fast rolling singletrack fun. 

Winners were found even before the race kicked off with some lucky riders finding excellent prizes tucked away in their pre race goodie bags!

All the organisers hard work over the recent months to improve the course paid dividends as riders after rider came in after their laps with huge grins plastered all over their faces, relating tales to friends and families of fast berms and twisting ribbons of trail that snaked effortlessly around copious amounts of trees, offering you glimpses of other riders, darting in and out of the landscape up ahead.  

Even the torrential rain 2 hrs in made little different to the race, with some riders relishing in the slip, sliding nature of the course, as they whipped around the increasing damper trails. Fortunately the 'upstairs' tap soon dried up, leaving the course an ever changing collection of lines, that made each lap a guessing game of fast rolling fun.

As the day progressed riders waiting for their next lap coupled with solo riders helpers seemed glued to the ever-changing results screen, eager to find out where they were in the grand scheme of things. 

As night fell so did the mist, with riders eerily lighting up a ghostly landscape as the light faded, then as midnight struck a myriad of fireworks lit up the sky with a burst of welcoming colour signalling the race was over with riders heading to the marquee keen to grab a well earned beer or two and a bacon butties!

The racing was electric throughout with some real close battles for that ultimate top step throughout the categories.

One of the closest had to be the Vets solo race with Dave Brothers taking an early lead. However as the race progressed, rival Chris Clark, battled furiously behind to try and bridge the gap. In the closing embers of the race, Brothers slowed significantly enough for Clark to edge past to take the win in the closing stages. Both riders clocked up an impressive 14 laps with less than 5 mins separating them.

In the women's solo race eventual winner Rachel Sokal made her way to the head of the race by lap 2 and didn't look back racking up 12 laps 2 clear of runner up Ruth Crawford.

In the men's solo race, all eyes were glued on novice soloist Chris Bowles. Inspired by the exploits of older brother Craig, Chris decided to have a go himself.  Despite a lack of training leading up to the event his steady start paid dividends as he clawed his way up the leader board to finish just 1 lap in arrears to winner Al Fairbairn.

In the mixed team race, Bob Hope and his friends had their worked cut out keeping the hungry TORQ performance team from their door! After a monumentous 12 hr scrap with female rider Jules Toone clocking up an equal amount of laps as most of her team, just 8 measly minutes separated Bob Hope from TORQ, with Bob H taking the top step in victory!

Event sponsors TORQ were also in action n the Male team event with Boyles brothers Anthony & Sion teaming up with Ben Thomas and Billy Joe Whenman, taking on the might of AWCycles, containing new dad Simon Earnest, Stephen James, Tim Dunford & young whippet Steve James. With both teams rarely dipping under 40 mins a lap the heat was on. 19 laps later and it was TORQ who ruled supreme, with AWCycles racking up 18 laps in second.

Certainly living up to their name, especially at prize presentations were the Crazy Ladies who took the win with 12 laps in the women's' team race 1 lap more than runners up XC Birds.

It was a closer affair in the pairs mixed team race with 15 laps apiece the win went to VC10 keeping their rivals Stowmarket CC off the top step by just over 31 minutes. It was a battle of the lights in the men's pairs as lighting sponsor Four4th Lights battled with Lumicycle. In the end Lumicycle had the edge taking the win 2 laps further with 17 laps, leaving the Four4th's honour to be upheld by the women's team who took their race with 15 laps 2 ahead of rivals MTB Mum's Ride.

The winners were not just the guys and girls who rode hard to grab their spot on the podium, other competitors were rewarded with excellent prizes thanks to sponsors  & supporters TORQ, Saddle Skedaddle, Continental, 1st Gear Cycles, Sram, Four 4ths in a race number prize draw, meaning that everyone potentially was a winner on the night, rounding up an excellent day out on a bike around some fun packed trails, with a friendly enthusiastic bunch of riders! See you next year!

Full results: www.timelaps.co.uk

Photos: www.joolzedymond.com

Organisers: www.gorrick.com

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