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BY: phil Morris

Published: 2nd August, 2011

Top Barn Farm XC Race

Don't you just love 'last minute' decisions? Well I think I do after last weekend! After a very poor performance at the national champs and 24/12, I was just hoping to have a good ride, feel ok and perk up my confidence!

I was working the night before, so feeling a bit jaded I left the station and headed on my todd to Worcester. The sun was shinning and the forecast was good so worst case scenario I could always have a little kip in the sun if my race was a disaster!!

I was in the senior race, mixed with the elite and experts, which does not happen very often these days, but that was the plan for top barn series. Because of this we all had 6 laps!! Jaw drop!! It was going to be a toughie!!

I watched a bit of the 12.00 race, where Verity Appleyard was racing. The week before she was in our mixed team at Bonty 24/12. I think she had a few chest problems, by her gestures!!

I had pre-ridden the course about half eleven and the course was very different and not your typical XC type. The first section was open field then into some off camber sandy single-track, which could easily catch you out!  Then another field section followed by some brilliant single-track in the woods, which had some tough, short sharp climbs mixed in.

This finally gave way to a climb, and then it was back across the field, around a lake and back to the start.

The race field being fairly small but pretty strong, I was keen to get started to see how I could do. Off the start I got into about 4th place with Ed Mosley leading the way, followed by Ben Dale, Neil Hayward, myself the James Williams. After the first bit of single-track I decided I needed to get into the second section of the single-track ahead of Ed, which I managed.

 The plan was to keep Ed behind me as I know he could make substantial gains if he was ahead.  He just glides through single-track and downhills!!) My theory soon fell flat on its face when he nipped passed on a sharp left hand descent, which had me by surprise!! I tried to stick with him, but after nearly killing myself a couple of times, I went back to my comfortable pace through the hairy bits.

 By the end of the single-track I was 20 meters behind, with James and Neil about 20 meters behind me. By the end of the lap the gaps remained similar.

I attempted to get across to Ed but he just put down the hammer and had eaten one more weetabix than me that morning!!

Once through the single-track, another kicking and back a few more meters from Ed, I had managed to gain some on the riders behind.

This was going to be the story for the rest of the race unless there was a mechanical etc. On the last lap, Ed had a good gap on me and I had a good gap back to James in third. This was how we finished. I came over the line, pretty pleased that I actually had managed to feel fairly good throughout the race with no tight chest etc, which has been given me some jip of late!

(Not bad a camelback for second which came as a very nice surprise!)

Unfortunately this race was the last of the series, but for sure if they run next year, I will be there. Cracking atmosphere, good organisation, descent prizes and overall a great days racing! Well done everyone involved! Pencil it in your diaries now as an event worth doing!

I must mention I had support/feeding crew this weekend, as the wife had to do her share of working!! So I did a bit of DIY and made a feeding post for my bottles, which I must say did the job good (even if it did fall over once!) , but didn't quite give me the same boost as "Go on Daddy!!"

Finally a big thank you to my sponsors:
Xcracer.com
Gateway Cycles
Accelerade
Mt Zoom
Exposure Lights