Gorrick Spring Series Round 3

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BY: Louise Robinson

Published: 25th March, 2014


Oh my god....just thinking about yesterday hurts. When the wheels come off, they really come off.



I haven't had quite such a major "fail" on the last lap of an XC race before. Enduro's yes, but I can usually manage to ride a bike for 2 hours without becoming a dribbling wreck. Well not yesterday! Round 3 of the Gorrick Spring Series was held at Hungry Hill (or for those of you with any working memory.... Caesars Camp). This was the second time in this series that this venue was used, although the organisers took pains to produce a different course from round 2. As before the ladies Expert field was highly competitive with more Expert women than men lining up to start and nearly twice as many finishing. Jo Munden (national masters champ) and Laura Sampson joined many of the usual suspects in a final tune up before the nationals next week.


Frigging freezing on the start line

The course was a mountain goats playground as we criss crossed up and down Hungry Hill. The fun and furious "roller-coaster" section of course made an appearance, with a few technical off camber sections to keep everyone on their toes. The ladies race started hard and fast with Malin Tindberg going off like a rocket in her first Gorrick race since returning to the UK with her new baby. The entire field stayed together through the first section of single track but then blew to shreds at the first climb. Emily Iredale, Laura Sampson, myself, Jo Munden and Cat Ross escaped the rest of the pack and started to pull away. The course was hard but technical. Just when the climbing started to get demoralising the single track popped up and it all became fun again.


The Super Master men get away to a fast start

For the first 3 laps I felt great. Despite a continuous battle for position I felt I was riding within myself and by the end of lap 3 I moved into second position. I was never more than a few meters from the first wheel and never had more than a few meters clear air behind me. Great. Fabulous racing. But my inexperience of this kind of pressure meant I didn’t think I had enough time to refuel. What would have cost me a few seconds at the time cost me two and a half minutes in the final lap as I completely blew up.


Early on - feeling good and holding Laura Sampson (temporarily) at bay

During a very unpleasant final lap I felt like I was going backwards. Laura Sampson stretched her climbing legs and took the lead shortly before the beginning of the final lap. Emily and Cat continued to battle, with Emily managing to hold off the challenge. I quickly gave up the idea of racing and focused on the training gains to be made. Despite shovelling down an energy gel and half a bottle of energy drink the damage was done and I could only limp home. The first three girls were long gone but I had sufficient time in hand that I managed to hold onto fourth place. Not my finest hour and a school girl error but better made at an XC race than during a 12 hour enduro.


Chris White storms to a speedy finish in the mens super vets (dont worry Chris, Jason is not bitter!)

Good luck to everyone racing at the nationals next weekend – go girls, give them hell.

All photos courtesy of Vermont Images.
More on the Saddle Skedaddle Spring Series Rd 3:
Event Calendar Listing



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Louise Robinson

Mum, Pharmacist and XCracer Team Rider

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