Welsh Championships

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BY: Donna Morris

Published: 19th May, 2014

The Welsh Champs

I had been looking forward to this event for weeks. A course I knew was going to suit me.
Having taught myself really to ride, I have never been shown how to ride certain situations and lack basic bike skills. But on the Friday, I was lucky that Phil had the day off so I took advantage and got him to come with me to look at the course and watch me ride and give me tips.

We set off up the long climb and then got to the descent. The tight steep turns, a section that I have never ridden clipped in! After watching phil and him telling me how to ride it, I to my surprised managed to do it!! I did it first clipped out then went back up and clipped in. I managed to stay on the bike! A sense of achievement for me, but it was quickly on to the the A line. I went and looked on foot, then got on my bike, I wanted to clip out but with phil there that wasn't allowed!! I rode to it 2 times and refused to commit. The third time I made more commitment but then refused to turn the tight corner, after a few short words of my dear husband I knew that his patience was running thin. Last time clip in and commit, focused I was and down I came! Yes I did it, although my heart was racing ten to the dozen!! The rest of the course was un eventful and a cracking course. A bit sketchy in the woods and an area that was going to keep you on your toes.

Saturday evening we managed to nab a babysitter for an hour as I wanted to just to that descent one more time without hesitation, because I had only done it once. We arrived and headed off, my mind completely thinking about it all the way up onto the hill. Here goes(still clipped in) down I come and arrive at the bottom, one happy little chick! Perhaps I can ride tight turns after all!

Sunday morning was soon upon us and we were off nice and early for Hali-Rae's race. A fantastic under 8's course a little tricky, twisty wood section, a long climb and a grassy descent. After one little practice, although a bit brake happy she managed it.

The race was up uneventful and my little racey had the best ride mummy and daddy have seen her complete. Although no podium, not that we were expecting that due to her been about half the size of the other girls! It was that she just rode the course really well and didn't have any hiccups, (apart from going on up the hill and going the wrong way on the first lap!!) thank you Anwens dad who retrieved her!!

Then it as my race, a few good riders lined up, I was feeling ok on the line and actually managed to get the best start leading out of the gate behind Mel, it then went downhill fast. Climbing is usually my strength, but today something just didn't feel right, I was struggling big time, but managed to have good run down the descent, feeling much better in my technical skills!, the rest of the lap I just was hanging on.

I got to the pits and my face said it all, phil knew I wasn't feeling good and thought I wasn't going to continue. And actually after nearly throwing up on the second lap I nearly did pull. I just didn't seem to be getting anywhere I was in third place in my cat, somewhere I didn't want to be and shouldn't have been either. Towards the end of the second lap I began to be gaining a little back it seamed. I was about 30/40 seconds back on first I managed to get by second place taking the a line I think! I can't really remember! After passing the pits I headed off knowing that I was going to have to close the gap on the climbs, I managed to get Claire back in my sights and tried to close the gap, I pulled a bit back then down the descent I just rode my own, not knowing whether she was doing the tech route or not ( she informed me at the end she was doing the b route). I managed to then push as hard as I could and on the second long drag I was bit close to her, but didn't quite manage to get past by the top I was about 15 seconds back. Then of down the roots I was fine but every lap I managed to get my bars caught in a tree and have to scramble out every lap and even had a dropped / dodgy chain after a stupid mistake right I front of The one and only John Lloyd on the first lap!

Going into the bottom section i was gaining fast, but then Claire had stopped at the log jump which caused me to ride over it but then bump into her back wheel and come to a stand still. A bit of a scramble but got back on my bike I had it in my head then, not to push in by, but to just sit behind, hoping I was able to give a kick a bit closer to the finish. I managed to dig deep on the last little road section and didn't look back I rode hard to the line. Finishing in a very undeserved first place!

On reflection, I can't really say what was wrong. Was it the heat? Was it having 11, 6 year olds for a sleep over Friday night and to play Saturday? Was I coming down with something? As I write this I'm feeling battered and bruised and a little bit tender with banging headache, will tell if it develops into something.

Despite having a poor show, I was over the moon by being able to ride tight turns and my successful descending and really at clawing my way back from bottom of the pile to the top!

Well done to all the other women racer's and wishing Megan James a speedy recovery from her off in the practice.

A trip to the emergency services champs next weekend at Windsor, to support Phil. And maybe to get a cheeky open race the day before???

Thanks to all my support and sponsors and nannie's and bampy for looking after the kids.

Lastly a cracking ride from the other half, to take the master's champs shirt. Well done dear! His report will follow soon.

Phil will do his blog soon

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