Welsh Champs Margam

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BY: Donna Morris

Published: 22nd May, 2013

Margam Welsh Champs

I must mention first of all I am writing this with battered shoulders and arms!! I thought a bike race supposed to hurt your legs!  A tough course for my body to cope with!!

With the forecast on our side for a change, I was looking forward to testing out a dry Margam course, having spent most of my time off my bike running last time, chickening out of all the roots and shuts etc. Since January my riding and confidence has really come on and I have been able to ride and try race some technical and some totally varied courses. So with Margam being as ( Phil informs me) one of the toughest overall circuits out there, this weekend was an opportunity to let myself go and test my skills, confidence and stamina.

The weekend kicked off for us heading down to Margam late afternoon Saturday after Phil had been busy working at our soon to be new home! Caravan on tow and kids and bikes aboard we were off and arrived at Margam just after 6.30. Enough time for me, Phil and Hali-Rae to have a quick lap of the course. I headed off first and the first new section was at the top off the first long, draggy climb, and it caught me by surprise! To look at it from below it didn't look too bad, but when you were on it, it was! The corner to it was quite tight and it was steep, then quite a few rocks to throw you off line. Here goes I thought, feet clipped in, weight back and hope for the best. I did it!! Yeah, although I got threw all over the shop and dint feel 100% comfortable with it. Anyway I carried on as I couldn't face climbing back up to it again, with nobody with me. The uphill rooty sections through the woods I really mastered and enjoyed and think I might have realised how to keep my confidence, feet clipped in and ride roots. At last!

Then onto the rocky shute.  I have never ridden this before, I've always bailed out! I can do it I though, believe in myself and I sure did. Another mission accomplished.

 Then the gravel, steep climb, which led you to the little grassy hump. Another little section I have never been able to ride or in fact even attempt to ride before. And I must say I didn't even try to ride it on my practice. So I ran up it and on to go at the top. Then a really fun downhill bit with a mixture of singletrack, plenty of stones to keep you on your toes, a few dips and then to a nice little, quite tricky descent. I have only ridden this once before and nearly hit a tree so I attempt it and mission accomplished. But I must admit my heart was in my mouth, for a moment!

Then the next new section, a bit of fire road on to a fun descent into wood chips, followed by an extension of the road climb. This brought you back to the wood section, which you twisted your way though, over a few streams and a little gully before heading across the field and dropping back into the arena.

I have never felt so buzzing, from a sheer rush of adrenaline, happiness of achievement and sheer fear after a practice lap! Phil headed out and confirmed that I done well to ride the course and after taking Racey Rae for a nip round her technical under 8's course on her first outing on her new, big isla. We headed to the fire station, for the kids to see where daddy works!

After a good night's sleep and waking to glorious sunshine, we were all looking forward to racing.(kind of!)

Under 8's race first up and hats off to all the children taking part and well done Hali-Rae for finishing your race.

 

11.00 soon came and I was feeling quite nervous and with the first descent hovering in my head! The women's turnout was great and I think there was about 10 or 11 lined up with quite a few quick riders! I was again just hoping to have a good race, try my best, not come off and I was kind of hoping to be 5^th or 6^th.

The whistle went and we were off for a killer 6 laps!!(That means to me getting down the descents 6 times over!! Jesus!!) The sun was blazing and I knew from the start drinking was gonna be essential.

Going up the first climb I was in 4^th place. Sure enough on the first descent my fear was discovered and I came over too quick, hit a load of stones, completely lost control, went into a gully fully of stones, but by some miracle stayed on my bike!! It must have been a hell of a sight for Ian, from welsh cycling watching at the top of the mound!! A bit shook up I carried on, but by now was no longer on the wheel of Sarah Barnwell (3^rd) I managed to ride all the other sections, apart from not even attempting the grassy mound! And came into the arena not too far behind the rest of the girl's, in 4^th. Up the climb again I caught sight of Sarah and Kate Betts on ahead. I just wanted to not loose time on them now and knew I probably wasn't going to be able to get to them. My scary descent I took slower and managed it with no problems. This boosted me and I now felt comfortable with it. The lap remained the same and I maintained and possibly gained a bit too. The third lap I was into the swing of it, boiling but feeling ok. It was this lap that I managed to bite the bullet and ride the entire course. The grassy mound included! I had just been overtaken by John Lloyd and I watched him ride the mound. This spurred me on to have a go. AND AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE PICTURES I WAS TRYINGHARD!!! 

The fourth lap I again may have gained a few seconds as I could now see all 3 women up the climb and I managed to nail all sections of the course and in the corner of my eye coming down the last tech descent caught glimpse of Sarah ( who I later discovered was fixing a puncture!) I wasn't 100% but knew that I needed to maintain the pace as she would be back on my tale in no time! Come through going in to the 5th lap in 3^rd place. The 5^th lap was uneventful; I just had to bear in mind I still had another lap to go so didn't want to blow up. Coming down into the arena, I pushed on and was psyched to go for the final lap. But they had decided to cut it to 5!

Yay! 3^rd place in The Welsh Champs! Even though I kind of was planning on that 6^th lap, but it was then quick changeover and Phil took off to get ready. Whilst I sat in the kids chair and had a baby wipes clean up by the kids!!!

So to sum it up, a fantastic series, excellent courses and one very happy mummy!  3^rd in The Welsh Champs and I took the overall win in the series!!!

WELL DONE and THANK YOU to every involved in putting on the series and running all the rounds and I'm very grateful to all the riders and supporters on the course for your words of encouragement and the highlight from Mark Spratt saying " you've grown some balls Donna, well done!!".

A huge thank you to Roy Bevis for the photo's

Finally a huge thakyou to my sponsors

Donna Morris riding for:

XCracer.com