Welsh Champs

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BY: phil Morris

Published: 21st May, 2011

Welsh Champs

There was a lot to race for last weekend. 3 things to be exact, the race itself, the welsh champs and for the overall series!

After a dose of man flu a week before the race, which had caused me to miss the 12 hour champs up in Newcastleton. I thought it may have actually improved my chances of this race as I had not done the champs.  However this was not so!

With the race venue only 3 miles from my house, was a bonus and a real walk in the park compared to the usual 3-4 hour drive.

I headed up to the race at 10ish with a bottle cage for Mark Spratt, who was racing in the Vets at 11 along with team mate Mel in the women's race.

Mark had a cracking race finishing 2nd and 1st in the welsh champs, all that after taking the win in the vets 24 hour champs the week before!!
Around half twelve I set off for a practice along with long lost team-mate Matt Lewis!!

The course consisted of one tough climb and a brutal climb and a dose of single-track.
I personally rate the course at forest fields as one of the best in the country. My race started at 13.30, I lined up alongside George Rose who I have been battling with all season and also Anthony Malarczyk, who has previously being riding elite. But today decided to come and lead the way in the masters.

I had a good start leading up the first climb. Anthony then passed me and I sat on his wheel. He was setting a very swift pace and I managed to stay with him until the top of the second climb but lost some time behind a back marker on the single-track. After this I had lost sight of him and he had gained a gap and didn't ease up!!  At the end of the lap he had about 50 meters on me and I had about the same back to George.

The rest of the race was pretty unchanged apart from the gaps increasing each lap between Anthony and myself and me back to George. I finished 2nd, but never really felt great all race, was it due to previous illness or was it just the tough course??

Congratulations to Anthony and all the other Champions on that weekend.

Not all was lost as 2nd was enough for me to take the series title and had a really nice trophy!

Well done to Scott and team for getting the series going again and hopefully will continue beyond 2011.

To all the organisers who are applying for the Nationals next year. Maybe it's time to return to Builth Wells!!!

Thanks as always to my crew Donna, Hali-Rae and Ryley and all other people who attended and gave support!

Lastly but I wouldn't be racing without!!

XCracer.com
Gateway Cycles
Accelerade
Exposure
Mt Zoom

P.S good luck to Mel this weekend at Dalby!