BMBS 2011 R3 Wasing Estate Race Photo Report

Whilst the weather decided to make things difficult for the riders with rain pouring heavily in the run up to the race, the venue excelled itself yet again with exciting racing from start to finish.

The Elite Women's field saw cyclocross star NikkI Harris of Team Scott Contessa take on established XC stars such as Maddie Horton, Melanie Spath and xcracer.com's Mel Alexander. 

In what was her first ever Elite XC race, Harris started from the back of the field and produced a truly awe-inspiring ride to take the win by 1 minute and 55 seconds from Maddie Horton and Cycleways rider Mel Spath with Mel Alexander finishing fourth and early race leader Cait Elliott of WXC World Racing finishing fifth.

The Elite Men's race brought together the British Olympic team hopefuls as Series Leader Oli Beckingsale was joined by Liam Killeen on the start line. 

The early pace was set by Hope Factory Racing's Paul Oldham until Killeen put the hammer down and started to pull away. In tough conditions, the British rider upped the pace to produce sub 16 minute lap times - a pace the rest of the field was simply unable to produce. Killeen took the win by 54 seconds from Paul Oldham in second and a first British podium place for Norway's Ola Kjoren in third with Endura's Beckingsale in fourth.

The undoubted story of the round though unfolded in the Junior and Grand Vets races.

The Junior Male's race was won by Grant Ferguson of Boardman Elite after a dominant display saw him finish 1 minute 13 seconds ahead of Ben Sumner in second. 

Ferguson's riding this year has been nothing short of impressive but for the first time ever, he was to be joined as a race winner by his sister Hannah.

Always a fast rider, Hannah was yet to win a National race in the Junior category going into this round. The early laps seemed to be suggesting that it was not to be this weekend either as Katie Winton of Kinesis Morvelo Project and Halesowen CCs Beth Crumpton set the early pace. However, consistent pacing and a last lap charge saw Hannah take the win from Winton by 31 seconds and securing a first ever Ferguson family double at the Nationals.

Not to be outdone by his fellow, albeit much younger, racers and undoubtedly buoyed by his daughter Nikki's Elite Female win, Pete Harris rode a fantastic race and led for half the distance before eventually taking second behind Ian Wright.

Speaking afterwards, race organizer Martyn Salt commented:

"Today reminded me why I love this sport so much"

"In awful and changeable conditions, some of the best XC riders in the country came out here and put on a show. The mud and the sweat didn't stop them from entertaining us or from doing what they love by racing their bikes.

It also showed that mountain biking is still very much a family sport. I'm sure the Ferguson and Harris households will be celebrating tonight and deservedly so. Well done to them all"

Other results saw Laura Massey from WXC Mountain bike Team UK take the Expert Women race that also featured a welcome return for Charge Bikes' Abi Greenaway who finished third.

The Expert Men's race was won by Lee Westwood from a hard charging Liam Glen in second and the Masters races were won by Caroline Goward and Matt Dennis.

The next round of the series takes place on June 25-26 at Margam Park in Wales. 

More information about that and the rest of the British Mountain Bike Series can be found at www.britishxc.com

Full results can be downloaded as a pdf from Timelaps

All Photos below - Rob Barker see his FlickR stream for more

All Photos Below Darren Ciolli-Leach

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