Happy at Hopton

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BY: phil Morris

Published: 26th May, 2012

Happy at Hopton!!

Well the sun has been out for days, so a bone dry course was expected. I have never ridden hopton or anywhere much really!! All I could gather from the forum chat , was that it was up hill then downhill. With a very short journey to the race for us this time, we arrived in just under the hour at about 12 30. I headed to sign on and was a little undecided as to which race to do fun or open. I thought I would go for my practice and then decide. After my practice I firmly opted for the fun, with the boiling heat and the ever so good course, but extremely challenging for a novice!! In total about 9 women had signed on to race. However, come line up time there was only 3  of us!!(think the practice lap put a few troops off!!) Off we went and I had a fairly good start off the gun leading the women. This all took a turn for the worst on the first real corner starting up the mega climb. The surface was pretty dam slippy and my wheel slipped and yet again my dam right cleat wouldn't release my foot… so sideways I went and all I can say is that my right boob/chest ended up underneath the handlebar!! A few onlookers asked if I was ok( thank you to you all!!) but I really didn't want to move.. just had a few moans and swear words and back up I got.(really took the stuffing out of me) By this point both women had gone passed me. I couldn't abandon race. Phil would just laugh so instead I thought I can do this, and bring it home for Xcracer!! After a few minutes I passed both women again and maintained my lead all the way to the end. I was quite chuffed that I even finished in front of a man and I wasn't far of a few more, by all accounts. Not like Sherwood, when I was left for dust!! Think fitness and my weight can into my advantage today. The climb was a beast. Up ,up and more bloody up, just when you thought you where at the top, Then followed by some awesome flowing single-track, with some sweepy berms and descents, with the odd drop off, roots and tricky slate bits thrown in!!. On the practice I freaked out at the main big drop off, downhill but after a talk with the marshall and a walk back up to try again.. I did it!! The only bit of the course I stopped on was near the end, there was some really bumpy rooty downhill bits and when I had nearly reached the bottom I got jammed on the roots and had to jump off and run a few meters. However, during the race I was really chuffed I managed to ride all the tricky bits.(much to my surprise I came home all in one piece, a bit battered and bruised but in first place. Think Phil is still a bit shocked that I actually managed to ride all the course, let a alone take the win.

Thanks for all the support on the course and to the man at the feed zone that gave me the bottle of water for me to pour on myself(much appreciated!!).

All there is to be said now is good luck to all the rest of XCRACER riding tomorrow!! Let's have a few more podium places!!!

Donna
Riding for XcRcaer.com!!