Scottish Champs Drumlanrig

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BY: Niall Frost

Published: 11th September, 2011

I was really looking forward to this one.  Drumlanrig is an amazing venue and the trails are on another level.  What appears as natural singletrack has been honed by Rik's spade over the past 10years or so and wet or dry always offer a challenge to carry momentum.   I had wanted to achieve a top 5 position in this event which when I have top form should be achievable albeit reliant on the perfect race.  In hindsight, not having the former was probably not a great start to achieve the latter but there is always cautious optimism!


The man behind the trails

Arriving later on Saturday afternoon allowed a few practise laps of a slippery, rooty, technical course which also included plenty of power climbs.  I really enjoyed the test of trying to find the best lines and carry speed although after my big off a couple of weeks ago I was holding something back; braking earlier and harder and not being my usual self.  I hadn't given it much thought before the event but I think my first "proper" crash in a few years had affected me.  I had expected that once the cuts and grazes had gone that would be it, back to "business" as usual but I think the sense of being properly out of control got to me a little bit.  Nevertheless, something to work on and I should quit whining really, worse things have happened at sea (and other places).


The drop back down to the arena

The travelling support (my dad and dog Stompie) provided the barbeque on Saturday night and a chance to catch up which was relaxing and meant I could sleep in the campervan rather that in my airy tent.  Sunday dawned a beautiful day (quite unusual for Scotland) and offered a chance for the trails to dry out.  We had to wait what appeared to be ages until the 2pm kick off which provided an opportunity to watch some of the other racing and there were impressive turnouts in all youth/junior categories from primary school age up to Grant Ferguson fresh from his World Champs 4th place.  

Lining up on the front row of the Senior race (no gridding so I grabbed a front row) it was clear that the quality of MTB riders in Scotland is not lacking, Dave Henderson and Gareth Montgomerie (Team GT), Rab Wardell (Kinesis Morvelo) and Grant Ferguson (Boardman bikes) were all present and are not unaccustomed to the front of BMBS races.  If I wasn't trying to race against them it was fantastic to see such a quality turnout with the main missing entrant being Kenta Gallagher.



Charging up the first climb the first 4 were already gone and it was a battle between the rest of us.  I stupidly managed to drop my front wheel off the side of the trail and crashed, again.  Dropping my chain meant I was relegated back down the field and had a chase to get back.  It was while chasing I realised I just couldn't breathe easily, my chest was tight and I felt like I couldn't recover at all from hard efforts.  I'd had problems with allergies to my parents dog before, but had always passed it off with hayfever medication which I'd overseen on this occasion.  I did try and think positive but after crashing and suffering up the climbs I was resigned to finishing on the 3rd lap as I just didn't feel I was doing anything any justice.  I couldn't even enjoy the brilliant trails such was my annoyance, but I guess if there is something to learn it would be the 6 P's.

Sitting trailside I could watch the battle unfold at the front of the Elite race.  A remarkable challenge by the junior Grant on perennial Elite Dave kept things very interesting at the front, but the long laps and relatively lengthy race favoured the elite racer and Grant had to settle for second.


An i-cycles rider gives it the beans up the first climb

Sometimes a bit of perspective has to be brought to situations and fortunately for the majority of us it's brought about by work on Monday!  Needless to say, I am disappointed with my own performance at an event I wanted to do well at but stepping back it was great to visit Scotland again and see that XC racing is in rude health under the SXC banner.  Well done guys!

Niall Frost
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The offending dog - Stompie


Are there many better settings for a race?