Snapper Chick @ SW Championships

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BY: Janet Burroughes

Published: 14th May, 2012

There was so much action it's hard to know where to begin.  Before the race even started I had managed to fall down the Bear Pit and up the Mineshaft.  The Mineshaft marshal shouted "I wish I had a camera for that moment".  The answer is a bit late, (at the time I was too busy picking myself out of the mud), but yes I do have a camera and no you can't borrow it!  That's definitely enough about my inauspicious day at Newnham.  Probably the best people to describe and demonstrate the course to you are the SW champions themselves…..

The ladies, vet' champion, Kim Long, who successfully defended her SW title, described the course as "hard and scary".  I think everyone will be in agreement with her on that one.

Photo: Kim demonstrates how the top section of the Bear Pit should be ridden.  A site of many heavy landings, not all the right way up!

In the men's race, Pete Dawe, riding for Southfork Racing, again showed why the Horton's only needed to order the SW vet' champion jersey in his size.  Afterwards, he said the course was "harder than Dalby", adding that becoming the SW champion shouldn't be easy.  Good point, but probably lucky the people still climbing that *******, long, steep, stony, hill whilst he was cleaning his bike (ready for the next race) didn't hear.

Photo: Pete leaves everyone behind as he races through the beautiful Newnham Park.

 I didn't get a chance to hear the thoughts of senior SW champions, Catherine Kilburn and Stephen Hodge, of Shred racing.  Though perhaps following 5 gruelling laps at Newnham with two rounds of the Shred Classic, criterion race, on Plymouth Hoe,  could have been a few pedal strokes too far even for the men's SW Champion!  Bravery awards all round for the Shred and Certini riders and anyone else, who attempted both races in the same day.

Photos: The SW Champions

And a few other pictures from the FullySussed SW Chamionships at Newnham…..

Photo: Practising in the Bear Pit

Photo: Tight turn above the Mineshaft

Photo: Flying down the Mineshaft

Photo: Squeezing under that tree (above the Bear Pit)

Photo: Speeding through the woods in the sunshine

Photo: One of those steep banks you all loved so much

It only remains to thank the organisers, marshals, paramedics and other helpers; to congratulate everyone who survived the course and to reassure you that Jay says the next race, at the Forest of Dean, will be easier and less technical.  The incident that actually caused Jay to say something like that really would be worth lending someone the camera for!

Snapper Chick