NDH Kielder Funduro 8th November 2015

Northern Downhill Funduro Kielder 8th November 2015

It was the last race of the 2015 season, it was gonna be fun! Northern Downhill put on their last event this year, a funduro race comprising of 3 stages on red graded trails. The overall places were limited to 120 due to daylight hours, so to find out 14 other girls were racing was brilliant. 

Driving up there the weather looked promising, but mid morning the rain started and it did not stop! But what else would we expect at Kielder in November?! 

Sign on was really smooth letting us set off straight away for practice. 

Photo by JWT Photography

Stage 1 offered burms, mud and a cheeky killer uphill.....I think that was just mean! The peddle up to the top of stage 2 followed the Deadwater red trail. Stage 2 was awesome offering burms, drops, roots and jumps. It was the most technical stage, but there were always options round if anyone wanted them. It was then a short blast to stage 3 which was also lots of fun, with burms, roots and race flat out to the timing chip at the end. A perfect introduction to enduro but also something for everyone. Even though it was advertised as an introduction to enduro, lots of skilled riders entered and I knew I would have to push it to get a good result. 

After practice we were forced to take shelter in the van from the ever increasing rain. But race runs came round quickly and riding round with the boys from the Roots MTB race team was brilliant. Unfortunately boss man Dan was still out due to a previous injury, hopefully be back on his pedals real soon.  

Race runs went really smoothly, as per usual NDH races. There was no queuing to start each stage, and hats off to the marshalls for enduring the weather, including Carl who was the start marshal at the highest point in the driving wind and rain!

Photo by Stephen Brian 

My race run went well although I struggled on the up hill during stage 1 and crashed on stage 2! So I was buzzing to find out it was enough to put me in first place!! I was so happy considering my recent health and the other awesome ladies racing, especially Sarah Vayro who was hot on my heels being only 7 seconds behind and Angela Judd only 7 seconds behind her. 

As an extra bonus for the first time this season it was double podium for Team Roots with the Show Pony taking 3rd masters! Well done Brocks.

• In the senior women Caroline Hobson took the win with a. 8.07, Ashley Stephenson 2nd with 8.43 and Charlotte William with a 10.48

• In the women Masters I took the win with a 7.40, Sarah Vayro 2nd with a 7.47 and Angela Judd 3rd with 7.54

• In the senior men Zach Robson took the win with a 6.29, David Donaldson 2nd with a 6.35 and Simon Giles 3rd with a 6.49

• In the mens masters men Stephen Oates took the win with a 6.40, Philip Oates 2nd with a 6.46 and Paul Brockbank 3rd with a 6.52 

First place for me was just amazing and a perfect finish to the 2015 season. My first first, hopefully 2016 will hold more and I can't wait for it to start!  

It was a brilliant race with a friendly supportive crowd. If you are thinking of racing give this a go, you won't be disappointed. 2016 looks to be an awesome season with NDH who are holding the following races: 

• January 17th Chopwell Funduro

• February 14th Hamsterley ND(H)uro

• February 28th AE TT

• March 13th Kielder ND(H)uro

• April 17th Hamsterley TT

• May 28/29 Kidland ND(H)uro 

• June 19th Pately Bridge TT

• August 21st Eastgate Durham TT

• September 10th Kielder TT

• September 17/18 Lecht Funduro / TT

• October 9th Hamsterley TT

• October 22nd Innerliethen TT

Hope to see you there!

Thanks to Henry Armer Fitness for excellent training during 2015 and all our other sponsors for supporting us during 2015. And to the boss man Dan for awesome support during our first year of racing and training. Let the winter training begin ready for the new challenges of 2016!