Thetford again !!!
After spending the winter racing around Thetford i cant say i was really looking forward to going back there so early in the season especially when its dry and soooo fast.I have trained real hard for this race and with some encouraging results from other races i was going into this race hoping to break into the top 10.
First of all ive just got to say what a brilliant weekend, you guys really are missing out on some fantastic racing at these events but then again i know you have all got to concentrate on the Rocko timetrials.
Racing at Thetford is in my opinion the hardest there is, everyone can go fast, there is no place to rest, the "whoops "constantly punish your whole body, then theres the famous Thetford hills which after 2 hrs of racing balls out seem like the Alps to some .......me well i really enjoyed myself, Coach Carls training regime seems to be paying off ,i cant remember the last time i was able to race this hard for so long if ever.I dont ususally get a good result at Thetford in the Nationals and maybe my 15th place on Saturday doesnt seem too spectacular but the way i done it, the people i beat and how close i was to the ever elusive top 10 (if i didnt crash 3 times on lap 3 id have been even closer) gives me so much cofidence for the rest of the series (if i can drop people on thetford climbs bring on Scotland etc etc).
Carl himself raced aswell saturday in the Experts and was a dissapointed 29th afterwards talking to him i think he felt a little out of place after being away from racing for 4 years and it showed in his riding he knows he can go alot better and maybe with some hills in the next round and some more confidence he'll blast his way up the results sheet.
But the result of the weekend for me goes to my daughter Hollie who decided on saturday night she wanted to ride the 25k womens race on the sunday. i was pretty worried for her as she hasnt really had alot of expierience racing and the course contained a masive bomb hole with a near verticle entry and exit which ithought she wouldn'nt be able to ride as id seen the day before many people getting off and practically having to fall into the hole just to get round. But i took her to see it before the race started and before i could give her any advice she was in, around the technical bit in the middle and out the other side absolutely brilliant. Hollie went on to complete 2 full laps and finished 7th only seconds behind 6th place who was a lady from the RAF and had been following Hollies wheel all the way round only to come past on the last bit (bloody roadies) .At 14 years old Hollies riding skill are fantastic and if she continues to work on her fitness she will be a star i guarantee...... watch this space .
As for me i tootled round the 100k enduro for a cool down (yeh right) and finished 17th practically dead.Tom was there as well and done the 50 k finished about 40th i think, didnt see him afterwards to ask if i went ok. Some time over the weekend Stu Knubley turned up and screemed round the course for 6th place in the open class.
Must go time to train!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
