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NPS Round 3 - Trentham Gardens
 NPS
Round 3 at Trentham Gardens Near Stoke was a roaster. We arrived
on Saturday at around 1pm, our earliest arrival of the season
with the previous rounds being Norwich and Plymouth, the 4
hr trek to Stoke was a breeze.
 The
race site is set around a holiday complex with a massive
caravan
park. After visiting the sign on tent it was off for a deck
at the course, we had heard good reports about the Enduro
6 which was held here last year and were looking forward
to a challenging course, alas it was not to be! The big
climb
had been removed leaving fast 20 minute laps with long fast
straights, 'roadie heaven' and my worst nightmare (after
Thetford
that is). Some twisty singletrack and one 500yd climb was
all there was to relieve the pain. During our pre ride I
bumped
into Rigid Roy Hunt fresh from the Red Bull 24hr where he
finished 2nd in the solo event, "24 Hours, how mad
is that?" A snapped seatpost bolt and a puncture to
help him on his way as well! At the end of our lap I asked
him how his legs were feeling, the man's reply: "Not
so good mate, think I'll go and do another lap" What
a Guy!
So the lap wasn't up my street, no big climbs and no hairy
descents, that's the pressure off me then. Back to the digs
and out to the local Italian to load up, place called the
Azzuri in Newcastle under Lyme town centre. Now this is
a
pasta house worth a visit, WoW!
Race morning, a good feed and we decide to ride the half
hour to the race site for a good warm up, did I say warm
up?
Its 9am and already 24 deg. Riding in is also a good way
to relax any pre race nerves. After a nice easy potter in,
time
to organise Eric 'main man' McBain (Scottish Team Manager)
with the bottles for the feed zone (designated area for
handing
out bottles n' stuff) and its off to the start area, check
the start sheet, 5 laps, 9th on the grid, sorted! Big wigs
were out in force, Gary Foord (World Cup Winner) Steve Knight
(National Cross Champion) both warming up while Mr Kona/Ford
Focus and series leader John Vennes looking up for it. Gun
goes, good start, sitting 3rd leaving the Arena with around
90 riders thundering behind, the pace is high, very high,
shit it's high! But I'm holding in there. Nearing the end
of the 1st lap and I'm 20 seconds down and sitting uncomfortably
in around 7th, Gary Foord comes by and I make the mistake
of going with him! He pulls me back to the front runners,
only for him to pull out and me to pop. 3 riders come by
me
and I've said ta ta to the lead bunch of 6 riders. Stuck
with the 3 riders, an Army CU Bloke, old hand Schwinn rider
Mark
James and some other guy till the start of the 4th lap. Recovered
from my 2nd lap disaster I decided to dig deep, stayed at
the front and pushed hard, by the end of the 4th I had split
the bunch leaving myself and the Army Bloke to battle it
out
on the last lap, half a mile from the finish line my back
wheel slides out on a loose corner giving him a few vital
seconds, I pulled him back in, but its nailed me, he hits
the gas again on the final straight and my legs fold and
slump for 8th. Never mind, what I thought was going to
be a crap
race proved quite enjoyable in the end and added to my 4th
in the previous round I should be gridded in the top 5
for
the Champs.
 Oli
Beckensale proved too much for Barrie Clark on the day and
took the win by around 30 seconds in the Pro Elite race which
had been hotly contested by them and Liam Killeen until
Liam
bust his driverain on the last lap. Oor man Wilko rode a
stormer to take 3rd ahead of Nick Craig, the big man nearly
sat up
too early though and Craigy almost nipped by on the line.
Remember Wilky Boy, It ain't over till the Fat Lady sings...
Top days racing at a venue with showers and SUNSHINE too!
You can imagine how much better the van smells on the way
home when theres showers.
Iain Nimmo
News
Forest of Ae round of the NPS has been moved to Hamsterly
Forest near Newcastle on Tyne which is a pretty good course
and can be previewed on Sunday the 14th July when the NAMBS
Championships visit the Geordie venue.
British Champs are to be held in Shropshire and entries are
to be in 2 weeks in advance.
Oh, and my team mate Phil Spencer won the Junior race.
Mad man McKewan is off to Cappadocia in Turkey to do an
MTB stage race, Report soon...
The Ladies are lining up to enter our race
on the 29th, lets prey for the weather.
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