Smooth Gee is the King of Ae
NPS Downhill Series Round 1
Ae Forest, 26 April 2009
Images: Andy Dunwoody
It was a weekend of mixed weather at Ae forest!
The first round of the 2009 National Downhill series took riders to the popular and technical Ae Forest Downhill in the hills to the North of Dumfries in the Scottish borders. Whilst some of the county continued to bask in the spring sunshine, the Borders came in for some more gnarly weather over the weekend of the event, as Andy Dunwoody's photos show quite clearly. Gee Atherton and Helen Gaskell were the elite race winners as the event attracted a classy field. There's a category round-up below, plus more images and full results. Above a links to hundreds of images.
Category-by-category round-up
Juvenile Men: George Gannicott dominated the Juvenile category all weekend. First he pipped Phil Atwill by just under a second in the seeding run. He then went on to completely run away with the main race run, winning by a massive 13 and a half seconds from Sam Herd, with Jevan Williams third.
20090426_nps_downhill_round_1_lewis_buchanan_yth_400
Lewis Buchanan emerges from the conifer plantation
Youth Men: Sam Flockhart and Lewis Buchanan had a ding-dong battle all weekend for the Youth Men's race. Flockhart came out on top in seeding by a healthy four seconds, but Buchanan came back at him in the race run proper and took it by almost three seconds. Joe Cannell was third.
Classy action from Arran Gannicott
Junior Men: The Junior Men's category is the place to start looking for the stars of tomorrow and on the strength of his showing at Ae Forest, Arran Gannicott is indeed a star in the making. He shaded the seeding run by a couple of seconds and then went on to destroy the opposition in the main run, winning by a clear 5 seconds from Alistair Wilson, with Bernard Kerr third.
Stevie Boyd came through to take the Veteran race win
Veteran Men: The Vet's category is always keenly contested, with some of the sport's toughest competitors. Alistair MacLennan was on top after the seeding run, with regular winner Jerry Twigg just behind him. But come the race run proper, it was Stevie Boyd who really delivered, pipping MacLennan by just under a second, with Rich Simpson third.
Joe Bishop in the muddy wooded section
Master Men: Joe Bishop was the man to beat in the masters' category taking a seeding run, race run double and looking to have the course dialed in throughout the weekend. Andrew Titley was second and Dave List third.
Manon Carpenter - second fastest woman of the weekend
Women: In the combined Women's category, Manon Carpenter was in a class of her own winning by over 16 seconds. She was actually the second fastest woman on the course on the Sunday, with only Helen Gaskell faster. Emma Atkinson was second and Monet Adams third.
Helen Gaskell gets air in the gloom
Elite Women: Helen Gaskell has won more NPS events than almost anybody and she once again showed why with a consistent weekend of riding, qualifying a comfortable five seconds clear of the opposition and going on to win by over three seconds from Katy Curd. Curd was locked in a close contest with eventual third-placed woman Aimee Dix - Dix took the seeding run, but Curd upped her game on race day to claim second spot by just under a second.
Oliver Burton cruising in the rutted section above the fire road
Senior Men: Oliver Burton laid down a strong marker for the new season with a convincing win in the Senior Men's race. He qualified first in a rapid 2:26.078 and then went almost two seconds quicker to claim the race win by 3 seconds from James McKnight, with Adam Price third.
Jack Reading exits the upper conifer woodland section
Expert Men: Jack Reading was another rider to record an impressive seeding-race double, holding off Scott Laughland in both rides, though Scott closed the gap from 3 seconds to one and half in the race run. This looks like being another closely contested category this year, with the first 15 riders all within ten seconds of each other.
Above, Gee Atherton celebrates his win
Elite Men: Gee Atherton is one of the top two or three riders in the world now - he is world champion after all - and he produced two smooth runs to open his domestic season with a win. However, behind him - and we're talking only a small margin - the strength in depth of the elite field was once again demonstrated. Joseph Smith was under 3 seconds down on Gee as he qualified second fastest, but it was Joe Barnes who turned in the outstanding race run, claiming second, just over 3 seconds down on Gee and two hundredths clear of Tom Braithwaite in third. Brendan Fairclough was consistent all weekend and took fourth.
More Images
Elite Women's Podium
Elite Men's Podium
Chris Kovarik made the trip to Scotland for the race
Gee Atherton
Results
Elite Men
1 Gee ATHERTON Animal/Commencal 02:09.2
2 Joe BARNES MTBcut.Tv/Orange 02:12.3
3 Tom BRAITHWAITE Hope Racing/23 Degrees 02:12.6
4 Brendan FAIRCLOUGH Specialized/Monster 02:13.7
5 Joseph SMITH Kona Factory 02:13.8
6 Tom DEACON 2 Stage/Extreme Medics 02:15.8
7 Dan STANBRIDGE Mojo/Orange 02:17.0
8 Rich THOMAS Ancillotti UK 02:17.1
9 Dave WARDELL GT Hotwheels 02:17.2
10 Adam BRAYTON Just Reid Racing 02:17.8
11 Ruaridh CUNNINGHAM CRC Intense 02:18.0
12 Ben REID Just Reid Racing 02:18.1
13 Dave SMITH 3 Smith/Leisure Lakes 02:19.1
14 Robert SMITH 3 Smith/Leisure Lakes 02:19.3
15 Gary FORREST Icycles/McGrath Bikes 02:20.6
16 Sam DALE 02:20.9
17 Matt SIMMONDS CRC Intense 02:21.1
18 Dan CRITCHLOW CRC Intense 02:22.3
19 Chris KOVARIK CRC Intense 02:22.3
20 Philip ASHBRIDGE Mountain High 02:22.6
21 Ralph JONES Dirt MTB Mag 02:24.3
22 Rowen SORRELL South Wales Trail Centres/O 02:24.4
23 Ashley MULLANE Cove Bikes 02:24.6
24 Will LONGDEN La Pierre/Oakley 02:26.1
25 Alex FLORIAN Pearce Cycles 02:26.4
26 Peter WILLIAMS Icycles/MSC 02:26.8
27 Scott BEAUMONT Rocky Mountain 02:27.6
28 Liam MASON Astrix Europe 02:28.4
29 Chris HUTCHENS Cyclejersey/MTB Cut 02:31.5
30 James HUGHES MTB Direct/Shift/Intense 03:12.2
31 Ben CATHRO MTB Cut/Cyclejersey 03:58.4
32 Jon BRAIN Pearce Cycles 05:45.3
Elite Women
1 Helen GASKELL Zumbi 02:47.9
2 Katy CURD Ashton/Diamond Back 02:51.2
3 Aimee DIX Mojo Orange 02:52.0
4 Jessica STONE 2 Stage/Extreme Medics 02:57.6
5 Sarah NEWMAN Www.Pureridersco 02:59.9
6 Emma WAREHAM Leisure Lakes 03:05.1
7 Haby-Blu CANN CF3 03:09.0
8 Harriet LATCHEM 03:18.9
Juvenile Men
1 George GANNICOTT Icycles/Inners MTB 02:42.0
2 Sam HERD Perth City Cycles 02:55.4
3 Jevan WILLIAMS 03:01.5
4 Mathew ASHMORE 03:05.3
5 Laurie GREENLAND Psyclewerx 03:05.4
6 Philip ATWILL 03:07.3
7 Fraser LEADBETTER Last Bikes/FUNN 03:30.9
8 William WESTON Volvo Tollbar/6 Pack 03:31.1
9 Joe PATERSON 04:16.0
Youth Men
1 Lewis BUCHANAN Empire Cycles 02:22.9
2 Sam FLOCKHART MSC Bikes 02:25.9
3 Joe CONNELL Alpine Bikes 02:29.9
4 Jordan DOIG Icycles/MSC Bikes 02:29.9
5 Fraser McGLONE All Terrain Cycles 02:32.5
6 Allan FINDLAY 02:36.6
7 Billy MATHEWS Peaty Syndicate 02:37.5
8 Mark SCOTT All Terrain Cycles 02:39.0
9 Brandon LOVE 02:40.0
10 Sam COPP PS Cycles 02:40.2
11 Jim SHAW W Homer Cycles 02:41.4
12 Moss MACRINER Kustom Bikes 02:42.8
13 David KYNASTON 02:44.2
14 Sam WAKEFIELD 02:44.4
15 Mathew SCOTT Gala CC 02:45.1
16 Benjamin WILLIAMSON 02:49.2
17 Alex GLASS 2 Stage Bikes 02:50.7
18 Mathew STUTTARD 02:51.9
19 Grant BOYCE Bicycle Doctor 02:52.5
20 Michael TURNBULL Walkers Cycling 02:55.8
21 Joe CLIXBY Clixby Trail Builders 02:56.3
22 Gregor NOTMAN 02:56.6
23 George BELK W Homer Cycles 02:57.6
24 Matthew COOPER 02:59.6
25 Greg GILFILLAN 03:02.3
26 Mathew DOWNES Balfa/Hamsterley/Fox 03:02.8
27 Harry BOWMAN 6 Pack Racing 03:19.2
28 Jacob RUDDOCK 03:32.9
29 Dan INGRAM Redmist Racing 03:45.3
30 Tom ROBINSON 03:59.4
31 Blake MASSEY Redmist Racing 04:29.1
William MAPSTONE Non-Fin
David TRASK Non-Fin
Junior Men
1 Arran GANNICOTT Alpine Bikes 02:19.4
2 Alastair WILSON Ancillotti UK 02:24.9
3 Bernard KERR 02:24.9
4 Greg WILLIAMSON 02:25.2
5 Joel MOORE Team Skene 02:26.7
6 Willem HERD Perth City Cycles 02:27.6
7 Ronan TAYLOR 2 Stage/High Line Racing 02:29.0
8 James DOWER Adidas Eyewear 02:31.1
9 Ben MOORHOUSE Ticket 2 Ride/Descent Gear 02:31.1
10 Adam BURNSIDE Santa Cruz/Fox 02:33.9
11 Harry MOLLOY DMR/Resurgence/Last 02:34.3
12 Scott JONES 02:34.6
13 Brad MATHER Empire Cycles 02:34.9
14 Callum DEW 02:35.1
15 Callum McCUBBING Solway Insulations 02:35.3
16 Tom KNIGHT Momento Moni 02:35.9
17 Andrew KELLY All Terrain Cycles 02:36.7
18 Todd KIERNEY Solid 02:36.7
19 Danny BRADFORD Monster Energy UK 02:38.7
20 Josh SWIRE FDHR/Fenwicks 02:39.1
21 Jamie CRUMP Pure Ridersco.Co.Uk/Bike Ta 02:41.0
22 Cameron LEADBETTER Perth City Cycles 02:41.1
23 Craig MUNRO Vibe Racing 02:41.3
24 Joe FLANAGAN All Terrain Cycles 02:41.5
25 Joe EDGE Stendec 02:41.5
26 Vivian JONES 02:42.2
27 Ed SMITH 3 Smith/Leisure Lakes 02:42.7
28 Perry GARDENER Pearce Cycles RT 02:43.8
29 Alex POWELL 2 Stage/Extreme Medics 02:46.3
30 Pete ROBINSON PS Cycles/Cwmdown 02:46.4
31 Liam MOYNIHAN Colours Hurt My Eyes 02:47.2
32 Daryll RICHARDSON 02:47.5
33 Christopher PERRY 02:50.1
34 Jamie SCOTT 02:50.6
35 Simon STUTTARD 02:51.1
36 Ben WEIR W Homer Cycles 02:51.5
37 Richard ACOTT 02:51.6
38 Sam WEBSTER Team Skene 02:52.1
39 Ewan ANDERSON 02:52.4
40 Akib AHMED 02:56.0
41 Tom HOUSMAN Brooks Cycles 02:56.8
42 Rich ROBERTSHAW 2 Stage/Pureridersco.Co.Uk 02:57.2
43 Matthew NELSON 02:59.6
44 Anthony HENRY JE James 03:10.4
45 Gregory HAMPTON RG Squadron/Swinnerton Cycl 03:18.2
Gareth BREWIN No Run
Harry HEATH Funn/5.10/Broxap/Sneyd/Ashi No Run
James SCOTT Cycle Jersey No Run
Veteran Men
1 Stevie BOYD 02:37.5
2 Alastair MacLENNAN Off Beat Bikes 02:38.2
3 Rich SIMPSON Bikeactive.Com 02:38.4
4 Jason CARPENTER 02:39.7
5 Jerry TWIGG Cycleworld 02:40.9
6 Seb RAMSAY North West MTB 02:42.1
7 Jono SIMPSON Pearce Cycles RT 02:42.5
8 Kem AVIS 02:54.2
9 Tim WEBB 02:55.0
10 Steve FELSTEAD T2R/Descent-Gear.Com 02:55.1
11 Jason Gun BRENNAN Rave Racing 02:59.8
12 Peter HOGGAN PMH/Pincier Vodka 03:00.6
13 John ROWAN 03:04.5
14 Neil YOUNG 03:10.4
15 Derek LAUGHLAND Team Castle Melamine 03:11.6
Master Men
1 Joe BISHOP Zero G 02:28.6
2 Andrew TITLEY Kona Sombrio Paligap 02:30.6
3 Dave LIST Stourport Cycles 02:32.4
4 Chris WHITFIELD All Terrain 02:32.5
5 Colin WILLIAMS Solid/O Neal 02:32.7
6 Sion JONES MTB Direct 02:33.5
7 Mark WEIGHTMAN 02:33.7
8 Zac HUBERY Mountain High Cycles 02:35.3
9 Chris COATES Cycle Jersey/MTB Cut 02:37.7
10 Ben GREENLAND 02:38.1
11 Kris BORAM 02:40.1
12 Jamie SMITH 02:40.3
13 Thomas REED Descend Hamsterley 02:42.4
14 Paul BLIGHT 02:46.7
15 Joe WARD Potato Bred 02:48.3
16 Mark WILCOX The Breakpad 02:48.4
17 Sandy PLENTY Leisure Lakes 02:49.0
18 Jason GIDNEY Guak Cycle Centre 02:53.4
19 Lee HAMMETT Mulisha Crew 02:53.7
20 Daron OSBORN 0ZZ 02:54.1
21 Alex SLATER Rave Racing 02:54.4
22 Phil GRAY Rave Racing 03:03.4
23 Stephen HARDCASTLE 03:04.5
24 Drew FREEMAN Merlin Cycles 03:14.2
25 Marvin SMALL D Smith & Son 03:30.5
Women
1 Manon CARPENTER 02:50.0
2 Emma ATKINSON 777 Racing 03:07.0
3 Monet ADAMS All Terrain/Nikita 03:08.6
4 Sarah BRUNSWICK Manx MTB Club 03:13.0
5 Kerry WRIGGLESWORTH Solid/O Neal 03:18.2
6 Bex REILLY 03:20.8
7 Angela COATES Fox Racing/Team CHR 03:27.1
Senior Men
1 Oliver BURTON 02:24.4
2 James McKNIGHT K9 Indus/SB-DH.Com 02:27.5
3 Adam PRICE Bike Shed 02:28.8
4 Ryan CHAMBERS Ae Cycles/Solway Insul 02:29.0
5 Dale RUSSELL 02:29.2
6 Rhys EVANS 02:30.3
7 Sean RADCLIFF Merlin Cycles 02:32.0
8 Andy AYRES Ancillotti 02:32.4
9 Ben RODGERS All Terrain Cycles 02:32.7
10 Steven MORRIS Freeflow Bikes.Com 02:34.3
11 Ross SEARLE Total Bike Tuning 02:34.3
12 Elliot MACHIN RG Squadron 02:34.5
13 George JAMES Pearce Cycles RT 02:34.6
14 Nick TURNER The Development/Orange 02:34.8
15 Tom ATTLEE 02:34.9
16 Duncan PORTER Red Mist Racing 02:35.4
17 Gavin BLACK Perth City Cycles 02:36.0
18 John BOLTON 02:36.6
19 Chris ASTLE Www.Thebigadventurestore.Co 02:37.4
20 James METCALFE 02:37.9
21 Ian STARK Kustom Bikes 02:38.2
22 Chris BREEZE Utopia 02:38.3
23 Tom SKILLICORN Manx MTB Club 02:38.7
24 Tom WHANT MTB Direct 02:38.7
25 Jake HANCOCK 02:38.8
26 Chris COLLINS Pearce Cycles 02:39.1
27 Thomas KELLY 02:39.8
28 Robin WEAVER 02:39.9
29 Andrew COOPER 02:40.3
30 Tom FRYER Revolution Bikes 02:41.5
31 Lewis COCHRAN Solway Insulation 02:41.5
32 Mark MacIVER 02:42.7
33 Robert McDONALD 02:43.0
34 Ed THOMSETT 02:43.8
35 Dan HAINES 02:44.0
36 Huw OLIVER Activ Cycles 02:45.8
37 Tim BREEZE Cool Runnings 02:46.0
38 Daniel MILLARD Ecosse DH 02:46.1
39 Gavin DUKE Freedom Bikes 02:47.3
40 Tom BROWN 02:47.6
41 Tristan MAYOR 02:47.8
42 Mathew PRICE Pearce Cycles RT 02:49.1
43 Tom WHITEHEAD Www.Sixpack-Racing.Com 02:49.4
44 Ross YOUNG 02:49.9
45 Tom GLEAVE W Homer Cycles 02:50.3
46 Thomas CLARKSON Fenwicks/2 Stage/Taff Cymru 02:51.3
47 Richard NORTON Urban Air 02:51.5
48 Alistair HUDSON 02:55.6
49 Olly HOOPER 02:56.2
50 Paul BARNES 02:58.6
51 Jason HARTWRIGHT 02:59.7
52 Daniel JENKINS 03:00.2
53 Richy TURNER 03:02.1
54 Ralph RICHARDSON Bikeoutlet.Co.Uk 03:07.9
55 Chris ROSS 03:09.5
56 Simon WARD Wentwood DH 03:16.8
57 James NORTON Urban Air 03:33.3
58 Arran LEVER 03:38.6
Grant GARDEN Non-Fin
Ian COWAN The Bike Cellar Non-Fin
Expert Men
1 Jack READING 02:19.8
2 Scott LAUGHLAND Team Castle Melamine 02:21.3
3 Sion WHITECROSS Team Skene 02:23.1
4 Ross ANDERSON MSC Bikes 02:23.5
5 Luke MARSHALL 02:23.8
6 Lee HUSKINSON 661/Royal/Maxxis 02:24.7
7 Chris SINDEN Phil Corley Cycles 02:24.9
8 John HOLBROOK 02:26.2
9 Richard CHALLINOR Leisure Lakes 02:26.7
10 Andy WOODVINE Leisure Lakes 02:27.1
11 Nathan VIALS Solid Bikes 02:27.6
12 Joe WINSTON Banjo Cycles 02:27.7
13 Sam SHUCKSMITH 02:28.0
14 Liam LITTLE 2 Stage/Knox/KeswickmTB 02:28.5
15 Thomas WHEELER Mojo/Orange 02:28.5
16 Damon SMITH MTB Direct 02:29.9
17 James FLINDERS MSC Bikes 02:30.4
18 Alastair MacLENNAN 02:30.5
19 Owain JAMES Pearce Cycles RT 02:30.8
20 Will SOFFE Torico 02:30.9
21 Tom LAMB High Line Racing 02:31.3
22 Mark MILWARD Swinnerton Cyc/Fox 02:31.6
23 Jethro WHITFIELD Leisure Lakes 02:31.9
24 Billy CAMPBELL 02:32.3
25 Mark WEST 02:32.3
26 Alex STOCK 02:32.4
27 Jack GEOGHEGAN 02:32.8
28 Leon ROSSER Bicycle Doctor 02:33.2
29 Alistair PARKIN All Terrain Cycles 02:33.3
30 James GREEN MSC 02:33.5
31 Graeme FORREST Gala Bike Shop 02:33.6
32 Don HOWE Kustom Bikes 02:34.6
33 Seb FROST Just Riding Along 02:35.3
34 Rob YOUNG Cross Trax 02:35.4
35 Rob SCULLION Continental/Nicolai 02:35.7
36 Tommy WILKINSON Hemmel Tune 02:36.1
37 Jack GRAHAM Pure Ridersco.Co.Uk 02:36.2
38 Jamie CAMBURN 02:36.7
39 Simon PARSONS Freedom Bikes 02:36.8
40 David DUGGAN 02:36.8
41 Ashley MALLER 02:37.5
42 Michael INMAN Continental/Nicolai 02:41.2
43 Jeremy CALLOW 02:50.5
44 Ben WHITEHEAD All Terrain Cycles 03:17.1
45 Callum GAULT Icycles/Uplift Scotland 03:18.6
46 Kyle FARROW Derry Air/MSC 04:40.5
47 Andrew PHILIPS 11:22.3
Oliver MORRIS Non-Fin
