Report: English Marathon Championships

This is the inaugural year for this special event, which was brought about by the passion for mountain biking and English pride by the organisers of the ever-popular Southern XC Series. Using sections of the XC course in action the previous day, the actual marathon course encompassed 12.5 km of traditional New Forest land; soft loamy soil, copious amounts of roots, with a stream crossing and even a climb for extra vigour! There were four options on offer ranging from 100km down to just 12.5km for those whose exertions the previous day probably proved too much! For the winners of the various categories was the chance to secure a ‘national' jersey baring the St. George's Cross.

Nearly 160 competitors braved the fiercest heat and throbbing humidity for a chance to wear that special jersey. Six women were first off tackling eight back jarring bumpy laps and first to the front were Elite ladies Mel Spath, Jenn O'Connor and Maddie Horton, all of whom had raced the previous day. After an easy lap the race was on in earnest with O'Connor firing the first shot, leaving the others to play catch up. By the end of lap two Spath had caught O'Connor and launched her own attack, now heading the race with a blistering third lap. She rode consistently for the remaining five laps to take the win, unbeknown to her O'Connor had withdrawn from the race after lap two suffering a migraine attack, leaving Maddie Horton in runners up position coming home in second, to take the jersey, as Spath didn't qualify, being German and living in Ireland! Veteran rider Lydia Gould stepped up to the plate to take third overall.

   
Chris Minter (left) and Maddie Horton right) were 100km marathon champions

In the hotly contested men's 100km, it was a three way split for seven of the eight laps with Duncan Jamieson, Sam Humphreys and Chris Minter all chatting merrily along. The racing didn't really start until that seventh lap when Minter decided now or nothing, launching his attack that proved incredible fruitful making up for a disappointing race the previous day. Try as they might Jamieson and Humphrey couldn't respond and had to settle for second and third respectively while Minter took the jersey home to proudly wear whilst out training with his teammates!

The Veteran's 100km competition very much resembled a replay of the National Marathon Champs, with old adversaries Dave Hayward and Michael Powell eyeing each other up on the start line. Powell was hoping to go one better here and deprive Hayward of a second victory. However Hayward's form just had the edge and despite the two riders battling it out, it was Hayward who had the upper hand who emerged triumphant, yet again.

For those opting to ride the 50 km race the going might have been shorter but it was just as tough. In the Junior women's race it was Beth Crumpton who added that win to a overflowing cupboard of winners jerseys adding the Junior 50km to the Midlands XC champs she won recently not to mention her triumph in the previous day's race! Steve James also added yet another win to his tally for the weekend, taking the Junior 50km from the two Orange Monkeys Ben Roff and Nat Jarvis. In the Women's 50km it was Ruth Mordaunt who came out on top closely followed by Malin Tindberg in second.

The men's 50km resulted in a sprint finish after four long laps. Mateusz Wielgos and Stephen James constantly changed lead, their race had to be decided for a last minute rush for the line that saw Wielgos snatch victory by just 1 sec from James. Debbie Burton was delighted to add the women's Veteran's 50km race to her win the previous day, while local rider Darren Shepherd rode his way to victory, leaving Northern rival Bruce Rollinson to pick up second.

For the 25km Laura Bayliss & Martin Turton took the respective wins in the 25km races, while Josh Parkin romped round in less than 40 mins to claim the one lap race.

After a long day in the saddle and an even longer weekend of racing for some, the best way to relax was with an ice cream or two, a welcome relief from some hot conditions that even the stream crossing couldn't provided! Lets hope next year that English pride can be fought for by a few more riders, they too can discover for themselves some of the epic trails put together by the hardworking crew of SMBXC and take part in some epic racing!

Rider reactions:
Beth Crumpton - 50km Junior Women's winner
That was hard, it was my first 50km too, I really wasn't expecting to do as well as I did. I went out hard and then took it easy, I started to get tired and had in my head, ‘give up, give up' but I didn't I just kept going. The course was similar to the XC but just so bumpy and dry it was so hard I've got blisters on my hands. I had to drink loads too as it was so hot out there. I started off with Annie (Simpson) and Ruth (Mordaunt) for a while and tried to keep my pace, just really pleased to have finished it and to have got the win.

Debbie Burton - 50km vet ladies winner
It has been a great weekend. Yesterday I never seemed to be able to settle into the race. Both Nicky & Belinda beat me yesterday and that's never happened before so that was a bit disappointing. I was ahead of Belinda at one point but messed up big time on one section. I knew I was going to be riding today so I didn't have the heart to go chasing.
Today I felt good; I kept hydrated, went at my own pace and felt happy. There wasn't really anywhere you could rest, it was so hard, not like Margam hard, but in it's own way just relentless, just plodding all the way round, chatting to other riders about knitting and jam recipes! But I did get the jersey and that more than made up for missing Passport Du Soleil!

Dave Hayward - 100km vets winner
I've been concentrating on enduros this year with the Nationals my main gaol which I've now achieved of course and now I'm just putting my fitness to good use and squeezing a few more events in it's as simple as that really. I've taken a coach on for this year, which has helped a lot. Last year I was playing at it and this year I've been putting in the training and getting the results. Glad to get another jersey now not sure what to do next! I was thinking about doing the 100-mile race at Kielder in September but I reckon more than 6 hours in the saddle will take some thinking about but I'm tempted....

Mel Spath - 100km women's winner
Today went just as well as yesterday really but today was enough for winning, where as yesterday wasn't enough! I had a really good race today, less competition, as it was a shame Jenn O'Connor had to pull out, so there was no one to tussle with. This meant I could ride the race at my own pace and got a really good rhythm going.
With 8 laps ahead I took it easy on the first lap to get a sense of what was in store, so I was riding with Jenn and Maddie. Then on the 2nd lap Jenn started pulling away, she attacked and tried to get a gap. I managed to get back to her again by the end of that lap, then I attacked and then I was on my own. I didn't see her again, I since heard she pulled out due to a migraine.

Maddie Horton - English Marathon Women's Champion.
I'm really pleased with the result but that race was just agony! From start to finish it was just painful! It was hard on your back and so rooty, there was nothing really technical or anything it was just painful!

Chris Minter - English Marathon Men's Champion
Good fun out there today, really made up for yesterday, I had a bit of a mare then. So yeah happy with that! I felt a bit sore after the efforts of yesterday, but I went out and was just happy I managed to ride okay. It's a long way to ride by yourself so for the first couple of laps I rode round with Duncan Jamieson and Sam Humphreys and had a bit of a chat and stuff, it was good fun and what mountain biking should all be about! I was planning on doing something on the last lap, but by the end of the 7th lap I managed to get a lap and then just went for it and gave it everything. I thought at first I'd gone too early but I managed to stay out there. Really happy with that result, I wanted the jersey so I could wear it Thursday nights with the Pedal On lot, that's all I worry about!

Results

100K Senior Female
1 Melanie Spath Cycleways/Torq/KCNC - 8 laps in 05:35:02
2 Maddie Horton Team Certini - 8 laps in 06:02:06
3 Lydia Gould - Torq/Kona 7 laps in 05:36:05
4 Emma Bradley - Torq / Kona 7 laps in 05:48:19
5 Lisa Parsons - 3 laps in 02:51:31
6 Jenn O`Connor Leisure Lakes Bikes.com - 2 laps in 01:28:54

100K Senior Male
1 Christopher Minter - PedalOn.co.uk 8 laps in 05:04:33
2 Duncan Jamieson - FELT RACING 8 laps in 05:08:49
3 Sam Humphrey Charge Bikes - 8 laps in 05:13:35
4 Szabolcs Bandli Team Bicycle - 8 laps in 05:20:30
5 Christopher Murley - Sandy Wallace Cycles 8 laps in 05:22:39
6 Jay Horton - Team Certini 8 laps in 05:23:30
7 Matthew Spurgin - Evans Cycles RT 8 laps in 05:26:28
8 Andrew Patterson BANJO CYCLES.COM - 8 laps in 05:27:52
9 Russell Turner - Team Certini 8 laps in 05:29:12
10 William Jones - CPH 8 laps in 05:42:25
11 Andrew Howett - SWCC/Station Fitness 8 laps in 05:52:39
12 Richard Jones HIGH WYCOMBE CC/Cycle Care - 7 laps in 05:26:42
13 Simon Hawken Army Cycling Union - 7 laps in 05:31:50
14 Neil Wragg High Wycombe CC/Professional IT/Cycle Care - 7 laps in 05:36:50
15 Rob Gates - Berks on Bikes 7 laps in 05:43:45
16 Julian Mann - 7 laps in 05:44:55
17 Neil Hayward Leisure Lakes Bikes.com - 5 laps in 03:55:40
18 Stephen Hodge Yogi - Cogs Bikes - 5 laps in 04:05:21
19 Mark Hutt AW Cycles/Giant - 4 laps in 02:40:07
20 Calum Chamberlain - Mountain Trax RT/Torq 4 laps in 02:46:24
21 James Gleave Torq - 4 laps in 02:56:14
22 Lee Eaton PRO-TECH - 4 laps in 03:19:44
23 Chris Hillier Banjocycles.com - 4 laps in 03:36:00
24 Steve Corbyn Pronghorn - Dragon XC Racing 3 laps in 02:26:56
25 martin Browne - 3 laps in 02:42:58
26 Jon Barnbrook M & G Vehicle Hire - 2 laps in 01:35:01
27 Ian Clayton - Team Top Force 2 laps in 01:49:50
28 Adrian Scott Phill Corley Cycles - 1 laps in 00:46:11
29 James Lambert - 1 laps in 00:56:36

100K Veteran Male
1 David Hayward - 8 laps in 05:23:09
2 Michael Powell Sherwood Pines / Polaris - 8 laps in 05:25:37
3 Craig Dolwin - 8 laps in 05:53:20
4 Alan Green - The good the bad and the Ed/Dursley Road Club 8 laps in 05:57:01
5 Matthew Barton Team Milton Keynes - 8 laps in 06:00:13
6 Paul Facer SWRC - 7 laps in 05:37:58
7 Colin Murley - Sandy Wallace Cycles 7 laps in 06:03:58
8 Stefano Fratesi - Spam Biking 7 laps in 06:05:17
9 Adrian Bellew Don`t push it, Bude - 7 laps in 06:07:18
10 Chris Clark - Banjo Cycles.com 6 laps in 04:43:41
11 Pete Williams - SPAM Biking 6 laps in 05:24:07
12 Rick Fetherston - Mosquito Cycles 5 laps in 03:35:40
13 Kevin Blann - Team Roas Blann 5 laps in 04:04:19
14 Mark Wyer - CC Ashwell 5 laps in 05:08:26
15 Anthony Allen PNECC - 4 laps in 02:52:00
16 John Brackston - 4 laps in 04:09:27
17 Tim Stowe - MI Racing 3 laps in 02:16:47
18 Tim Dale - 3 laps in 02:35:12
19 Paul Beckett Team BikeRight! - 3 laps in 02:42:57
20 Steven Purser - PNECC 1 laps in 01:05:21

12.5K Fun Male
1 Josh Parkin - Herne Hill Youth CC 1 laps in 00:39:54
2 Elliot Dudley Sherwood Pines Cycles Polaris - 1 laps in 00:49:58
3 Matthew Fratesi - 1 laps in 00:52:51
4 Chris Rider - Sherwood Pine Cycles 1 laps in 01:02:48

25K Open Female
1 Laura Bayliss Barry Banana Skin - 2 laps in 02:53:11
2 Tracy Freeman west drayton mbc/beyond mountain bikes - 1 laps in 01:31:53

25K Open Male
1 Martin Turton Beyond MTB/Specialized - WDMTB 2 laps in 01:23:19
2 Harvey Lowe G.A.cycles/HOPE/CLAccountancy - 2 laps in 01:27:34
3 Harry Franklin V.C. Londres - 2 laps in 01:31:44
4 Rob Clay Nationwide Building society - 2 laps in 01:38:32
5 Richard Gregory Well LARD - 2 laps in 01:40:28
6 Peter Hall - 2 laps in 01:41:51
7 Rupert Turton - Berks on Bikes 2 laps in 01:46:26
8 Gary Hall - 2 laps in 01:53:25
9 Steve F Smith Nationwide Building Society - 2 laps in 02:17:44
10 Ian Lovegrove DU Cycling Club - 2 laps in 02:27:23
11 Glen Hassell - 1 laps in 00:55:52
12 Daniel James - Berks on Bikes 1 laps in 01:04:47

50K Junior Female
1 Bethany Crumpton Halesowen A & Cc - 4 laps in 03:09:43
2 Carla Haines - Team Chance/Ducati Corse 4 laps in 03:13:14
3 Danielle Rider - Probikekit.com/ A & R Smartcar 4 laps in 04:02:55

50K Junior Male
1 Steve James Pedalon.co.uk - 4 laps in 02:26:46
2 Ben Roff - Orange Monkey 4 laps in 02:41:35
3 Nat Jarvis Orange Monkey MTB - 4 laps in 02:55:53
4 Bruce Dalton - Matlock CC 4 laps in 03:02:37
5 Alex Baker - Orange Monkey 3 laps in 02:11:30
6 James Harman - 2 laps in 01:36:48

50K Senior Female
1 Ruth Mordaunt - Altura Patterson Training 4 laps in 03:02:11
2 Malin Tindberg Beyond MTB/Specialized - West Drayton MBC 4 laps in 03:11:02
3 Hannah Minter - Pedalon.co.uk 2 laps in 02:30:04
4 Annabel Simpson Patterson Training - Altura 1 laps in 00:51:16

50K Senior Male
1 Mateusz Wielgos - 4 laps in 02:27:54
2 Stephen James Torq - 4 laps in 02:27:55
3 Dan Lewis - RAF CA 4 laps in 02:31:43
4 Matthew Dennis Yeti - Chris King - 4 laps in 02:37:05
5 Christian Aucote Yeti Factory Racing/Chris King - 4 laps in 02:38:14
6 Andrew Boyd LVIS - 4 laps in 02:39:28
7 Lee Gollop Progression Fitness RT - 4 laps in 02:42:26
8 Neil Richardson Bike City - RAF CC 4 laps in 02:43:17
9 Ollie TAYLOR - Bikecity.biz 4 laps in 02:43:53
10 Robert Rowe - Forza Cycles/Styleline/Torq 4 laps in 02:46:22
11 Scott Chappell - Pedalon.co.uk 4 laps in 02:48:27
12 Julian Grundy bikecity.biz - 4 laps in 02:55:30
13 Ben Connor Beyond MTB/ Specialized/ WDMBC - 4 laps in 02:59:01
14 Ben Cook - JD Cycles 4 laps in 02:59:08
15 Lloyd Stevens Worcester Cycle Centre - 4 laps in 03:01:11
16 Richard Rose Progression Fitness - 4 laps in 03:01:40
17 Benjamin Summers Total Fitness Bath - 4 laps in 03:09:25
18 Jon Marshall - Army Cycling Union 4 laps in 03:09:35
19 Simon LORETZ - OUCC 4 laps in 03:14:35
20 David Perry pedalon.co.uk - 4 laps in 03:20:17
21 Michael Crossman Essex fall guys - 4 laps in 03:21:13
22 Owen Turgoose - 4 laps in 03:22:09
23 Chris Varani - 4 laps in 03:29:47
24 Jason Crossman Gwok - 4 laps in 03:31:42
25 Robert Wolfenden Wilt - 4 laps in 03:59:29
26 Stuart Filby Essex Fall Guys - 4 laps in 04:06:19
27 Graeme Larsen - 4 laps in 04:11:02
28 Phil Reynolds - 4 laps in 04:15:18
29 Steve Norman sonicovermind - 3 laps in 02:41:27
30 Chris Andrews Kinesis UK - Orange Monkey 2 laps in 01:17:32
31 Scott Thwaites Pro-Tech - 2 laps in 01:20:58
32 Chris Hobrough - 2 laps in 02:05:19
33 Stuart Clarke sonic overmind - 2 laps in 02:15:30
34 Corin Lane Worcester Cycle Centre - 1 laps in 01:21:42

50K Veteran Female
1 Debbie Burton Activ / Trek - 4 laps in 03:09:10
2 Katherine Mason Don`t push it Bude - 4 laps in 03:26:37
3 Anna Baird Progression Fitness - 4 laps in 03:39:50
4 Lorna Rider Sherwood Pines Cycles - 4 laps in 03:46:40

50K Veteran Male
1 Darren Shepherd - Primera 4 laps in 02:40:47
2 Bruce Rollinson Jdcycles.Co.Uk - 4 laps in 02:46:39
3 John Galway - KeswickBikes.co.uk 4 laps in 02:50:11
4 Stephen McGrath Worcester Cycle Centre - 4 laps in 02:52:01
5 Philip Bromwich KeswickBikes.co.uk - 4 laps in 02:52:31
6 Peter Bromwich WMCCL - 4 laps in 02:53:19
7 Chris Denman - Beyond/Specialized/WDMBC/Bucks Offroad 4 laps in 02:56:29
8 James D`Arcy Torq/Kona - 4 laps in 02:56:45
9 James Peacey - Muddybum 4 laps in 03:05:36
10 Robert Barker Torq Kona - 4 laps in 03:09:32
11 Anthony Cowling - AC Cowling Repair 4 laps in 03:19:54
12 Nigel Franklin - Arctic -Premier RT 4 laps in 03:25:39
13 Richard MacPherson Hertfordshire Wheelers - 4 laps in 03:26:15
14 John Watkins - 4 laps in 03:27:03
15 Mike Miller - Bude CC Dept 26 4 laps in 03:42:03
16 Jim Spratt - The good the bad and the Ed 4 laps in 03:47:55
17 Martin Charlesworth - Lord Flashheart`s Noblemen 4 laps in 03:52:28
18 Vincent Swain - Bude CC Dept 26 4 laps in 04:18:58
19 Ray Sheridan Godiva Trailriders - 4 laps in 04:25:22
20 Neil Taylor Godiva Trailriders - 3 laps in 02:49:56
21 Mark Baker Limp Squid - 3 laps in 03:02:51
22 Richard Brewer the Good the Bad and the Ed - DRC - 3 laps in 03:11:25
23 Matt Holland Inevent - 1 laps in 01:01:44
24 Ian Harman - 1 laps in 01:21:39