Steel City DH – Race Report
This past weekend saw the return of the Steel City DH race in Peaty’s backyard. Chris took a break from racing Enduro to return to downhill for the weekend.
This is my first year racing the Steel City race, I’d heard a lot about it though and many good reports. The photos I’d seen showed a very packed crowd and what seemed to be a great atmosphere. It didn’t disappoint. I arrived for sign on around 08:00 and the crowds were already pouring in. I’ve done many races in my time with varying crowds and atmospheres, this was one steep ahead though. I can’t remember the last race I went to that had a track side beer tent half way down the course. It’s hard to explain but I got a feeling I used to get when I started racing DH back in the 90s, similar atmosphere to the old NAMBS races.
One happy fella showing us that fat bikes can fly. This photo epitomises the atmosphere on the day.
I used to ride in Wharncliffe woods quite a lot a few years ago, in fact it’s where I used to ride when I starting racing downhill. Many memories of riding in this area, many fond and a few not thanks to trips to the local A&E. I had never ridden in the Grenoside woods before though, apart from a sneaky couple of runs a few days before the race. I wasn’t sure what to expect, if it was going to be similar to the Wharncliffe tracks or something different.
Youth Boys winner – Jordan Beighton
The line they choose to use is mainly graded red with a small black diversion part way down. There isn’t much of a gradient on the hillside, so to help keep speed up, the track is full of jumps from small tables and doubles to slightly bigger doubles. About as far removed as you can get from my perfect downhill track (steep and technical) but very much fun all the same. The black line has a few rock gardens and bigger jumps and this joins back on to the red line just before the bomb-hole drop at the bottom.
To mix things up a bit, they didn’t just use the red or the black trail but a combination of the two. The red trail was followed initially from the split but then it quickly diverted on to the black for the rocks and the larger of the jumps.
Master Women winner – Joey Gough
If there was one minor downer on the day it would be the queuing for practice. I’m not sure if everyone got their 2 required practice runs in, 45 minutes I queued for my second run. Luckily the weather wasn’t too bad and the banter was good. Even the angry women on the horse created some entertainment as she grumbled and swore her past, leaving huge piles of crap in her wake. I don’t think she took very kindly to other people enjoying what she seemed to think were her woods. I even heard her mutter these words ‘how would you lot like it if I came into your house on my horse and let it shit on your carpet?’. Not really sure where she was going with that to be honest.
I was aware of a few accidents during the day, plenty to keep mountain rescue on their toes. These mostly came from the two larger features on the track, the gap jump about half way down and the drop at the bottom. Mountain Rescue had a team of guys waiting at both spots so they could be on hand quickly. On my second practice run I came over the top of the bomb-hole at the bottom of the track to be faced with a poor lady on the deck at the bottom. I hope she is recovering ok now, poor lass wasn’t in a good way at the time. All the best to her and the others injured on the day.
Senior Men winner – Ben Lord
In my first run I missed a few lines and stalled in the corner from the transition to the black trail from the red, still a time in the bank though. Second run was going to count. It had been threatening rain all day and part way through the afternoon it started to come. Not majorly but just enough to make a few corners greasy. Apart from the young guns, not many improved their times in the second run, myself included. Not a great result for me but when you’ve had this much fun, it tends not to matter a great deal.
Results
Avanti Conveyors Pro-Am Men
1 – Josh Bryceland – 1:13.767
2 – James Swinden – 1:17.355
3 – Craig Evans – 1:17.982
Pro-Am winner – Josh Bryceland
Wideopen DH Rippers
1 – James Wilson – 1:34.684
2 – Lewis Carr – 1:37.446
3 – Jake Peat – 1:49.087
Bike Garage Juvenile Boys
1 – Evan Davies – 1:29.547
2 – Sam Taylor – 1:30.426
3 – Matteo Crompton – 1:31.019
Juvenile Boys winner – Evan Davies
Flare Riders Co Youth Boys
1 – Jordan Beighton – 1:22.695
2 – Richard Brown – 1:26.166
3 – Jake Monk – 1:26.957
Hope Junior Men
1 – Bradley Swinbank – 1:18.098
2 – Sam Hockenhull – 1:19.432
3 – James Hurst – 1:21.005
Junior Men winner – Bradley Swinbank
Hook It Products Senior Men
1 – Ben Lord – 1:20.962
2 – Thomas Cooper – 1:21.265
3 – Oliver Watson – 1:21.382
Polaris Master Men
1 – Jonathan Matthews – 1:19.716
2 – James Risker – 1:20.319
3 – Jordan Gould – 1:21.477
Master Men winner – Jonathan Matthews
Bluegrass Veteran Men
1 – Ben Jaggard-Smith – 1:24.258
2 – Richard Burgoin – 1:24.611
3 – Matin Creaser – 1:25.648
Flare Clothing Senior Women
1 – Rebecca Baraona – 1:25.328
2 – Suzanne Lacey – 1:30.921
3 – Ellie Dewdney – 1:32.858
Senior Women winner – Rebecca Baraona
Polaris Master Women
1 – Joey Gough – 1:26.677
2 – Carrie Poole – 1:28.374
3 – Adele Peat – 1:28.556
Eighteen Bikes Veteran Women
1 – Lindsay Hanley – 1:36.038
2 – Janine Wolstenholme – 1:39.498
3 – Melissa Pearson – 1:40.331
Veteran Women winner – Lindsay Hanley
Many thanks go out to everyone who made it possible, a great day was had by a great amount of people. Hopefully they can build on this already amazing event for next year and make it even better, somehow. Despite his recent operation it was fantastic to see the big man Peaty there on the day, himself and Bryce were inundated with fans wanting photos and a quick chat. Heal up well big fella.
Next year, get in early. It’ll be a quick sell out again.
