Combe Sydenham 2013 English Champs – Report

Last weekend saw Borderline Events bring the English Championships to the tried and tested Combe Sydenham Country Park near Watchet. With the weather reports all week looking dodgy there was a high possibility of a repeat of the British Downhill Series mudfest which had a lot of people fearing the worst and a lot holding out for an on the day entry just in case. Fears aside, Mike from Borderline Events not only bought the good weather with him but ran a silky smooth event with the only small slip up of the Medics turning up a bit late for Saturday practice due to them having a small accident to attend to. So instead of cutting it short Mike let practice run on a couple of hours longer, which was rad due to the nice weather heading into the evening.

Another big talking point was the track and what sort of condition was it in after the BDS and the BUCS, which followed. A massive thank you has to go out to Don Howe from Kustom Bikes and Dave Walker Blair for their amazing transformation of the track. I have been racing at Combe Sydenham for over fifteen years and hand on hart I can personally say that the track they designed for the race was the best one I have ever raced there. Out went a lot of the rutted hard to rail tight berms that littered the middle woods and in came lots of fresh fast loamy corners.

Straight out of the gate you were up to speed with a new fast straighter section into the top small road gap that dropped you into the rock garden, which was catching people out left right and centre. A couple more fast corners then dropped you off onto the top fire road. The first bus stop was the same as we have seen before but the second and third had more lines than a Columbian drug lord, which lead to riders seasoning them all day Saturday to find the fastest route.

Next, down into the middle wood, with two new lines into the main drop this also had people scratching their heads, did you go around the tree to right over the mound which was faster in but harder to carry your speed through. Or go left of the tree which was super slow and tight in but set you up on a better line out. What followed next was a few rutted drops into a couple of flat corners which were supper slippery and had some of the best riders looking like they were on a episode of dancing on ice. Then a super wide line into the infamous Combe road gap, which had got longer this year and had a constant stream of riders stop starting before it to gather up the nerve to hit it up.

After the road gap the two left to right catch berms spat you out at warp speed into the field. Over the first twenty foot table then pedal hard at the next forty foot table, flat out through a small chicane into another double then the newly refurbished double double. Down from the double double dropping onto the lower fire road and a small kicker that sends you back up onto the field into a sweet left catch berm before a great little step down into the lower wood section.

A lot of changes appeared in the bottom as well and definitely for the better, with a new straighter line into the root garden you came in flat out trying to focus into the last tricky rock drops. There was normally a couple of line choices here but the boys spoilt us here with up to six different lines running in this section which really kept people thinking. One last drop into the finish making sure to keep on the pedals for the small double and the last stream gap, over the line then collapse.

With everyone getting there fill of practice during the day the BBQ’s soon came out to enjoy the summer evening and the last of the sun.

Race day soon came around and with the weather being good the entries soon filled up bringing an amazing atmosphere with it. Practice was hectic with the guys that had turned up on the day expecting a track similar to the BDS. Not so much though, they were soon scratching their heads and really wishing they had been there to practice on Saturday, they were at a definite disadvantage.

There were loads of stand out rides with Rich Thomas, Jack Tennyson, Dan Haines, Laurie Greenland, Kevin Salisbury, John Cobb, Mitch Ingley, Martin Glenroy and Phil Atwell all well deserving winning the title of English Champions with loads more names that really deserved more.

All in all, it was a fantastic event with Borderline Events putting on a stunning race and Combe Sydenham once again proving itself as a worthy venue for a top race on the UK scene. After speaking to many people after the race the majority saying it was up there with the best events they have done, I would agree. Nice one Mike.

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