Innerleithen has international appeal
Published 3 Feb 2012 09:30
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THERE were plenty of thrills and spills during the opening round of this year's Alpine Winter Series.
The Innerleithen three-leg series adopted a new format for the opening weekend - a XC Multi-Stage Enduro.
Organised by Innerleithen MTB Racing, the race was completely sold out as riders from across the globe descended on the town for this exciting new style of mountain bike racing.
Riders followed a course of around 30 kilometres in total, with three special timed stages. The cumulative time for the predominantly downhill stages determined the winner.
Conditions were dry and frosty with the early riders taking advantage of the frozen mud.
Special Stage 1 started with a fast descent from the upper slopes of Minch Moor, before dropping steeply into technical natural singletrack traversing the hill to the first road crossing.
Over the road the going was fast and loose as riders descended to the bottom of the forest at Camp Shiel.
Riders climbed up the Southern Upland Way before traversing the West side of Plora Rig to make their way to the start of Special Stage 2.
This was a long stage that started in soft conditions before weaving through the recently thinned forest and crossing the road onto the man-made XC trail at Plora Craig. This technical rocky section led into the very steep Classic descent that led almost as far as Walkerburn.
The only way was up as riders had to climb the forest road from the forest entrance all the way to the top of Plora Rig and the start of Special Stage 3.
This was a mixture of the old school downhill trails that made Innerleithen famous - Gold Run, Tunnel, Luge, Deer Hunter and finally Cresta Run were all sampled before a gentle, yet leg burning, climb to reach the fast flowing jumps and drops that led riders to the finish.
Leading the way with the fastest time of the day (23'25") was Crawford Carrick-Anderson (Ibis/POC/Crank Brothers) with Katy Winton (Kinesis Morvelo Project) taking the ladies win (29'05").
A spokesman for Innerleithen MTB said: "Special thanks go to Alpine Bikes for sponsoring the event and supplying prizes, all the marshalls and volunteers without whom the event wouldn't have happened and to Steve at i-cycles for the course design."
The second round of the Alpine Winter Series, which takes place on Saturday, February 18, is a Multi-Stage Day/Night Enduro.
A similar relaxed atmosphere to Round one is expected, but this time the special stages will be raced at night, as well as by day.
Round three is a traditional downhill event with uplift service and takes place on the weekend of March 3 and 4.
Further information, full results and details on how to enter future events can be found on the Innerleithen MTB Racing website at: http://www.innerleithenmtbracing.com
Ladies
1 Katy Winton 29'05"
2 Jenny Jack 35'10"
3 Sandra Scally 37'59"
Juniors (under 19)
1 Joe Connel 24'31"
2 Brodie Hood 26'33"
3 Rory McRitchie 28'39"
Seniors (19-29)
1 Scott Laughland 24'34"
2 Graeme Forrest 24'47"
3 James Knowles 24'51"
Masters (30-39)
1 Keith Buchan 24'21"
2 Stuart Nicholson 24'41"
3 Bruce McCleary 25'03"
Veterans (40+)
1 Crawford Carrick-Anderson 23'25"
2 Patrick Bruce 25'22"
3 David Tallontire 26'16"
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 03 Feb 12
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