Photos by Keith "PHUNKT" Valentine.
Noticeable missing Pro's were Steve Peat and Josh Bryceland who were both out on sponsorship duties at Interbike in Las Vegas along with Danny Hart who was celebrating his 21st birthday in style. Friday afternoon come 15:00 the muddy track was open for foot inspection and a large number of riders checked out the new Squirrel track that was cut out by hand by the farmer Martin Sands. The track starts off on the far right hand side of the hill with a start straight littered with several table tops before you dive into organised chaos. Super steep, a freshly cut out track with deep and loose corners to catch the skilled riders, with a super dense bracken to make the landings nice and soft for those out of control. The course winds down the hill before it meets the old section just above the derelict house and the three famous step downs.
Dave Kynaston warp speed into the finish arena.
Saturday morning a freezing fog laid down on the venue and temperatures dropped some 5degrees. The fog soon cleared come 11:00a.m to reveal the sun and blue skies, the riders knew to make the most of it as Sunday afternoon's weather report was looking wet, windy and damn miserable. Then as predicted come 16:00 the heavens opened and a once drying track became super slick and greasy to the enjoyment of the crash hungry crowd. The weather did flip the category times upside down allowing the early racers a drier and faster course meaning Phil Atwill (the Saracen/Madison rider in Juniors) got the fastest time of the day. Also note Taylor Vernon a Youth rider stormed in fifth fastest overall with a suepr quick time.
Elite men (Schwalbe)Ruaridh CUNNINGHAM Alpine Bikes / POC 2:14.183
Oliver BURTON Fetish Bike Co / KORE / Norco / One Industries / Schwalbe 2:16.666
Bernard KERR 2:16.672
Al BOND Bennett's Bicycles / Nukeproof 2:16.733
Ben REID Dirt Norco 2:17.023
Expert men (Descent-Gear.com)Dave KYNASTON 2:23.501
Brad MATHER EMPIRE CYCLES 2:23.638
Oliver MORRIS 2:24.352
Jay WILLIAMSON WideopenMag.co.uk 2:24.864
Matty STUTTARD Ride-On 2:25.030
Juvenile men (Leisure Lakes)James PURVIS Team-chr.co.uk 2:29.179
Charlie HATTON FlyUp Downhill / Pedalabikeaway 2:30.399
Andrew BARRETT J-Tech / Pearce Cycles 2:43.631
Kade EDWARDS Torico Morzine 2:43.992
Robin SPENCE 2:44.375
Youth men (Rose Bikes)Taylor VERNON Bike It / Fox / Maxxis / Mojo / Scott 2:14.806
William WESTON Madison / Saracen 2:17.015
Laurie GREENLAND One Industries / Orange / www.psyclewerx.co.uk 2:18.472
Frazer MCCUBBING Lapierre Cadets 2:19.443
Dan FARLEY Kona / Wheelbase.co.uk 2:20.308
Junior men (Fox Head)Philip ATWILL Madison / Saracen 2:11.223
Mike JONES Team Bicycle Doctor 2:14.140
Joe CONNELL Prestige Cycles / Zerode 2:14.253
Fraser MCGLONE 2:15.337
Josh LOWE Madison / Saracen 2:15.760
Senior men (Knox)Reece LANGHORN 2:22.958
Glenroy MARTIN Aston Hill MTB Club 2:22.997
Samuel MADDISON 2:24.095
Sean DAVIES 2:25.180
Michael COUPE 2:28.366
Master men (Nukeproof)Tom POWIS 2:22.659
Seb FROST Renthal / Rootsandrain.com / Schwalbe 2:23.704
Dave LIST 2:25.445
Dan HAINES Balfa / Foes / Knox Armour 2:26.456
Craig TAYLOR Devinci / Haven / Loaded 2:26.725
Veteran men (Stendec)Nigel PAGE Chain Reaction Cycles / Nukeproof 2:24.638
John COBB 2:31.242
Darren HOWARTH Grizedale Mountain Bikes 2:33.221
Pete LITTLE FlyUp Downhill / Pedalabikeaway 2:34.918
Rich SIMPSON Balfa / Foes / Knox Armour 2:38.847
Elite women (Schwalbe)Manon CARPENTER Madison / Saracen 2:33.910
Jess STONE UNIOR TOOLS 2:40.942
Emma WAREHAM Leisure Lakes 2:54.704
Veronique SANDLER 2:57.450
Women (Monster Energy)Rosie SMITH Biketart.com / Knox Armour / Schwalbe 3:05.955
Traharn CHIDLEY Blackspire / Commencal / O'Neal / Renthal 3:08.699
Series Overall Results courtesy of RootsandRain.com Sean Radcliffs seeing the sights of Wales.
Jonathon Foster-Smith Barrrpppppp.
Blake White working the corners.
Stephen Mccormack trying to keep her low.
Dan Farley celebrating the zero pressure of Saturdays practice.
The Halo BDS team went big when it came to dressing the event.
Jack Reading fresh back from a spell at Whistler Crankworx.
Manon Carpenter is currently destroying the womens category.
CRCs Nigel Page took the win here and the series overall.
Saturday mornings mist soon burned off.
Red flags are the curse in practice at Llangollen with such a steep course.
Grant Boyce getting airtime along the start straight.
Llangollens corners are that of legends according to Dan Sheridan.
Matty Studdart at the last bus stop.
Taylor Vernon mid-pack in the final three step downs.
Llangollen uplift is never the best, Seb Frost managed nine runs on Saturday, the track is more than worth it though.
Big thanks to our main sponsor Halo RimsStay Unclipped.
Si Paton.
2013 BDS Dates.
1- 13/14th April tbc UCI cat 2
2- 11/12th May Fort William UCI cat 1
3- 1/2st June Innerleithen UCI cat 1
4- 29/30th June tbc UCI cat 2
5- 17/18th August tbc UCI cat 2
Entries are £70.00 per round and go live January 1st through the British Cycling website.