For the first time this year, the entire Yeti team lined up on the start line of the NPS at the same time; a rare occurrence because we’re all in different categories. Spirits were high and there was plenty of banter, even Pat and the other organisers joined in - Martyn’s new ‘ginger’ / sun-bleached hair was a source of great amusement.
 

With 30 seconds to go everything quietened and with the sound of the gun people set off.
 

As we hit the single track my tired legs from a week in the Pyrenees pushed me into 4th with Christian and Martyn (Yeti Team mates) just in front of me. Conditions were difficult and the trails were muddy, thankfully this meant that the organisers had reduced the number of laps from 5 to 4. By the end of the 1st section of single track Martyn was pulling away and Christian, still tired from the previous nights’ time trial, allowed me past to try and catch Martyn up. A combination of my own effort and Martyn’s flat tyre meant that it wasn’t long before I’d caught him… I couldn’t possibly comment on which contributed the most ;o)

We spent the next few laps sliding around on off camber descents and twisty single track. By the time lap 3 came I was tired and at first the heavy rain did little to lift my spirits. However, amazingly as the rain got harder the track got easier – probably because it made the mud less sticky. This contributed to a good final result with me in 2nd place and 3rd and 4th being taken by other members of the Yeti team.

Ruth our female Yeti team member also had a good race finishing 1st but we had a few words on the trail as she tried to talk me into using Granny ring… that’s just wrong !!!

The event itself was really good fun despite the poor weather. Banter between riders lifted the overall mood as did the marshals with cow bells, friends, family and other random people who probably though we were all mad for racing in such conditions.

A big thumbs up goes to the organisers who despite the weather managed to keep a light hearted atmosphere which I believe they’d originally set out to achieve.

I hope to be there next year and with a tad more sun…



Matt. (aka Fatty)