Rds10+11

And...........the end of another years Dragon Downhill racing

i'm too busy to take pics so. SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE

Paul Angus, pic by Andy Lloyd

Does anyone have any podium pics?

Right where do I start? Already made a balls up and given the Junior series win to Tom Deacon, when Matt Simmonds won it. Sorted that already, luckily they are participants in the friendly rivalry scheme that makes me love downhill. I always say that the best friends you'll find in the sport are the ones you race hardest against. We all know the score, and the risks, never forget the risks, or the consequences........so, hey take it easy. I digress, sorry, but this fact makes for a breeding ground for friendship that will last.

As you may be able to tell, it's late and the Vodka haze is falling so i best get on, by no means take that as advice to hit the bottle, I detest the current youth drinking culture as I'm too old now to join in, no seriously it sucks, you can hurt yourself just as much riding your bike and it's free (once you've finished the payments on the bike anyway) where was I??

pic by Andy Lloyd

Right, Brendan Fairclough........ - I don't know him that well, but he does strike me as a fine young fella. Fast too, although I', not sure I can forgive him for riding my trails and not inviting me along? Still he was fast, fast, fast this weekend, for a nippa anyway,

Brendan Fairclough

Pic Brendan by Mike Pruett of Bristol Mountain Bike Club, lots more pics on their site http://www.severnbeach.com/dragon_wentwood_2004

and took the 888r forks away with him for his troubles. He HAS to be a lunatic as I know he was still putting his number board on at 10:30 Sat, so he can't have had more than two practice runs............

Good racing between Brendan and Nikki Whiles on Saturday (note two Youth riders were fastest overall, but he was away alone on Sunday, despite being beat to fastest time of the day by a pesky Elite rider (Ashley Mullane (not Malone)).

Ashley couldn't beat Brendan's combined times, so voted for him instead in the 'Guess the 888 Winner' comp I put on. And guess what, the fastest rider on Sunday won the draw out of the 6 people who voted for Brendan to win the forks.

Ashley Mullane

What did I enjoy the most about the weekend??? Well I know I'm biased because I ride in the master category, but they were ace this weekend. I've been severely dissapointed with them in the past and given them a justifyable hard time. Today they redeemed themselves the top three riders were scratching each others eyes out on the first runs, then two out of the top three treating me to major offs on the final corner (excellent entertainment guys thanks).

Jack Tattersall crashing out first run on Sat, busting a couple of ribs on a stump, but taking the Senior series win. Such a big lad, yet he's scared of hospital, s**t my second home was casualty when i was his age, they knew my name (anyone else been there??)

Split times, thanks to Elsa (my eldest girl) and my Mum for running the split. And Manon (youngest) and Lynette for running the start. Sue Mullane (not Malone...doh) for helping me at the finish.

The Expert riders and Rowan 1st and 1st for keeping me entertained with their valiant, but vain efforts.

Paul, Iain and Paul for coming all the way from Scotland to taste the fine dirt of Wentwood.

Sorry to everyone for the fact that we didn't do a chainless race, it was just too muddy to pull it off on Saturday, and Sunday is just not the one, especially when you have to get your van out of the mud, drive up a big hill, work out who's won what, them dish out the booty, don't get me wrong here, I love it.

Good to see Nathan again, would have been more xciting to see him on the telly kicking ass on the Rally of Wales, or whatever it's called now.

Paul Aston with his ridiculously quick 2nd run time on Saturday despite me watching him go clean over the bars in the HUGE puddle 10m from the finish (what could have been eh).

Joseph Smith was 'FLYING' all weekend, nice one fella, keep it up.

Joe and Ben Bishop for 'ruling' the master and senior categories on Saturday, then cooly not turning up on Sunday.

Rob Munn for his clean sweep on the weekend, despite being freaked out by the Veteran nemisis of Jerry Twigg on Saturday. Hey get well soon Josh.

Big up to all the girls who got down and even seemed to enjoy it on Saturday in the gloop, even Caroline who clearly won the Dragon DH coughing championships for 2004.

Don't forget SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PICS PLEASE

An absolutely HUGE thanks to EVERYONE who supported Dragon DH in 2004, that includes riders, sponsors, helpers, advertisers, detractors, every little helps.

I'm committed to making Dragon DH the best DH series in the UK, we need your help to make that happen, vote with your feet and recommend others do too, if you want it come and bring friends, if you don't stay away and i'll get the message. Here's hoping I see you in 2005.

Marzocchi Dragon Downhill 2004 Series Winners

Hardtail - Andrew Cooper

Juvenile - Joseph Smith

Youth Male - Nikki Whiles

Youth Female - Aimee Dix

Junior - Matthew Simmonds

Master - Steve Goode

Veteran - Rob Munn

Ladies - Caroline Mackinlay

Senior - Jack Tattersall

Expert - Rowan Sorrel

Elite - Dan Stanbridge