Friday 16 March 2018

Jumping into Mountain bike racing

9/3/18 There were a few worried faces when riders heard they may have to go over a jump in this years Mountain bike round of the YHPSCL. Although when it came to practise nearly all of the 81 riders from the eight schools that turned up opted to try out the A line and went over that jump. Whilst during the actual races many riders found it faster going round the longer B line. As well as the jump there were other technical sections involving descents and ascents with tight corners and slippy mud to contend with so the riders had a good deal of learning to get in before racing.

Arlo getting air over the jump
 The number one coaching point we were aiming at all riders understanding was the ready position for MTB riding. The ready position should be your neutral go-to position when riding as it provides good stability, control of the bike and is the starting position for many other techniques and skills. It sets the rider up for whats coming next - be it a tight corner or rocky drop off - looking ahead, stood up on level pedals, brakes covered and weight balanced over the centre of the bike means a rider should be able to tackle whatever is coming up. This is something riders can practise anywhere on any bike which will improve their bike handling all round.

Good display of the ready position from Jimme
Year 4 girls getting ready to start
 First to race were the year 4 girls and straight away the girls form Jubilee were to the fore - Charlie Poppy and Grace looked to make a clean sweep of it however Merle form Gayhurst pipped Grace on the line to deny them the 123. The strength in depth of the Jubilee girls continues to impress.
Year 4 girls in action

Year 4 girls in action

Year 4 girls in action

Year 4 girls leading trio


Year 4 girls results
 Next up were the year 4 boys and once again the Millfield's lads were showing strongly with Harris building an impressive lead over the rest of the field to take the win followed by team mate Logan with Brandon coming in third for Jubilee.


Year 4 boys winner - Harris

Year 4 boys podium

Year 4 boys results

Year 5 girls line up
The year 5 girls race saw Ishanna and Lena of Jubilee slug it out for the first two laps followed by Lola from Millfields in the Ishanna pulled away just enough to take the win.

year 5 girls in action
year 5 girls in action

year 5 girls in action

year 5 girls in action
year 5 girls in action

year 5 girls in action
year 5 girls in action

year 5 girls results


 year 5 boys line up
 The last event was the year 5 boys with riders from Millfields and Gayhurst setting the pace - eventually the duo of Jimme and Nicolas proved too strong for Arlo meaning another 1-2 for Millfields.
year 5 boys in action

year 5 boys in action

year 5 boys in action


Year 5 boys leaders

year 5 boys in action

year 5 boys in action

year 5 boys in action


year 5 boys leading trio 



Year 5 boys results

year 5 boys podium
Once again it was great racing by all - its good to see so many smiles on faces as they are going round and hopefully they will all be practising their mtb techniques over easter. Jubillee won the round narrowing the gap to Millfields at the top of the league slightly. The next round is in May - grass tack at Hackney Downs for years 4 and 5 again - see you there.
Current league standings after round 6.





Thursday 1 March 2018

Circuit Racing in February...

Action from the year 5 girls race

23/2/18

Another windy and chilly winter day did not deter over 80 riders from turning up to race on the Lea Valley Velopark circuit last Friday. At least this time they had a tailwind blowing them along the finishing straight.

Ishanna wins the year 5 girls race
 The first race was the year 5 girls with 20 riders. Jubilee took 1st and third in the year 5 girls  with Ishanna and Lena whilst Sophie from Kingsmead finished a strong 2nd.
Year 5 girls results
Next up were the year 5 boys with 23 starters and it ended up clean sweep for the Millfields boys with Jimme winning from Louis then Fergus.


Year 5 boys line up

Year 5 boys results

Jimme wins the year 5 boys race



Year 6 girls line up
The year 6 girls saw another win for Millfields as Ashleigh held  off Mabel and Iris from Jubilee.

Year 6 girls results

I think thats Ashleigh coming in to win the year 6 girls...binoculars anyone?

Year 6 boys line up
Year 6 boys results
 The year 6 Millfields boys were not to be outdone by their younger team mates and completed another clan sweep of the podium with Milton way ahead of Solomon and Kaspar.
Milton wins the year 6 boys race

League standings after round 5