National Champs 4X 2010

National Champs Videos followed by a Report as it appered in the West Briton

Riders from Duchy Pirates BMX/4Xclub travelled to South West Extremein Bideford, Devon this weekend to compete in the British Cycling mountain bike Four Cross national; Championships.

The riders competed four at a time on a man made course consisting of jumps, berms, log drops and the infamous rock garden. Course rider and course designer Will Evans who rides for StAustell based Propel Distribution says 'The number one priority for me when designing/ building the track was to ensure that it races well with all four riders. I believe that 4x racing is at its best when the riders make the action'
After two days hard racing through qualifying heats and knock out rounds the riders from Cornwall came away with two podiums and some top results. Scott Dominguez riding for Truro based Dirt Bike Supply came 5th in Juvenile after losing his chain and having to pump two thirds of the track unable to pedal. Falmouth father and son pairing ofMark and Harry Fernigough battled hard all day but Mark suffered an mechanical and Harry put up a brave effort as the youngest rider at the championships aged 8 competing and holding his own against riders twice his age.
Unfortunately Truros Charlotte Green Pure Bicyles was unable to compete in the female Championships races due to a bureaucratic decision on her age although she had won races in the previous days warm up event.
In the mature age categories Truros Andrew Rickett came 4th in the final to Helstons JD Dominguezs bronze medal in masters. In the vets class Redruths pirate Captain Dave Herman came 4th and Dirt Bike Supplys Simon Rickett won the bronze medal for 3rd.
The Elite category was full of incident much involving local riders. Penryns Chris Cumming on return from a near career ending elbow injury qualified well and progressed to the ¼ final as did Duchy exile Gareth Parr who had his career best result of third in Saturdays national points race. Will Evans set the fastest qualifying time of the day only to see last man down the hill reigning national champion Scott Beamont best it by 2 hundredths of second. Will was comfortably moving through the qualifying rounds when he was caught up in another riders crash over the last jump ending his title hopes for this year.
In all a successful national Championships for the Duchys riders. The national points series now moves on theChicksands Bike park , Bedfordshire for the final round, with individual riders last chance to secure points fro their 2010 national ranking and the Dirt Bike supply team from Truro trying to retain its national series title from last year.