Due to the forestry operations closing the Bike Park/Downhill Zone at Rushmere Country Park, I moved the Christmas DeVo forward to Saturday 6 December. Christmas DeVo is always one of my favourite sessions, it’s great to see everyone get into the spirit of the season. The Christmas DeVo is a party format with a series of fun challenges and competitions supported this year by DMR Bikes.
The morning started with the DMR Long Jump. This elimination challenge isn’t for the faint‑hearted: as the qualifying line moves down the landing it can get wince‑inducing as bikes, ankles and wrists take heavy impacts. With DeVo alumni Tom Hawkins and Will Tyrell showing what’s possible, it was twins Charlie and James Baddeley who battled for the win. In the end James just pipped Charlie for bragging rights and the first of the DMR prizes.
The competition then moved to the dirt jumps for DMR Best Trick and Best Whip. The jam format saw riders throwing down their best moves and it was brilliant to see the progression, many rode the six‑pack for the first time, while others pulled off tricks they’d only dreamed of months ago.
With the judges watching in awe, 10‑year‑old Wyatt Harris took the DMR Best Trick prize with a one‑handed no‑footer, a firm judges’ favourite. Hugh Burleigh underlined his style by taking the DMR Best Whip prize.
Next came the Santa Train, a Christmas DeVo favourite. The first train rolled down the blue run and the usual pinch points caused some M25‑style congestion, but it was fantastic to see the trail snake down the hill. The train then moved to the red run with fewer hold‑ups, and rider after rider rolled down for an amazing send‑off for the park.
To round out the morning we returned to the bottom table‑top for another Best Trick and Best Whip contest. The judges did a stellar job and it was great to see Rushmere Trail Volunteers Riley Dijima and Sam Faulkner set the bar — Riley threw one of the cleanest 360s on a bike he’d only just unboxed, while Sam dialled up the style and airtime to take Best Whip.
What a morning — slightly tainted by the knowledge this is the last time DeVo rides the Bike Park Downhill Zone in its current form, but a brilliant way to celebrate another year of the Firecrest Young Rider Development Programme.
I have a thousand thank‑yous to give — far too many to list here, but you know who you are. The DeVo programme wouldn’t be what it is without your continuing support. Thanks as always to all the young riders and their parents who support the programme.
Thank you to DMR Bikes for the prizes and giveaways and to Stans for sponsoring blow out of the day which was won by Charlie Baddeley on the Dirt Jumps!
As the bike park closes for forestry operations the future is uncertain, but Aston Hill will be back in 2026 and I can’t wait to move DeVo Level 2 back to its spiritual home. In the meantime, DeVo sessions will continue at Rushmere Park using the downhill sections of the XC circuit for coaching. Regulars will know how good some of these sections are, and I’m confident we can maintain the session standard without the bike park. The next session is on Saturday 20 December — book via the British Cycling website here >>>
If I don’t see you before, have a great Christmas and New Year — see you on the trails.
Thanks as always to Rob Jeffries for his time spent trailside taking photo’s you can check out his photos from Saturday morning here:
Rob Jeffries – Christmas Devo Photos – Part 1
Rob Jeffries – Christmas Devo Photos – Part 2
We also had Matthew Punter come along for the morning and you can find the link to his photo’s here>>>
| Category | Location | Male/Female | Winner |
| Best Costume | Male | Jasper Mckensie Toby Mackensie Jakey George | |
| Best Costume | Female | Evie Jefferies | |
| DMR Long Jump | Bottom Jump | Male | James Baderly |
| DMR Long Jump | Bottom Jump | Female | Evie Jefferies |
| DMR Best Trick | Dirt Jumps | Wyatt | |
| DMR Best Whip | Dirt Jumps | Hugo Burleigh | |
| DMR Best Whip | Tabletop | Male | Sam Faulkner |
| DMR Best Whip | Tabletop | Female | Evie Jefferies |
| DMR Best Trick | Tabletop | Male | Riley Djima |
| DMR Best Trick | Tabletop | Female | Evie Jefferies |
| Crash of the Day | Issac Cannone | ||
| Stans Best Blow Out | Charley Baderley |