Tag Archives: Maxine

FMTB Trained Athletes – Racing Round Up – British XC and Downhill Series

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Last weekend saw Firecrest Skills and Fitness Trained Athletes in action at both Downhill DH and Cross-Country XC rounds of the British Mountain Bike Series.

British Cross Country Series – Final Round – Langdon Hills – Essex

Maxine Filby rounded out a super successful season in the Women’s Pro-Elite category with another podium ride. Placing third for the second time in the 2012 season secured her a fantastic fourth overall in the series. The Langdon Hills course didn’t present any major problems from a technical perspective and Maxine was one of a number of riders who are calling on XC race organisers to find more technical courses so that the jump from domestic racing to international competition is so big. Of course we here at Firecrest we fully support that and have felt for years that domestic XC mountain biking has become more like road racing on dirt! Let’s hope the organisers are listening?!?

From a Firecrest Skills and Fitness perspective its mission accomplished as far as Maxine’s goals for the 2012 season (a podium at British XC and top five overall) are concerned. Mark (Baines, Firecrest Fitness Guru) and I are already working with Maxine on her 2013 campaign! Look out for her on a podium near you soon!

For the full results from Langdon Hills Click here>>>

Halo Brisith Downhill Series – Rnd5 – Bringewood Forest, Shropshire

The downhillers were racing at the penultimate round of the British Downhill Series at the popular venue of Brindgewood. The event supported by the team at Pearce Cycles was one of the slickest in years with their fleet of Landrover’s really doing the business on the uplift which has become one of the crucial elements to a good weekends racing.

The weekend was dominated by the weather with a fast dry track drenched by biblical downpours on Saturday afternoon the riders dug out the spiked tyres and started to master the ruts rather than the dust!

For Firecrest trained athletes it was another stellar days racing. In the Elite Category Olie Burton was a fraction of the podium in 8th and Harry Molloy came home in 13th. It was great to see mountain bike legend Steve Peat back on top of the box. Peaty showed that the skill in downhill is all about carrying speed and when on form he can carry more than most stopping the clock almost 3 seconds clear of second with the World Championships next weekend it was great to see Peaty on form.

In the Junior Category hopes were high in the Madison Saracen Camp with Firecrest trained rider Josh Lowe fresh from a months DH training in the Alps. To say it was tight is an understatement, Josh came home in 7th but just half a second would have put him in 4th. Testament to the improvements he’s made in August and with the final round to go everything’s focussed on making it onto the box for the series finals.

It was great to see former Aston Hill Junior DeVo rider Phil Atwill get his first Junior win too. Phil’s run time would have put him safely inside the top 15 times on the day and gave him a 4 second winning margin. With the World Champs next week it’s awesome to see Phil on form and we here at Firecrest wish him the best of luck for next weekend in Austria.

For the full results click on over to Roots and Rain here>>>

 

 

 

 

Maxine takes the win and the Series – Southern XC

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Southern  XC Round 5, Pippingford Estate.

It doesn’t seem long ago that it was the first round of the Southern XC Series at Checkendon, the summer has flown by and the final round at Pippingford Estate was upon us.  The 2010 National Championships were held at this venue so as you can imagine it is a pretty tough course.  This year, to stop us all getting too complacent with the course, the sneaky Southern XC crew had changed a few things.  There was a new arena and start loop complete with a few new sections to challenge even the best technical riders.

I did a practice lap with Pete in the morning, it was a little damp but it didn’t seem to be changing the track at all and it rode beautifully.  The descents were fast flowing and I couldn’t help but grin on the way down.  Pete managed to complete his race in the relative dry but as he finished the heavens opened and there was a huge downpour.  After riding the course when it was so dry I couldn’t imagine just how muddy it would become.  I decided not to change to the Kenda King of Traction tyres a decision which I would come to regret about five minutes into the race!

Unfortunately there were only three of us lining up for the final round,  we were without Carla Haines of  WXC who had opted  to do the SW championship and Jo Munden looking after her other half after a bit of crash while out training.  Still, I knew I would be pushed all the way and the course would test me.  After having a few difficult races my main aim for this race was to complete it in one piece.  On the start line it began to spit with rain again, that was soon forgotten though as the gun went to start.  As we hit the first section of single track my back wheel started to slip and slide underneath me, I really wished I’d changed my tyres to have more grip!

I am very lucky in that the training I have done with Firecrest MTB is mostly at Aston Hill, Wendover, which in the wet is the most evil place for riding, slippery descents and gnarly roots to catch you out just like the course I was facing now.  I felt comfortable tackling the ever deteriorating conditions thanks to Ian.  Luckily, I have also been doing some ride and run drills in my training which definitely came in handy when it came to running up the majority of little climbs.  I was relieved to see even the top elite men having to do just the same; it was that boggy.  I managed to slip and slide my around for four long laps and finish just about in one piece.  My win at this round also meant that I won the Series, a great end to a great series.  Thank you to the Southern XC team for providing some challenging courses, I’m looking forward to next year already.

As always I couldn’t do these races without my sponsors so a huge thank you to Ian Warby and Mark Baines at Firecrest MTB, Baines Racing, Sponser Energy products from Fitness Performance Resource, Kenda Tyres, Limar helmets, Lake shoes, Jagwire, POWERbreathe, Working Bodies and AndyStand.

Southern XC Round 5, Pippingford Estate.

It doesn’t seem long ago that it was the first round of the Southern XC Series at Checkendon, the summer has flown by and the final round at Pippingford Estate was upon us. The 2010 National Championships were held at this venue so as you can imagine it is a pretty tough course. This year, to stop us all getting too complacent with the course, the sneaky Southern XC crew had changed a few things. There was a new arena and start loop complete with a few new sections to challenge even the best technical riders.

I did a practice lap with Pete in the morning, it was a little damp but it didn’t seem to be changing the track at all and it rode beautifully. The descents were fast flowing and I couldn’t help but grin on the way down. Pete managed to complete his race in the relative dry but as he finished the heavens opened and there was a huge downpour. After riding the course when it was so dry I couldn’t imagine just how muddy it would become. I decided not to change to the Kenda King of Traction tyres a decision which I would come to regret about five minutes into the race!

Unfortunately there were only three of us lining up for the final round, we were without Carla Haines of WXC who had opted to do the SW championship and Jo Munden looking after her other half after a bit of crash while out training. Still, I knew I would be pushed all the way and the course would test me. After having a few difficult races my main aim for this race was to complete it in one piece. On the start line it began to spit with rain again, that was soon forgotten though as the gun went to start. As we hit the first section of single track my back wheel started to slip and slide underneath me, I really wished I’d changed my tyres to have more grip! I am very lucky in that the training I have done with Firecrest MTB is mostly at Aston Hill, Wendover, which in the wet is the most evil place for riding, slippery descents and gnarly roots to catch you out just like the course I was facing now. I felt comfortable tackling the ever deteriorating conditions thanks to Ian. Luckily, I have also been doing some ride and run drills in my training which definitely came in handy when it came to running up the majority of little climbs. I was relieved to see even the top elite men having to do just the same; it was that boggy. I managed to slip and slide my around for four long laps and finish just about in one piece. My win at this round also meant that I won the Series, a grea

Southern  XC Round 5, Pippingford Estate.

It doesn’t seem long ago that it was the first round of the Southern XC Series at Checkendon, the summer has flown by and the final round at Pippingford Estate was upon us.  The 2010 National Championships were held at this venue so as you can imagine it is a pretty tough course.  This year, to stop us all getting too complacent with the course, the sneaky Southern XC crew had changed a few things.  There was a new arena and start loop complete with a few new sections to challenge even the best technical riders.

I did a practice lap with Pete in the morning, it was a little damp but it didn’t seem to be changing the track at all and it rode beautifully.  The descents were fast flowing and I couldn’t help but grin on the way down.  Pete managed to complete his race in the relative dry but as he finished the heavens opened and there was a huge downpour.  After riding the course when it was so dry I couldn’t imagine just how muddy it would become.  I decided not to change to the Kenda King of Traction tyres a decision which I would come to regret about five minutes into the race!

Unfortunately there were only three of us lining up for the final round,  we were without Carla Haines of  WXC who had opted  to do the SW championship and Jo Munden looking after her other half after a bit of crash while out training.  Still, I knew I would be pushed all the way and the course would test me.  After having a few difficult races my main aim for this race was to complete it in one piece.  On the start line it began to spit with rain again, that was soon forgotten though as the gun went to start.  As we hit the first section of single track my back wheel started to slip and slide underneath me, I really wished I’d changed my tyres to have more grip!  I am very lucky in that the training I have done with Firecrest MTB is mostly at Aston Hill, Wendover, which in the wet is the most evil place for riding, slippery descents and gnarly roots to catch you out just like the course I was facing now.  I felt comfortable tackling the ever deteriorating conditions thanks to Ian.  Luckily, I have also been doing some ride and run drills in my training which definitely came in handy when it came to running up the majority of little climbs.  I was relieved to see even the top elite men having to do just the same; it was that boggy.  I managed to slip and slide my around for four long laps and finish just about in one piece.  My win at this round also meant that I won the Series, a great end to a great series.  Thank you to the Southern XC team for providing some challenging courses, I’m looking forward to next year already.

As always I couldn’t do these races without my sponsors so a huge thank you to Ian Warby and Mark Baines at Firecrest MTB, Baines Racing, Sponser Energy products from Fitness Performance Resource, Kenda Tyres, Limar helmets, Lake shoes, Jagwire, POWERbreathe, Working Bodies and AndyStand.

t end to a great series. Thank you to the Southern XC team for providing some challenging courses, I’m looking forward to next year already.

As always I couldn’t do these races without my sponsors so a huge thank you to Ian Warby and Mark Baines at Firecrest MTB, Baines Racing, Sponser Energy products from Fitness Performance Resource, Kenda Tyres, Limar helmets, Lake shoes, Jagwire, POWERbreathe, Working Bodies and AndyStand.