Gorrick Enduro MTB - First WIN of the season

Wow! Mountain biking is awesome. Why have I had to wait so long to do a race?? Well, I suppose it might have had something to do with a said broken leg?

Press: AW Cycles show real strength at the recent Gorrick Enduro held through the Swinley, Surrey Hill and Crowthorne Woods on the May bank holiday. First, second and thrid place for the AW MTB team. With record-number of entries for the enduro, Rob, Mark (Hutt) and Mark (Cracknell) showed their class with impressive placings. Worth noting were their lap times, including the opening lap (44:39) were the quickest on the day. View the report, results and photos here.

The race:
The course was fast. An unrelenting course with a mix of smallish steady climbs, fast flowing wicked singletrack and some particularly windy fireroads. It was perfect weather - great temps and no moisture on the course.

As the gun went race turned hard left and up the hill (feed zone hill) all scambling to get to the first singletrack. A bloke from Liphook went charging up the climb and onto the first singletrack like a greyhound out the blocks. He soon faded - after 1 minute. Meanwhile Mark (Hutt), Mark (Cracknell) and I pretty much dropped the rest before the first 1 mile was up. We set a blistering pace, which no one could follow. Even our very own Mark (C) eased off soon after this - not sure if that was a diliberate move to cover anything from the main group??

Mark H and I continued in a blaze desperate to put daylight between us and them. Also, with us having som much fun we just found ourselves pushing harder. Lap by lap Mark and I hammered on. We had a few dramas trying to get passed slower riders - we seemed to always be saying "Riders... passing on your left/right". Some were only too obliging... even words of encouragement, while others got a bit upset with us. [Sorry to those guys we upset]

As we approached the last few miles of the final lap I was a bit unsure what to do? As Mark is my team mate and we worked well together (pacing each other) - "Should I attack or just leave it?", I kept thinking to myself. I mean I'd like to win this race - we all like to win. But, I was in a pickle. So, in the end I decided to just hang back and see what happens. Well sure enough Mtb Master Mark put down the hammer trying to shake me off his wheel. The last section was difficult to pass so if he got into that section first that would be it. As it happened he did - he got into the section first and hooked it to the finish. But, with a stroke of luck for me he switched lines and crossed over leaving the track open to me. I acclerated and passed with ease getting into the last turn ahead and took the win. I gift!

For my efforts I got a silver winners plate, a finishing medal and a Gore Bike Wear jacket. And, the best... an awesome day out on my mountain bike riding a wicked course.

The bike:
What more can I say except this is a beast! Certainly the best hard tail cross country bike I've ever ridden. She handled superbly in the tight and twisty singletrack and was brilliant on the climbs. I never used my lockout that much as the climbs were too short. The wheels were awesome and I think my tyre choice (Hutchison Pirahna) perfect.

Thank you's:
Bridge, Kate and James - for their support
Mark - wicked race partner
AW Cycles - bike sponsor (Giant XTC Zero)
Race sponsors - Gore Bike Wear
Race organisers - Gorrick Mountain Biking

Results:
1. Rob Enslin 02:19:54 (44:39; 47:24; 47:51)
2. Mark Hutt (AW Cycles)
3. Mark Cracknell (AW Cycles)