Ae Forest in Dumfries is short, rocky and fast; starting out at the top with fast open single-track broken up with corners and small jumps before crossing the first road into the rock garden - a very quick section with a few drops and step up jumps leading you into the infamous coffin jump; a big do or die double at the entrance to the new final wooded off camber section filled with loose soil, tree stumps, open corners all crossed with roots.



Next up, the step down dropped riders at warp speed into two of the biggest berms in UK downhill racing before 'the elevator' ;the final steep slope down into the finish field which when hit at speed is impossible not to fly off landing anywhere up to fifteen foot further down the hill before a short sprint to the line.

We had a weekend of real contrast. Practice on Saturday was dry and bright but it wasn't to last: seeding runs were hit by a hail storm which made the track icy and slick; we awoke at our B&B (The lovely Cowan's Farm Guesthouse where we where made very welcome) to see the last of the overnight rain clearing but it had already made the track really greasy for the mornings practice. Luckily the rain held off for most of the day with the track beginning to dry out as each category rode down scrubbing off the mud the track got faster and faster before racing kicked off.



Whilst congratulating Si and Steve for all their hard work over the weekend we feel its necessary to point out that having the M.C burping down the microphone at what is supposed to be one the UK's premier mountain bike events isn't really on Mr. Paton!!

The rain came down again just before the Elites raced soaking the open sections of the track and making the top rock sections very tricky. When the mud settled:

In Elite Matt Simmonds flew down the track and onto the podium in 5th with Fergus Lamb taking a well deserved 13th. Joe Smith took 3rd in Junior with Jack Geoghegan just off the podium in 6th. Richard Thomas is back on it after injury putting in a fantastic ride to take 3rd in Expert.



Paul French continued his domination of the Veteran category taking to the top step of the podium in 1st place. Our Youth riders had some unlucky crashes after seeding well the day before. Ali Wilson who seeded 4th finished 8th and Stefan Thomas finished 11th. Co-factory rider Pete Robinson seeded 16th in Youth but an over the bars moment in his race run saw him finish 26th. Well done Guys!