Wightlink-Wight Mountain Cycle Race Team members, Allan and Ewan Cook, Nick Earley, Ben Johnson, Andy Ward and Stuart Waite were in action in ‘The New Year Hangover’ – the 2nd round of the Brass Monkey XC Endurance Winter Series at Hungry Hill in Hampshire on Sunday (8th January).
Winding through heath and pine woodland, the course consisted of a number of float single tracks with tight turns and some long fire road stretches which would test the riders to the limit in the gruelling conditions.
In the Men’s 2hr category, Nick was up against some top-class riders but was feeling confident after his recent results and he changed his tactics, going out fast on the 1st lap and racing from the front rather than picking off riders each lap. What started out as a fun course turned into a ‘slip and slide’ mud fest when the rain came in halfway through the race. Nick dug in to take 3rd place and valuable points in the overall series.
In the Men’s Vet 40+ category, Stuart, riding in his first XC race of the 2023 season, put in a solid performance to finish in 7th place with Andy riding well to come home in 15th in a field of 70 riders. Although Ben had a good start, unfortunately, he had to pull out after 2 laps.
Juvenile, Ewan, pushed himself to the limit to take another credible 6th place against some tough opposition. Dad, Allan, racing in the Grand Vet 3hr race, was looking good in the 1st half of the race, but a mechanical issue forced him to retire.
