Saturday 7th April was the first round of the Nutcracker Mountain Bike series at  Gandale, Catterick. Here is Ed McParland’s race report.

The course appeared fairly simple at first with lots of fire road, a wooded section and a river bed, but proved a little bit tougher to race!

The start was fast, with all of the juniors sprinting of the line and up the looming fire road climb. I managed to position myself up at the front and led for the first kilometre or so to the initial single track section. After getting a soaking through the rocky river bed I emerged to find just one rider on my tail. I put the hammer down and pushed on. The next thing I knew I was on the ground! I’d slipped on a cattle grid that had caught many of the riders in the earlier race. I jumped up, resurrected my bike and wiped some of the claret off my leg before sprinting back to the front of the race.

For the next four laps there was some cat and mouse action in a road race like fashion. It was only in the last lap that I manage to get away from Adam Martin of Cestria Cycles / Forme Bikes, and secure a lead of around one minute. It was nice to get my first win of the season on the GT Zaskar 29er.

Well done Ed – A great result! Hope the leg gets better soon!