HMBA XC Race Report – Awaba – Round 8 – 31/10/21

After a three month break (The last 84 days of any Covid-19, two week lockdown are always the hardest), racing resumed at Awaba for those of us fortunate to live in the Hunter / New England area. We look forward to having some of our Central Coast friends back for the November round!! Ninety people showed up, double vaxed as per the required protocols and keen for a morning on their bike.

Dean was keen to see how everybody’s lock down enforced training regimes had worked and set a 6.5 km loop that included a never- before raced climb from Murder Horn all the way up The Salad Bowl and The Straw that was finally rewarded with a bombing run down Wild Pollies and out Jenkins Road. Lap times varied from 17 minutes for A grade whippets up to 32 minutes for the C & D grade legends. E Grade completed 3 trying laps of the Tunnel Loop but the most enjoyable racing of all appeared to be had by the kids on the Development Track.

It was particularly pleasing to see so many first- time racers on the course and we hope to see you back again. (be reassured the race courses definitely don’t always include that much climbing )

To quote Mark Nelmes after the race “ Awesome conditions for my first XC race back in 7 years, the race track provided by HMBA was one not to forget. The undulating terrain and Wild Polly section was an epic mix of fun, sweat and sore quads! Great work HMBA!”

Congratulations to everyone who competed, but particularly the Grade winners

Laura Renshaw and Jason English – A Grade

Bess Murray and Camryn Moores – B Grade

Lili Rae and Tony Borrott – C Grade

Callum Duvollet and Ann Empson– D Grade

Olivia Hicks and Harper Nelmes – E Grade

https://my.raceresult.com/176786

The next club XC Round will be Sunday 21st Nov at Awaba MTB Park.

Reminder: BRING YOUR RACE PLATES to the next race – thanks.

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