Shenna competes for Ulster in the Inter Regional Mountain Bike Championships

at Hadleigh Farm Essex the Olympic Mountain Bike Course

 

This is the 3rd Olympic Biking Venue that Shenna has competed this year at only 14years old.

 

The weekend was fantastic and great weather to top it all off.

 

Shenna was part of a Team of 7 competing for Ulster in the Inter Regional Mountain Bike Championships, at Hadleigh Farm Essex the Olympic Mountain Bike Course.

 

15 Regions across the whole of the UK where competing and Ulster ended up 10th overall.

 

This was the first time that so many girls had taken part in a race in the whole of the UK.

56 girls in total took to the start line, even the women’s Olympic race did not have this amount of racers.

Skills Course

1) Riding in squares

· Riders front wheel must go outside of the 4 corners of progressively smaller squares, rear wheel inside.

· Each zone is also failed if any part of the corner is touched, or a rider puts a foot down.

 

2) Bottle pick up

· Riders must pick a bottle up on the first of progressively shorter plinths and place it on the second.

· Each zone is also failed if the bottle does not stay upright, or a rider puts a foot down.

 

3) Wheel lift

· Riders must lift their front wheel over progressively higher obstacles, and then their rear wheel.

· Each zone is also failed if the obstacle is touched, both wheels leave the ground simultaneously (riders may not “bunny-hop” over the obstacle), or a rider puts a foot down.

 

4) Plank traverse

· Riders must ride along progressively narrower planks.

· Each zone is also failed if either wheel slips off the side of the plank, or a rider puts a foot down.

 

5) Slalom

· Riders must cross a progressively twistier course.

· Each zone is also failed if either wheel touches the edge of the course, or a rider puts a foot down.

 

6) Hill climb

· Riders must climb a progressively technically harder course.

· Each zone is also failed if either wheel touches the edge of the course, or a rider puts a foot down.

 

A very tricky course to try and catch them all out on. Shenna got 28th overall.

 

Dirt Crit

Races held over a 3.5 laps of a 500m circuit.

· Each race held over approximately 5 minutes.

· Field split into 4 heats, progressing to 4 semi-finals, progressing to 4 (minor) finals. .

Shenna got in the top 7 in her first heats and put her straight into the A/B semi, Shenna ended up 22^nd over all.

 

Up Hill Climb

• · Race held over a 1km point to point course.

· Each race held over approximately 5 minutes.

· Field split into 2 heats; top half qualifying for the final, remainder for the minor final.

Shenna got 10^th in her heats and got threw to the A finals, Shenna ended up 12^th Overall.

Cross Country Race

• · Races held over a 3.25km lap.

· Each race held over approximately 45 – 60 minutes (5 Laps)

· straight final – single ride determines the result.

This was an extremely hard technical course with lots of rock drops and technical climbs. Shenna finished 17^th overall.

 

Shenna’s comments:

This was an amazing experience, it was good to race on the Olympic Course and with so many girls of the same level. It definitely tested your strengths and weaknesses.

We had a really good team of boys and girls and I felt very proud to be part of this. I would like to thank my School New Bridge Integrated College for all there support and for giving me time off to take part in competitions.