BSHRA Kings West (6-7th February, 2016)

​After a superb race weekend at Rendlesham with magnificent trails and temperatures were as low as we have had all season, it was back to somewhere close to what we have encountered most of the season albeit the Celsius gauge measured 7.8 degrees at 8:15am on Saturday but with a humidity reading of 90% and on Sunday at 8:15am although feeling much cooler with clear skies rendering the humidity less of a concern the temperature was still 5.2 degrees only a couple of degrees down on Saturday. The decision to run the 2.8 mile trail on Saturday was a fairly safe one for A, B, C4 and BK classes, as indeed I felt the same for C3 and D classes at 2.2 miles. The S class, J1 and J2 where again sensible for the time of day these classes where scheduled for and at 1.5 miles it certainly wasn’t all over before it had begun.

In hindsight maybe I could’ve added a tad more distance on Sunday but after having masses of positive comments of the trails I put on for everyone on Saturday I decided if it wasn’t broken I wouldn’t fix it, thanks to everyone for accepting this decision so heartily.

Having my first attempt to set trails at Kings West, I was so grateful to Ali Koops who spent (probably for her) a boring 4 hours on her Sunday off chaperoning me around Kings time and time and time again until at least I had a good knowledge of all the trails that were available to me, thank you so much Ali.

On set up day a big thank you to Steve Rooke and Sally Leich for taking the day off from their respective works to help me lay out the trails. Dave Beech was also on hand to set up start and finish chutes. Christine, Tyff Awesome Pye and Julie Collins for supplying refreshments all day.

On Race weekend a big thank you goes to Andrew Grisbrooke for two days of scrutineering rigs and scooters before and in between his A class and C4 class runs. Sally Hart for surreptitiously organising all the marshals without a hitch (I don’t know how you make a very difficult job look so easy). To Steve Rooke for changing every trail over both days. Dave Beech for delivering and collecting all marshals. Thanks to all marshals, starters, snubbers and helpers who where on hand to help all of us to participate in the racing, well done everyone.

The “A” class again showed Andrew Grisbrooke and Hugh Sym locking horns in friendly rivalry winning one race a piece with much needed skill to guide their 8 dog teams round the trail, well done guys.

The “B” class this weekend had no surprises in store as Sally Leich, Caroline Kisko and myself took 1st, 2nd and 3rd places respectfully each day. Sally still continues to raise the bar in this class.

In 30 years of racing Siberians I have never encountered such an extraordinary incident as happened on Saturday. With Mel Reeves accidentally becoming detached from her 4 dog team just before the chicane (now named Reeves corner, your famous now Mel). Magnificently Christ Wellstead managed to rescue the musher less team. Then enter the fray Tim Hart. Unselfishly and without regard for his own performance he drew up along side a distraught Mel Reeves, only to give his 4 girl team to Mel knowing that this team would get Mel home safely, in which they duly obliged, WOW WHAT A TEAM! Tim then chased on foot to take charge of Mel’s team and take a safe route home so as not to interfere with anybody else’s race, you’re a top man Tim.

The “C4” results where turned around on both days with Mel Hannam, Julie Collins and Jack Dixon taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively on Saturday. Sharon Sargent pipping Mel on Sunday by 1 second with a fine run with Julie in 3rd.

The “BK” class looks like its Tom Quinton’s, two more fine wins but second and 3rd places are very much to run for.

The “C3” class, what a great Saturday race we had here, with the first 4 places separated by only 4 seconds. Kev Spooner was in his customary 1st position but it was good to see Luke Nicholls, Roger Bellamy and Kirk Robinson all but a couple of metres away pressing Kev very hard today. On Sunday we had the third turn around of the weekend (how many more could we have!). Luke Nicholls taking his first ever BSHRA win with Kirk Robinson promoted to 2nd and Paul (Beethoven) Pateman in 3rd.

In “D” class we saw a fantastic run with Dorit Fellner and her two girls nipping in front of a traditionally strong solid run by the young Tyler Collins with a 1 second margin, with Mr P in 3rd. For this result only to be reversed on Sunday with Mr P in between Tyler and Dorit.

The “DM” class saw turn around number 5 with Diane Jackson, Mary Glover and James Taylor, taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd on Saturday. However on Sunday Adrian Walker was “chuffed to bits” to take his first BSHRA win, with Dianne in 2nd place and Mary (with her Sammy’s) in 3rd.

The “S” class saw Ben Pleasent’s again show a clean wheel to the field, with the still injured Alexandra Taylor courageously taking a fine 2nd and Tim Purser in 3rd. No turn around here as the first two remained in situ on Sunday with Mr P in 3rd.

In the “J2” class Paige Glover had a fine win on both days with ever enthusiastic Sam Homer in second place (at least he gets round the course properly on both days Helen!)

The “J1” saw turn around result number 6 with Ben Platt having a great run for 1st on Saturday and Masie Glover having a very determined run in 2nd and Lucy Taylor in 3rd, only for Lucy to take the race off Ben on Sunday with Masie 3rd (what a weekend this was for these three fine young mushers).

AT LAST then in summary, we had;
1 extraordinary incident
2 dry days
3 good trails (thanks for all your positive comments)
12 positions decided by just under or just over 1 second (that’s why we have the best timer in the business, thank you Alistair Spowart)
20 classes won by 16 different mushers
Lots of help, from lots of people (THANK YOU ALL) and a bucket load of fun!!! 😝

See you all at Elveden for the next episode.

With Thanks
Steve Biddlecombe