JULIE TAPLIN @ MTB EAST – ROUND 5 – GALLOWS GREEN – SUNDAY 25th MAY

Justin Smith·May 26, 2025

Short Track Shenanigans

With Jon Smith unfortunately unable to make the race this weekend (heal up fast, Jon!), I volunteered to step in and bring you the highlights the fifth round of the MTB East series.

Let’s set the scene:

A lovely little spot near Dunmow, a short and punchy course, and a format that had everyone (over the age of 12) racing in two heats of 2–3 laps depending on your category.

Confession time:

This was my first ever MTB race.

This might’ve been less bold if I had, you know… an actual mountain bike. But no – armed only with my trusty gravel/CX bike (and blind optimism), I was assured that the course was totally “CX-doable.” So I signed up for the Female Fun category – hoping for some good times, minimal bruising, and maybe a chance to stay upright.

Cue practice lap drama:

Midway round, we encounter… The Ditch.

The sort of ditch with an angle at the bottom that surely meant the front wheel would go in and never come out. I almost bailed. But then I watched the MTB crowd roll through it like it was a small bump. So I took a deep breath, looked at the other side, and somehow emerged unscathed and upright.

Then, of course… it rained.

Just in time for the women’s races. Because that’s just more fun, right?

Now for the CRCC Highlights Reel:

Under 9’s – A fantastic 3rd place finish!

Under 12’s – A stacked field, but our riders brought it home with 7th, 9th and 13th places. Super strong racing.

Simon Angier in the Men’s Fun – 5th in both heats. Consistent and my two-up for heat 2

Martin Steinwand in the Men’s S1 – Solid 8th and 6th place finishes.

Elite Men – Speedy doesn’t cover it. 3rd and 4th across heats.

Under 14 Female. 3rd in both races and I only have full admiration for this young lady.

Alexandra Hennessy in the Female Elite – Strong and stylish riding, grabbing 2nd and 3rd across the heats.

And me, in Female Fun – Survived both heats, and owe a big thanks to @simon for riding just ahead in the second heat so I could focus on following his great lines.

At the finish line, I swore I’d never do it again.

Cut to me later that evening… googling second-hand MTBs.

So hey – if anyone has a medium-sized mountain bike (I am 5’7/172cm) gathering dust in their shed (bonus points for hydraulic brakes), I’m all ears