Season Round Up - Highs and Lows

Well that’s it then! Another season over….and what a season! For starters maybe its best to reveal the worst kept secret on the hill – basically The Racersguild Squadron as we know it is no more; certainly not in its current format anyway. Lee and Elliot (Gill) moved teams mid-season and Elliot (Machin) and Mitch are now moving onto bigger things. I’m not one for sentimentality but I know that all four riders, plus Andy, have really enjoyed representing the Racers Guild and everything it stands for i.e. down to earth, grass roots racing at its very best. There was a time when if you mentioned Cannock Chase at a race meeting you were invariably greeted with a blank expression – not anymore. Cannock may not have the biggest hill around but it does have a reputation in racing circles – and that’s due in part to the efforts of The Squadron.

2010 was Lee’s first year of full on racing and I think it would be fair to say he found it a bit of a struggle at times. That’s no disrespect to Lee – the Senior Category is pretty wild at the best of times – plus he changed bikes mid season. Now he’s got a full season of experience under his belt I’m sure he’ll be right up there next season. There’s absolutely no doubt he’s got the ability.

Elliot G has obviously had injuries to contend with but we all now how fast he can be when fully fit. With a new bike and a great attitude, Elliot is going to surprise a lot of people next year.

Andy’s season has been a bit up and down (sorry). That said, anyone who bags a couple of top tens in Regional A races obviously knows what they’re doing. Even at BDS races Andy is regularly beating 60% of the field. If he can just get a bit of consistency going I can see Andy challenging for a place in the Expert class.

Mitch has been a revelation this year. As I write this I believe Mitch has finished 13^th overall in the Junior Category of the British Cycling rankings. That really is an amazing achievement for a rider in their first year of top level racing. Finishing the season with a well deserved win at the Northern Champs was a nice bonus. Make no mistake; Mitch is a very talented rider.

Elliot’s plan for his first year in Experts was, and I quote, “not to look an idiot”! Well he certainly achieved that! Having finished the year in 3^rd place in the rankings he’ll be moving up to race with the big boys in the Elite Category next year. He’s fully aware of how hard it will be but if he shows the same commitment and aggression that he’s shown this year he’ll be fine.

So, there you have it. Broken bikes, broken riders, ups and downs, good times and bad times – a typical downhill racing season really!

Paul Machin

Everyone at Racersguild wishes all our team members all the best in the future and hope that everyone has an awesome 2011 season in their new teams. We especially want to thank Paul Machin for being team boss, publicist and mechanic this year, along with everyone else who has supported the Racersguild Squadron this year.

The Racersguild Squadron will return next year.

Racersguild.co.uk