Jarvis warns to the task as he tackles ups and downs of Norfolk series
The 90 Minutes Vet Male Series winners, from left: Mark Wingar, Norwich winner Paul Groombridge and Craig Gunnell. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
Adapting overnight from an OnForm team training camp in Spain to Norfolk in February, Kieran Jarvis broke away from a leading group to win the 90-minute mountain bike race on Shouldham Warren.
Norwich rider Jodie Cole (Series winner, 90 Minute Senior Women) with her trophy, with second-placed Alison Goss. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
As over 150 riders streamed away from the start, the young Dickleburgh rider led fellow juniors Nathan Gibson, Jack Parrish and Troy Wingar, with Vet Paul Groombridge next – ahead of all the Seniors.
As things settled down, Jarvis still set the pace with Watlington rider and UEA student Jacob Shailes, Parrish from Ipswich and Norwich rider Groombridge in close company.
However, with about 30 minutes remaining Jarvis opened a gap and went on to win alone, with Junior and Vet riders taking the next places and Senior winner Mat Eley of the Ely and District club coming sixth.
The Shouldham Warren forest site – between Swaffham and Downham Market – includes the steepest climbs and descents of current Norfolk courses and organisers King's Lynn MTB threw everything in to make a challenging circuit to round off the Winter Series.
Vet Paul Groombridge has his work cut out hanging on to Junior Jack Parrish at the King’s Lynn MTB races on Shouldham Warren. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
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Long stretches of single-track and repeated climbs encouraged the formation of strings of competitors.
Jodie Cole (Epic Orange) won the 90 Minute women's race, but only by just one second from Alison Goss (Team Gunn Velo)
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In the Three-Hour race Andrew Cockburn and Seb Herrod soon opened a big gap on Vet leader Paul Ashby, who himself was well ahead of the rest of the field. Eventually Cockburn turned the tables on Herrod – winner of the previous round – and powered ahead to win. Jonathan Dennis, on a family visit to Norfolk, took third, showing that despite the climbs, a single freewheel transmission is a perfectly viable option for MTB racing.
A dry and bright day was rounded off with the presentations where Overall Class Winners from Norfolk included Jodie Cole (Senior Female 1.5Hr), Jacob Shailes (Junior Male 1.5Hr), Paul Groombridge (Vet Male 1.5Hr) and Paul Ashby (Vet male 3Hr).
Kieran Jarvis leads Jacob Shailes and Paul Groombridge though the trees at the King’s Kynn MTB races on Shouldham Warren. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
HQ for Sunday's Godric CC Reliability Trial has been changed to Ditchingham Village Hall NR35 2QN. Further details are on the Godric CC website under 'Rides'.
Kieran Jarvis leads Nathan Gibson and Jack Parrish away from the start in the King’s Kynn MTB races on Shouldham Warren. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
