National Marathon Championships (incorporating the MBR Big Welsh Weekend) - Margam Park, South Wales.

You couldn’t have asked for a better championship; a brilliantly tough venue in a picturesque setting and a wealth of talented riders all vying for that top spot and with it that all elusive reward of a national jersey and medal. The championships returned for it’s fourth year to the original venue where the championships first got underway 4 years ago, Margam Park. Situated in South Wales just a stones throw away from Port Talbot and the industrial steel works, Margam is one of the UK’s most loved venues by competitors from all over the country combining a mixture of punishing climbs, fast fire roads. Throw in some soul sapping grass and some treacherously deceiving mud and you have all the makings of a grand day out and a worthy battlefield to crown our national champions.

As with all mountain bike events, eyes were firmly fixed on the weather, as the ensuing conditions can make or break a race for many concerned. Torrential rain leading up to the weekend left the ground slightly boggy in sections but nothing too limiting. Come race day itself and a low mist slowly burnt off to leave a dull overcast day with plenty of humidity to catch you out.

Sally Bigham – Women’s Marathon Champion.

“National Champion, well what can I say, I’m lost for words actually, really really speechless, I’m so, so, so, surprised. I was really intimated by the line up in the race today, so to win this from all those talented women, I’m just speechless I just don’t know what to say!”

Ian Wilkinson – Men’s National Marathon Champion.

“You never think you’ve won until you get down to the end of the field and over that line. I attacked Nick on the 3rd lap at the feed climb, got a gap and then spent the next hour battling my demons, saying “I’m gonna get caught, I’m gonna get caught”. Out there on your own you’ve nothing to gauge how you’re going and you keep pushing yourself because you’re convinced you’re slowing up.”

If you’d like to read the full report click on the BC link above.