R2 - Santon Downham

Santa Comes Down to Santon Downham!

With Christmas just round the corner, the second round of the popular Whyte Winter Series got underway with 600 hundred riders, a few Santas, a bit of tinsel, a couple of reindeers and at least one fairy…Tis definitely the season to be jolly and despite a day full of freezing temperatures and plenty of ups and downs, competitors embraced the 7 mile circuit with much gusto, with close racing throughout the day.

A picture postcard winter’s day, complete with bright blue skies and deep frost greeted the competitors as they poured into the arena, eager to get warm and get to grips with the latest course crafted from all the best bits Santon Downham could provide. Ahead lay copious amounts of signature Thetford singletrack, weaving effortlessly through banks of tall sun shielding trees, keeping the cold further entrenched and the ground solid for at least for the first couple of laps.

Debbie Burton – 1st 2hr lady

“It was a real shock as we’ve not long been back from our hols, but it was lovely out there on the course, cold but with probably the best conditions you could ask for in the winter, much better than rain! It was sunny, nice and hard and not too much mud out there, perfect really. It’s good to see so many riders out there and everyone was good humoured, I think the sun just makes everyone really friendly, also we had a great turn out of ladies in the 2 hours which was brilliant, it’s great to see so many women out there having a go.

Good course, I love riding at Thetford, it’s pretty interesting but not very hilly, suits me down to the ground and I really enjoyed the bomb holes, it was a bit crowded out there but I managed to get through and ride them each time.

I decided to try and get away a bit early, I wanted to get as much space between me and Anna (Buick) as I could, she’s really come on since stepping up to senior so I knew she was on my shoulder for much of the race, I’m so glad we didn’t have another lap to do, otherwise I think she may have got me!”

If you’d like to read more about this race click on the British Cycling link above.

All photos now posted. Have a lovely Christmas and see you next round!