Sunday, April 27, 2003 -- Oak Hill, WV
New River Vista XC Circuit Race-WVMBA Pts. #4
(iPO Event Id#: 5273)
Story and photos by George Gannon
[Details]
[Coverage]
[Overall Results]
[Results by Class]
Pictures:
[Set 1]
[Set 2]
[Set 3]
[Set 4]
[Set 5]
[Set 6]
[Set 7]
[Sat. DH Results]
[2000 Coverage]
[2001 Coverage]
[2002 Coverage]
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Putting a little trail in your face at ACE
The rain from Saturday came to an end yielding to a beautiful and
sunny day at
ACE
Adventure Center for the fourth stop on the 2003 WVMBA Series
tour. However, what remained was plenty of mud that usually found a
way onto the faces of the determined racers. There is a reason that
they use to call this race the Minden Mud Fest.
The mud was there, as it often is, but the weather more than made up
for mire. Riders were treated to a beautiful spring day with perfect
race-day conditions. And they would need all the help they could get.
When part of the course is called Rigor Mortis, you better hope Mother
Nature is willing to, at lease, give you sunny skies and no rain.
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Dave Flemming takes on Rigor Mortis
One of the more vicious downhills in the state was no problem for
eventual winner
Daniel Evans. Evans, who completed the first
lap in 59 minutes, broke bad on the downhill, seemingly unfazed by the
rocky slope that forced countless other riders off their bikes. He was
followed closely by a fellow Charleston resident
Bryan Fawley.
The duo were in the lead for much of the race and Fawley (2:56:32),
racing in the Men's Junior Expert, finished second overall and just
two minutes behind Evans (2:54:33).
Evans, whose had a solid WVMBA season, said he was pretty happy with the
course and his time. "It was a fun race," he said.
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Leaving the Gorge behind
To finish with times like that, Evans and Fawley were forced to battle
an uphill that would wear a horse out. However, with downhills that one
racer described as "pure insanity," the uphills were a small, but
brutal, price to pay. Plus, if the steep trails don't take your
breathe away, the view of the New River Gorge will.
Finishing third overall, and second in the men's pro class, was
Jason Laxton (2:59:24).
For the women, Cassie Smith (3:53:12) took top honors, but
Mandi Riddle (3:53:52) was just a matter of seconds off the
pace. Rounding out the top three was Abby Johnson(4:54:36).
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And the fans approve
Other winners included: Men's Vet Expert
Scott Root (3:09:58),
Women's Master
Linda Brison (2:06:03), Men's Master
Jon
Phillips (2:26:02), Men's Clydesdale
Brian Schmidt
(2:43:53), Women's Sport
Lindsey Keller (2:45:20), Men's Sport 19-25
Scott Burgy
(2:13:13), Men's Sport 26-35
Michael Haid (2:29:30), Men's
Junior Sport
Bret Fischetti (2:25:12), Women's Vet Sport
Karen Phegley (3:23:12), Men Vet Sport
Doug Wayne
(2:40:03), Men's Beginner
Frederick Carter (1:11:56) and Men's Junior
J.J. Ford (56:20).
In addition to the event staff, an iPlayOutside shout-out has to go to
ACE videographer Kevin Hume, who was kind enough to cart this
reporter around.
