Like many of us, our athletes had been chomping at the bit to get back between the tape and all the fun that comes with that. There seemed no better excuse to assemble in the beautiful English Lake District for a weekend of wild trails and camping.

Joining us for the weekend was: Team Chain Reaction Cycles Kelan Grant (along rapid chauffer, camping partner and ex-Nukeproof athlete Greg Callaghan) joining his Wigan’ese Team Mate Elliott Heap. From the Pro’vateer/ independent/ rouge racer ranks we had local lakes legend Adam Brayton (who despite a few days stay in the NHS’s finest establishment earlier in the week couldn’t not help himself but race), Meg Whyte (on her new stunning Mega- more on this soon), future youtube sensation Ant Hale and young welsh pinner Cai Grocott (who got stuck in the UK bank holiday traffic, so missed all of practice and raced blind).

Unfortunately we had an early casualty, illness took out one of the flock before the weekend with Katy Winton not able to join up this time (She’s thankfully better now though).  

And what a greeting we got.. Some of the finest set of “nibbley”, tech stages this side of Windermere (kudos to the trail builders) and a weekend of weather with the UK spring/ summer finally getting its act together. A stacked field of both local and international talent made for some fierce competition too all perfect to get the race nerves bubbling again. Kelan Grant, back racing in his first event for nearly 2 years (missing last season with injury), battled a few “minor issues” to take fastest senior and a strong 4^th overall on his Giga 290c.

As for the rest of the squad, they all battled through with some “major issues”, like any good racer had some fantastic excuses why they didn’t top the time sheet (caught the person in front, forgot how to ride, my dog eat it, punctures, hugged to many trees, liked the feel of the dirt on the floor so rolled in it etc.). Congratulations to Greg and Becky for the overall wins. The athletes are super competitive, so not winning always hurts a little, but there can only be one winner and the weekend was worth so much more than a result. A great time together as a team, a laugh with mates and getting the competitive bug lit ahead of the season ahead. Honestly, I don’t think you could find a finer bunch of humans to hang with and entertain for the weekend.

Thank you to all the customers we meet going around, incredible and a little humbling to see so many Nukeproof product out on the stages. A huge thank you to Kev and his whole team of helpers, trail builders, marshals and medics who made this fantastic event possible, we will be back for the next one!