You may have noticed that there’s not been a lot of news about the work going on at Aston Hill on the site; this is because the builders are posting straight to our Facebook page. Go and take a look to catch up with up-to-the-minute progress!

It should be said that come Spring the Hill is going to be ab-so-lutely sick. It’s not just the complete re-build taking place on DH4 that should have you getting sweaty with excitement, there will also be amends to most downhills and plenty of refinements are planned on the XC to make it more weather-proof, more interesting and more beginner/intermediate-friendly too.

If you see the guys working say hi and ask as many questions as you want, but please stay out of any taped-off areas - there is machinery being used.

Roll on Spring!

Rich and some Hillbillys will be working on the 423 this Saturday (29th October) to bring trail structures in line with Forestry Commission guidelines.

What this means in plain English is they will be making sure that the 423′s jumps are solid and super-safe to ride over the winter - by the time they’ve finished these puppies won’t be going anywhere!

The 423 will be shut Saturday morning and should be open again by midday.

It could really do with a little rain…

After a dry week at the end of a very wet August, too many people were tempting the weather gods at Aston Hill. The very dusty course was “like riding on marbles”, according to one racer on Saturday’s practice and “it could really do with a little rain to settle things down” was said more than once.

Well my friends, ask and you shall receive.

To prove that the weather gods are listening and have a sense of humour, racing kicked off at 11am on Sunday and by 11.15 it had started raining. By 1pm it had become a deluge of biblical proportions and at 3pm it was barely letting up. By 5pm, shortly after prize giving, the sun finally came out.

Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?

Still, the conditions proved a few things. The first was that the 423 really is a good all-weather course, standing up remarkably well to the sustained beating that a day of racing brings. The second was that racers are a hardy bunch, with a good portion of riders staying to do a second run on a wet-turning-tacky trail.

The racing!

Hardtails

The hardtails were off first on a dry course, and Sam Johnson and Isaac Mundy of the Identiti Flow team claimed 1st and 2nd, with the 3rd and 4th fastest times of the day (1.10.71 and 1.12.93 respectively) and Matthew James making up the podium, barely four seconds off the winning time. Truly crazy, crazy fools.

More photos!

Event sponsor SimonSlaterPhotography.com‘s team have got all their shots up at www.simonslaterphotography.com/Aston_Hill_4.09.11.aspx

Vince Mo’s are on his website: www.mo-foto.co.uk/set/set_eastern_central_dh_2011.html

Dave Franciosy’s are on his Zenfolio site: davefranciosy.zenfolio.com/f258557286

And last but by no means least, BDS ‘tog Ian Cross has got put his shots on pics4all.zenfolio.com/p44359390

As ever, keep an eye on Aston Hill’s Flickr page and Roots and Rain.

More photo and video links as they arrive!

Here’s Neil Chapman’s suitably slick offering. Enjoy!

Photos of practice…

…are now online from Ian at Pics4all and Dave ‘not so chubby’ Franciosy’s Zenfolio site.

Weather is also looking good and there’s still a few places left.

Coming racing? Sign-on and registration opens at 8am - see you there!

The Eastern and Central Champs pre-entry rider list is now online.

There’s 80 places left and last minute entry opens at 12pm tomorrow (Saturday 3rd September) on Aston Hill.

If you want a place then you know what to do!
  

Aston Hill will be shut this Sunday for the Eastern and Central Regions Champs.

Sam Wakefield rags a new section of the 423

So, can I actually ride this weekend?

Is Aston Hill completely shut for the race?

If you’re planning to ride over the weekend then Saturday is open as usual. On Sunday the trails will be closed as the race course will use elements of other trails (non-racers are totally welcome to come and spectate!)

So is there anywhere I can’t ride on Saturday?

There will be a small area at the end of the 423 taped off on Saturday morning until about midday to allow for course taping. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Is there anything else I should know?

It’s also worth bearing in mind that Saturday is traditionally exceptionally busy in both the car park and on the race track with riders practicing - you may need to park in the race carpark, which is 30m past Aston Hill on the opposite side of the road.

There’s a race? But I can only make Sunday!

What shall I do?

Come along! Bring the family, take a few photos and enjoy seeing some of the best downhillers in the south do what they do best!

OK, how much is it?

There’s no parking or entry fees, so it’s a chance to watch one of the most adrenaline-charged sports on the planet for nothing. What’s not to like?

Where do I find out more about this?

or

I want to race! What shall I do?

Everything you need to know is on the Eastern and Central Regions Champs page, including parking and race entry details.
   

Go to www.rideastonhill.co.uk/events/2011-eastern-and-central-champs/ to read more.

Click here to enter.

Video edit of Wednesday’s RAF MTB DH Discovery Day (which was followed by the RAF Downhill Champs - write up here):