Provincial Championships

The BC Season is officially over. No more Island Cups, no more BC Cups. Only two weekends left of racing in this season then a 3 month break before mountain bike season starts again--and that all sounds great to me...Contrary to Sunday's post, Saturday's race (BC Cup Finals) WAS exciting for Drew and he took an early lead in the race and kept extending it (until a few good crashed in the last lap brought the fear of approaching competitors) to claim the win for the day. Absent Tyler Trace won the series overall.

Provincial Finals, after the tape has been taken down

Sunday's race was in North Vancouver. It was a technical course with some solid mud sections, technical, slippery turns, and fast straight-aways. At the start, Alison, Jean Ann, and I battled for the hole-shot with Alison taking it into the first corner. Jean Ann grabbed onto her wheel, but I got bogged down in the mud and a small gap formed. Behind me Stacey Hutton and Sandra Walters were right on my wheel ready for me to make a mistake. I did on the backside of the course first lap where I put a knee down and struggled to get back up. Sandra jumped in front and took the lead of our group.

Women's Provincial Podium

Sandra and I battled with Stacey barely a wheel away until Sandra attacked decisively and left Stacey and I to battle it out the rest of the race. After attacking and getting in front of me for half a lap Stacey slipped on an ugly corner and got caught up in the course tape. It was enough to get me a solid gap and I kept on the gas to cross the finish line in 4th, with Stacey in 5th--Props to Stacey who just got into cross this year and has been racing with the master's women!

Men's Provincial Podium

In the men's race, Evan Guthrie took a decisive lead. Craig Richey ended up in second, Dan McDonald in third, and Drew in fourth after 2 flats (luckily we had spare wheels!). Because we raced at the same time as the men, I don't have a more specific race report than that...

Over the barriers at Shawnigan Lake School

But...as promised here are photos. They aren't all from this weekend (the two podium shots are, but the race shots are courtesy Regan Pringle and are from Island Cup Finals at Shawnigan Lake School).

Now...I have ANOTHER day completely off...so I should get going and do some scavaging for groceries, some cleaning, and some book reading!