Aston Hill Black Run Downhill Race - March 2011 - Event Preview

Downhill racing returns to Aston Hill’s infamous Black Run in March to kick off the 2011 race season.

In its 14th incarnation and becoming a bit of a modern classic, this early season test is a good indication of the riders to watch during 2011 as well as a rip-roaring local race to rag down, foot out, flat out!

As always it will be a great day out for all the family and Aston Hill Mountain Bike Club will be pulling out all the stops; full digital timing from Mikrotime, onsite catering from Cafe in the Woods and all the regular trade stands along with the great atmosphere you’ve come to expect at an Aston Hill race.

"I'm so stoked!" said Pete Way, chairman of Aston Hill Bike Park. "This is the first of at least two races this year, and we're keen to show off all the hard work that's gone into the Hill over the winter. Once again we're aiming to make our races as fun as possible - we've got the infamous Black Run just begging to be ragged, a great list of fantastic sponsors and some of the quickest riders in the south coming over to compete."

There are excellent prizes to be won from sponsors Troy Lee Designs, SRAM, Halo, Identiti, Gusset, Madison.co.uk (Shimano, Bell, Thor), Surf Sales (Kali, TrickX, Dakine), Mountain Mania (Balfa, KODEX), Duffbag and Monster Energy, with more to come. Simon Slater of www.simonslaterphotography.co.uk is going to have a team of photographers on the course and will be offering same-day prints of racers at the the end of the event.

Great food will once again be served up by Wendover Woods' Café in the Woods, Mikrotime will be splitting the seconds, local sports therapist David Price will be set-up to revive weary limbs and Extreme Medics will also be on hand to patch up any unfortunate tumbles.

In total there are nine categories, including Hardtail and Ladies, with each rider getting two timed runs. The event will also be carrying Regional A British Cycling status (as per 2011) for all the point-hungry rag-merchants out there.

Pre-entries start at £25.50 for members and all on the day entries are £35.00.

Spaces are limited - head on over to www.rideastonhill.co.uk to register