Dave, sorry to hear about your experience in what has been a great year for you and i would have thought you would be in great form for a podium.! Its unfortunate and im sure was not meant to happen. XCM is prob the most difficult xc race to organize. We ran it on 09 and it was alot of work for the guys at the time. Having said that, organizers of any race need to ensure the guessing is removed and the rider just has to race. I wasnt there so i cant comment on the event itself, but i will say that reports of verbal abuse of marshals from some riders is disturbing and un-called for and that hopefully Hannah was ok.
In 08 (i think) myself and corney were 6th and 7th in a race on lap one and then ended up 1st and 2nd on lap 2 without passing anyone. We missed a 2km section from a crossroads that wasn't manned or marked well (tape may have been removed). Anyway thats history but i decided that any national race we run in the future would be well taped and even over taped at turns so that nobody would every have reason to take a wrong turn. It just ends your race when you go off course.
I dont think you are on facebook but you may be interested in the reply from the organizers (see below)
"Thanks everyone for their feedback both good and bad. 36km of trail where set out over 3 days using a combination of printed Orange signage, flags and marker tape, barriers and race tape as we have seen ourselves competing in XC marathon and stage races locally and abroad (we do not spray paint trees). As 60% of the course used the established main Red trail, the trail marker posts (wooden posts with marker direction disks) at all junctions these where incorporated with marker tape and signage when needed (same as last year). Even if all the marking had been removed riders can get to yellow river following the existing trail signage. At yellow river a section of barriers separated riders from the out section after the river and in section from the bog. This was clearly marked by signage and the right hand turn is clearly shown on the course map published on our site 4 weeks ago (I am attaching pictures taken the morning of the race). We naively assumed riders had experience of following trail centre signage at this stage of trail centre development in UK/IRE. We had 22 marshals plus 3 Moto riders. All our marshals are volunteers and many will not return given the abuse many of our FRIENDS received from a minority of riders on the day. I take full responsibility for the course marking on the day, if any rider has a problem they contact me directly and I will do my best to answer criticism. Rider frustration is no excuse for what marshals have told me was said on the day.
There where two RED CROSS medic stations again clearly shown on the course map (4WD @ Yellow River Crossing + standard rig at St/Fin), two of the motos are REC First Aiders carrying kit) and FA stations where detailed in the course notes (map was posted at registration btw). Four riders where treated at the St/Fin for cuts and minor bruising. Hanna was taken out by a rider who crossed the barriers after coming off Castle Bog and entered the down hill (Free Fall), was told SHE was going the wrong way (she was not btw), stopped and was hit from from behind, this was not that riders call, Hanna was down trail, on line and had priority. Marshals where informed of a 'crash' at Yellow River Bridge Crossover but given no number, I immediately went looking for the crash via Moto and found no rider, returned and continued on to feed 2 and passed no riders in obvious difficulty. I am contacting Hanna directly.
he weather was tough but that's the mountains! Our main moto marshal swept the course to follow the last rider home at just under 7hrs. So that's it, sorry for the essay but it had to be said! Tanks everyone who had a good day given the conditions and congrats to all the winners, sorry some riders thought it was a sham, this is unfair to all the team who gave up time to prep and help out, it was not run to be one! Best of luck to the next club who takes up the mantle of the fantastic XCM Champs! I'm off to ride my bike! Contact Conor Graham at SummitMTB if you need to discuss any of my post! Con"
