So when we started Dirt Wars UK in 2010 to bring new riders on to the dirtjump comp scene we really didn’t think we would be here today hosting the 10th Anniversary Series. We’ve seen other comps come and go and we are still here stronger than ever with an amazing group of riders and an awesome UK dirt jump scene.
2019 is the 10th Anniversary and what better venue to kick it off than Radical Bike Park in Chelmsford Essex.
With a course consisting of a huge roll in tower then 2 big jumps with a quarter pipe to finish we decided to run both Open/AM and Pro/Elite on the same course as the level of riding from both classes was off the hook and we could see from the practice the riders were getting in on the Saturday that all were well capable and confident enough on the big line.
Qualifications went off and it seemed like the riders were ready to go straight to the final as they all came out blazing their trick bags and unleashing the big tricks they had dialled.
Rhys Pryce Griffiths was first out with suicides, 360 and 540’s on the quarter pipe followed by little 10yr old Finley Davies with No Footed Cans to No Footers, Backflip Table Tops and Candy Bars.
American rider Colton Lowry was out to show the UK riders that the USA have what it takes to keep up with the UK boy’s throwing out Tuck No Handers, Seat Grabs and Barspins.
The 4x Racing duo of Dan Wagstaff and Marti Pearce were on form with Dan pulling out No Footers to No foot Cans and Tailwhips where as Marti was throwing limbs all over the shop with No Footers, Tuck No Handers and No footer one Handers.
Back from a Ski Season PORC’s Kerry Pert was showing hes just as good on a bike as he is on Ski’s throwing down super clean 360 Tables and Tailwhips.
With all runs out the way Qualifications were as follows.
1st Joe Simkins
2nd Darren Estall
3rd Dan Wagstaff
4th Rhys Pryce Griffiths
5th Finley Davis
6th Larn Baldwin
7th Kerry Pert
8th Oscar Golding
9th Aiden Mc Millan
10th Colton Lowry
11th Harry Bolton
12th Marti Pearce
With the Open/AM riders all finished it was time to get the big guns out on the course and send it!!!
Rose/Smuggling Duds rider Harry Cambell was snapping at the heals of the top 3 but couldn’t quite pull out the run he wanted finishing the day in 4th place with a run of a Frontflip, Backflip One Footed X-Up and a Flair on the quarterpipe.
The top 3 riders runs were some of the hardest runs that have ever had to be judged at Dirt Wars with only 0.5 of a point separating the 3 riders.
3rd place was taken by Hope/Salice’s Tom Reynolds with a super clean run of a 360 Tailwhip, Double Tailwhip and a 540 on the quarter followed by 2nd place winner Slam69’s Alfie Stephens who put out a top run of a Double Tailwhip, 360 Indian Air Seat Grab and an Opposite inverted Table on the quarterpipe.
The day was taken by 1st place winner and Radical Bike Park local Cameron Crozier with an outstanding run of a 360 Downwhip, Frontflip and a Tailwhip on the quarterpipe to finish.
1st Cameron Crozier Radical Bike Park
2nd Alfie Stephens Slam69
3rd Tom Reynolds Hope/Salice
4th Harry Campbell Rose/Smuggling Duds
5th Joe Aldridge Chromag/Letsavew
6th Sam Hodgson Saracen/Madison
7th Zac Rainbow NS/Joystick
8th Alex Cahill Saracen/Grinder
9th Ali Dunn Atomlab
10th Ryan Nangle (DNS) Holdshott Crew
For 2019 we are also holding a best trick comp throughout the series sponsored by Bike Chain Ricci/Team Mt3 with both Open and Pro riders being judged together. The judging is being done by 5 year old ripper Kolby (@Kolby267 on insta) and for round 1 Kolby chose Sam Hodgson’s perfect Flipwhips, Well done Sam and Thanks Kolby for being an awesome judge…
What an awesome end to round 1 of the 2019 British National FMB Series, The next round is on the 26th May at Chicksands Bike Park in Bedfordshire. Details are up on the Info tab of the website.
See You There
Photo's by Terry Stagg