Saturday saw the conclusion of the BIGP Race Series for 2014 – Overall 3rd Place in the Under 12’s in my first year of U12.

Well done to Harry (1st) and Elliott (2nd).

Last year, in my first year of racing, I only raced in a couple of the 2013 series and really enjoyed the, so much so last year I took part in the Dave Rydings fund raiser at SnoZone Castleford. So I was really up for entering all the 5 races of the 5 race series in 2014.

Race 1 and 2 (see earlier posts) were a complete nightmare for me, they were the first competitive races in year 1 of U12’s for me and I obviously had the wrong attitude thinking I couldn’t mix it with the year 2’s. Race 1 I finished a lowly 9th, some 1.5 seconds off the winners best time, so NIL Race Series Points. Race 1 Results are here.

Race 2 was just as bad, finishing 8th in the U12’s, but with a slightly smaller time gap of 1.2 seconds. Race 2 Results are here.

The other big problem for me was that Race 1 and 2 points where counting for the GBR Indoor Race Series, so blew that, but read my other posts on the GBR Indoor Race Series 2014.

Race 3 (again see earlier posts for more details) was the start of a more encouraging phase of this Race Series.  With a massive improvement, and attitude that I can mix it with the year 1 U12’s, I posted a 2nd place in the U12’s just 0.10 seconds off 1st (fastest run 16.35 seconds).  Race 3 Results are here.

(Great Race 3 by fellow SMK Racer, Kayne, who ran an amazing 16.32 seconds)

Race 4, after an amazing Race 3 on the Saturday, the Race 4 on the Sunday was a little disappointing, with a 3rd place in the U12’s. It was a shame, as the field was slightly reduced in numbers and I didn’t take my chance to increase my podium positions.  Race 4 Results are here.

This left Race 5 on the 16th August (again see earlier posts for more details), where the field was a little stronger than Race 3 and 4 with 11 U12 racers.  Again, I was only beaten by two of the better year 2 U12’s and missed 1st place by 0.28 second and 2nd place by 0.04 seconds (and also beat the overall series winner by 0.11 seconds). Race 5 Results are here.

After all the 5 race results from the series where counted, I ended up being 3rd Place in the British Indoor Grand Prix Race Series.  Real shame about Race 1 and 2, where if I had recorded better times, maybe a 2nd place would have been in reach.

Looking back to finish the race series with one 2nd Place and two 3rd Places, in my first year of U12’s against a very strong field was AMAZING !

Congratulations to fellow SMK Racers who finished the BIGP Race Series with podium positions : Amanda (1st Sen F), Maxine (2nd= U18 F), Fin (3rd U16 M), Glesni (2nd U12 F) and Kayne (1st U10 M).

Racer Ready magazine posted a great write-up of the U10 & U12 races here.

Big thanks to Graham and Cathy Beck, the Castleford Lions and SZR and all the other volunteers (including my Dad!) and the sponsors.