Two mountain bike races, same venue, 30 years apart.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY GEOFF WAUGH

Time, he’s waiting in the wings Take a look at the upper photos. I took them both at the same venue – Cannock Chase, the vast expanse of woodland in the Midlands in the UK – and there is roughly 30 years between them. I say roughly because I think it is more. Looking at the jerseys of riders in the black and white pic I would guess this was 1989 or 1990 at the latest, which makes it over 32 years!

Phew! And just as I cannot pin down the exact year (although someone out there will be able to, I’m sure), I can’t remember the section of the forest where the first race was held.

I do know the name of the second location though. I remember like it was yesterday, because at the time of writing it actually was yesterday. It was the Cannock round of the HSBC National Points Series and it was at Tackeroo, the part of Cannock Chase which hosts events.

Compare and contrast the two images. You youngsters, shake with mirth at those pioneers of early UK cross-country racing. There is no start gantry or any infrastructure to be seen, just a guy giving out the race instructions before the off.