Well it was a close call as to whether this race was going to be called off for a second time. The original fixture had already been postponed once, due to the severe weather that most of the country had experienced throughout January, and just when the revised date was fast approaching, and the snow levels were beginning to look ridable, the forecast for the night leading up to race day looked decidedly dodgy! But the above zero temperatures were the crucial and deciding factor, and the race was confirmed to proceed.

Saturday morning arrived, and sure enough, a fresh covering of the snow had graced the region, although significantly, only at the higher altitudes. The lower depths of the North Tyne valley remained green.

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Racing got underway at 10.30am, on the North Haul road, just outside Butteryhaugh. At this lower level of the course, the ground was already beginning to show through the snow, and Team GB rider Anthony Windle took the early lead, but due to a drivetrain failure in the first lap, he was forced to retire and watch the rest of the action from the sidelines, handing the lead to Richard Rothwell (pictured) from Morpeth.

After lap 1, riders were reporting of tough conditions on the upper reaches of the course, but pack leader, Rothwell, wasn't letting it show too much, along with Steve Young of Lindale, who followed closely.

Youngster Joe Young from Chester-le-Street, a downhill racer with Team NEFR, was using the event as a warm-up for the 2010 season, after suffering some serious injuries at Dunkeld and Innerleithen during the 2009 Scottish Downhill series, but the conditions and the tough course proved too much, and he was forced to retire after the first lap - best of luck to him for the 2010 DH season, though.

Fellow downhiller and local lad, Huw Oliver, made the trip from Uni in St Andrews for the race, and showed a really strong start, clocking 4th position after lap 1, but despite showing some true DH style on the technical singletrack making up the final section of the course, he slowly dropped back through the ranks, finishing 10th.

Remaining strong throughout, Rothwell took the race win after 2hrs 47mins of racing, whilst Steve Young, who had shadowed Rothwell for the duration, took second with less than a minute between them.  3rd place was snapped up by Hexham's Jonathon Taylor.

Lizzie Dingle from Durham completed the course in 4hrs 30mins, for the Ladies 17-39yrs class.

For the Mens seniors class, Dieter Booth, from Beith, came home in 3hrs 2 minutes, followed by Robert Smith, of Prudhoe, and Ian King from Falkirk in 2nd and 3rd in class respectively.

Ian Robson from Durham, finished 1st for Mens Vets, in a time of 3hrs 17mins, followed by Colin Murley, of Consett, and Neil Hercberg, of Silecroft.

Pat Hercberg, also of Silecroft, took the class win for Ladies Seniors, with a time of 4hrs 46mins, and Helen Costelloe from Brampton finished 2nd in class.

So a huge well done to everyone who took on the challenge. Great to see people still smiling at the end of the day, although that was probably due to the knowledge that they didn't have to race through such conditions again - until next year.

Big thanks go to all that helped with the organisation and running of the event. Without volunteers like you, events like this would never happen. Special thanks go to Jo Scott and her team, for taking on significant responsibilities to ensure the smooth running of the event.

The Bike Place provided the main bulk of the prizes, whilst Saddle Skedaddle provided holiday vouchers for the class winners, and also a Land Rover for race support.

The Great North Air Ambulance and Kielder Trail Reavers, are both charities that will benefit from this, and the remaining 3 races in this Marathon Series, which is run by Ian Bell of The Bike Place, in conjunction with the Kielder Trail Reavers.

The next race in the series is The Border Raid, which will be held on May 8th.  As always, it will begin in Kielder, and over it's 50km single lap route, will take in both Kielder and Newcastleton 7Stanes trail centres.

Enter The Border Raid or any of our forthcoming races online here.

Download the full Winter Warmer results here