Dirt Divas - Women's mountain biking courses

A few dedicated Dirt Divas have grouped together to form a Race Team, here you can read the members profiles... We will be taking part in various races throughout the year including the Gorrick XC Spring Series as well as some enduro events. We will share with you our stories of the races and events by means of regular updates on our news page. The Race Team sees some new members for 2010 as well as a couple of departures, namely Maxine Filby who has gained sponsorship to ride at the British XC Championships (wow!) and Becky Bentham who continues to enjoy her riding outside the competitive arena. Natalia Wase and Michelle Youngman both remain as part of the race team though in a more supportive role to the new members.
Jacqueline Easton My first ever Gorrick XC race was back in October 1995, all I can remember was being very concerned about not getting lost on the course, then somehow I ended up winning the novice category and I was hooked! Over the years the Gorrick events have been really good fun and a great way of improving my riding skills. As there seems to be no sign yet of my competitiveness waning... this year I hope to make the podium in the Veteran category. Jacqueline is the the 2009 Gorrick XC Spring Series Veteran champion! When I'm not on my mountain bike... You can find me chilling out on a deserted beach somewhere, come rain or shine.

Christina Crouch I started mountain biking two years ago after being inspired by the cycling exploits of two of my girlfriends. After doing a Drops & Jumps course with Dirt Divas in April 2009 I've developed the skills and fitness to ride local XC routes and singletrack at various Welsh and Scottish trail centres. I've taken part in 24 hour events and long distance events including the 'South Downs Way' and 'Coast to Coast'. When I'm not on my mountain bike... You can find me cooking for my friends.

Rachael Helanor I've always had a mountain bike and ridden various trails over the years, but I've never considered competing, that is until I went on the Dirt Diva's Back to Basics course in September 09. I'm looking forward to racing in the Gorrick Spring Series and seeing how I do! I like a challenge, so far this year I've signed up for the 'Commando Challenge' and the 'Great North Swim' and hopefully the 'End 2 End'. In the past I've even raced 350 miles across the Arctic! When I'm not on my mountain bike... You'll find me doing something outdoors or eating some lovely food with my friends.

Laura Pilon I started mountain biking regularly in 2004 when a friend at work asked for people to join a team to enter the 24hr race 'Sleepless in the Saddle'. I did a Drops & Jumps course with Dirt Divas in April 2009 and since then my confidence on technical trails has improved immensely. Having participated in a number of endurance events, the fast and furious style of XC racing is a new experience for me - I'm not expecting to be on the podium, so I'm looking to have a lot of fun while getting fitter. When I’m not on my mountain bike... You can find me behind a camera, taking photos of mountain bikers and fabulous landscapes.

Sally Smoker I'm really more of a runner rather than a cyclist but after picking up an Achilles injury I decided to dust down my aged bike from the garden shed and start cycling. Frustrated by my lack of confidence on some local trails, I went on a Dirt Divas (Singletrack Skills) course in August 2009 - which I absolutely loved! Cycling is now a firm part of my regime. I did my first Gorrick race in November 2009 and let's just say there's plenty of room for improvement! But I'm looking forward to the new challenge. When I'm not on my mountain bike... I'm either out running or watching the Harlequins Rugby Club.

Rachel Talbot After spending many weekends watching my mountain bike racer boyfriend, I though why not give it a go. So in October 2009 I went on a Dirt Divas 'Back to Basics' course and came away with enough confidence to enter my first XC event. I was a bundle of nerves as I really had no idea if I was going to make it to the finish line in one piece. Of course I did and it was great fun, challenging and I felt a great sense of achievement afterwards. I'm looking forward to taking part in the 2010 Gorrick Spring Series. When I'm not on my mountain bike... I'm either busy planning my wedding or chilling out with a glass of wine!

Cathy Thomas I started mountain biking towards the end of 2008 after being dissuaded from buying a road bike as they are "too boring"! Just a few months later I found myself on the start line of the Gorrick Spring Series Round 3. I went on to do my first Dirt Divas course in April 2009 and since then I've sampled some of the great delights of the sport including light failure in the pitch black at the Torq 12:12, riding through biblical rain and copious amounts of mud at the Proghorn Enduro and taking two podiums at the recent 2009 Gorrick Autumn Classics. Not boring at all! When I'm not on my mountain bike... You can find me on my road bike, dodging London buses on the way to work.

Natalia Wase As an ex-rower, mountain biking seemed like an attractive prospect, mainly because I thought it would be dry and didn't involve an early start. Well... I don't think there was one tiny patch of me that was anything other than completely drenched after two hours of riding in the relentless November rain! What I still fail to understand was why, by the end of it - when I was frozen, caked in mud, with a plethora of bruises and a wheel so beautifully buckled that it would not look out of place in the Tate Modern - I was still grinning from ear to ear! Natalia is the the 2009 Gorrick XC Spring Series Open champion! When I'm not on my mountain bike... You can find me either out running with my crazy dog, on my road bike or eating lots of pies.

Jessica Weston My first race was the Broughton-in-Furness Open 5 adventure race in 2006. Since then I've stuck with adventure racing and orienteering events until the Gorrick XC at Tunnel Hill this year (2009). I love racing, pushing myself harder for longer than I normally would, seeing how I measure up next to everyone else, and trying to improve my performance. When I'm not on my mountain bike... You'll find me hanging off a mountain in Wales, preparing for my next mountaineering adventure in the Alps.

Yasmine Easton I'm about to turn 11 years old and this will be my second year racing the Gorrick spring series. I am really looking forward to my next race because it's so much fun. My favourite bit is going through muddy puddles and it's very exciting being on the start line. Yasmine is the 2009 Gorrick XC Spring Series Under 12 champion! When I'm not on my mountain bike... You can find me either playing with my cat or playing on the computer.

Iona Halliday I have just turned 12 and I am really glad to be in the race team. I started mountain biking in March 2009 and I competed in both the Gorrick Autumn Classic races in the Juvenile category finishing on the podium in my first race. I really want to work on my performance a bit more. My favourite part about mountain biking is doing tricks. When I'm not on my mountain bike... You can find me at the pony club with my friends, jumping our crazy horses.

Georgia Valentine I love mountain biking and have been riding for as long as I can remember. I just turned 10 in time for the 2009 Gorrick Autumn Classic series and could not wait to take part! I was a bit nervous about finding my way around the first time but actually it was quite easy as the course was well marked. I competed in both the Autumn Classic events in the under 12 category and finished just behind Yasmine in both races. I can't wait until the spring series! When I'm not on my mountain bike... You can find me playing football or curled up on the sofa with a good book.