ADDINGHAM'S James Parker (Pace Racing / Pace Satellite TV Systems) excelled in the UK round of the World Cup - Mountain Bike Series last weekend

Parker, who is the countries' top Elite / Master rider had been selected to ride the Pro/Elite race at Newharn Park in Plymouth after being ranked in the top 30 in the UK,.

All the world's top professional mountain bike riders were competing including Hubert Palhuber from Italy - the current world champion.

Glorious sunshine and high temperatures brought the crowds in, organisers estimated there to be in excess of 20,000 spectators for the event, most watching the infamous pipeline descent which appears as a vertical drop 15 yards wide at the top and only four at the bottom!

The 200 competitors faced five gruelling laps of six miles each, including six stream crossings on each lap, this coupled with the high temperatures made the conditions extremely uncomfortable for a race lasting over two and a half hours.

A major crash in the start area brought down 20 riders as the hard conditions made for a fast race. Parker avoided the first crash and reached the 'pipeline' descent midway up the field.

However, as the track narrowed at the bottom Parker was brought down.

By the time he had picked himself up and sorted his bike out the whole field had passed by.

Unperturbed by the incident Parker forged forward and rode through the other back markers.

Each lap he made good progression and eventually came home in 85th place, a very creditable ride considering the world's best professional and elite riders were competing.

In the supporting Veteran's race Ilkley's Reg Haigh (Pace Racing / Pace Satellite TV Systems) had a storming ride, placed third at one point

Haigh rode strongly and confidently on the technical sections.

However, luck was not with Haigh and a puncture midway through the race putting an end to what was potentially Haigh 's best ride in his first season of mountain bike racing.

In the Northern Area Mountain-Bike Series race at Boltby, Lancashire, the previous week Haigh took fourth place in the vet's race and Parker, who normally rides in the Master's category, had a solid ride in the Pro-Elite race.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.