Team Wideopenmag’s Chris Hutchens headed north to take on the second annual Naughty Northumbrian in the heart of the North East.
Photos by Lewis Gregory.
The hilariously-titled Coquet Valley would be the location for this year’s Naughty Northumbrian.
Not heard of it? It’s in fact a valley to the North West of Newcastle where the River Coquet runs through the rolling hills and where the notorious Borders Reivers once ruled.
Rothbury, the largest town in the valley and famed for the dramatic shootings of Raoul Moat is a peaceful town with hamlets and villages sparsely spread around the area. In fact there more commonly just the odd house here and there and a lot of sheep and cattle roaming the moorlands. You might have found Paul Gascoigne trying to befriend Moat with chicken and a fishing rod. At least one amusing story came out of that incident.
Not much happens in this quiet part of England really. It’s an untapped area from my visits there over the years. It was time for a trip to the North East and a Naughty weekend away. You’ve got to have at least one a year right?
Friday morning I gathered my kit together and packed the van thinking that leaving mid morning would see me get a good run up to road. Google was saying 6.5 hours. I could handle that. I jumped in the driver seat and pointed the van North – M5, M42, M1, A1(M), A1 then some narrow back roads into the depths of the Northumberland National Park.
Ten hours later I pulled into Rothbury. I’d not noted down the exact location of the race and couldn’t find it on the internet. Thankfully the Naughty Northumbrian Instagram has been live and kicking with updates recently so a quick picture location check revealed that one of the trails was in Shillmoor.
A pin drop and a 30 minute drive into the dark I went. Alone. A black cow casually meandered up the road as I speed round the corner to nearly rear it off the road. A close call. It wouldn’t be the last of the weekend either.
I drove through Alwinton, still following the satnav. The roads got a little bit narrower, a little bit more undulating and just remote. As I saw the military firing range signs and ‘Danger – do not touch any military Debris it may explode and kill you’ I did begin to wonder if I was in the right place. I rose over another crest to see an expansive camp. Thankfully it wasn’t a military camp but in fact the race village. Warmly welcomed by the Northumbrian locals with their soothing and friendly accents.
I was guided into the field and parked up opposite Liam Moynihan and Louise Ferguson who’d made the trip down from Fort William. I parked up and quickly headed into the barn where the party was kicking off. Gamble and a host of other films were being screened on a large cinema quality screen. Watching Blenki and others ride was getting me fired up for the weekend! A couple of Wylam beers later I was ready to get some shuteye.
This was my first experience of the Naughty Northumbrian but with a sell out field and some long standing industry folk behind the event I’d only heard good things about it. The course was different to last year and as the event moves into it’s second year it’s adapting and figuring what works for the 500 riders who secured an entry for the weekend.
At 40km and over 1200m of descending it would be a big day of pedaling. Saturdays forecast was for dry sunny conditions with the rain set to roll in during the day on Sunday. The weatherman was correct and given the conditions and the views of the majority of riders the six stages were cut to five.
The three wooded stages would remain but the monstrous 5th stage would be cut and stages 3 and 4 would switch round on Sunday. Stages 1 and 2 would use some of the old NDH downhill racetracks. These were mega 2 minutes long stages. They were a good level of technicality and pushed every rider on the hill.
There was nothing too technical but raise the speed and the narrow ledges and rooty sections would challenge the best of riders. Stage 3 was the highlight stage, for me and for everyone else I spoke to. The loamiest trail in the UK! The team who dug this deserves knighthoods. This trail was hidden deep within the hills and as you can’t ride these trials outside of the race then I’d get your entry in for 2019 just to ride this delightful track. It was sensational!
The final stages would be fast, open hillside stages. More akin to the Alps the trails dropped you into the valley floors down fast grassy meadows and across long off chamber sections, which tested even the knobbliest of tyres. While the wind on Sunday slowed things down, a lot, the speed was still exciting. Especially on the final stage that finished in one of the many camping fields.
The men’s podium would be heavily weighted with thick Geordie accents with James Purvis, a wild man on the bike who’s had some top downhill world cup results in previous years, taking the win and Scotty Mears securing 2nd place. I’ve been racing Scotty for about 15 years so it was great to share the podium with him. 0.3 seconds back I’d have to settle for third on the day. It was great to share the podium with these two local lads.
In the females podium Louise Ferguson would take the win by a clear 40 seconds in front of Jessie-May Morgan and Kirsty McPhee.
It was also super exciting to see some of the U18 boys putting in some top times as well with close racing between the three podium contenders Wesley Fife, Josh Noble and Keevan Edwards.
I grabbed a chat with one of the race organisers Tommy Wilkinson at the end of the day so check out his interview below for more information on the race and what’s planned for the future.
I know where I’ll be this time next year. That’s if I secure an entry! It seems the Naughty Northumbrian is another superb enduro event cementing itself onto the yearly Calendar.
With live bands, a film night, amazing coffee, beer, food, exhibitors and more all on site then it’s definitely one for the family and for those looking to ride some incredible trails.
Full results from the 2018 Naughty Northumbrian can be found here.
