WWC26 was the fifth edition of Wild West Country and, for now at least, the last to loop through the south west. A forecast of rain never materialised and 54 riders set off from The Bike Drop at Brimscombe Mill in waves of eight, with the sun breaking through as they crested Brimscombe Hill.
Alex Boswell set the early pace over Dunkery Beacon, with WWC veterans James Scrivener and Ben Chuilon close behind. By Sidmouth though, Alex was struggling to keep any food down and Rhys Clarke reeled him in on Salcombe Hill. Rhys reached Kimmeridge Bay around 90 minutes clear and arrived back at Brimscombe at 04:51 on Sunday morning, after 43 hours and 41 minutes.
It was the first time the winning time hadn’t improved on the previous year’s, but after coming close at GBDURO, it was a long overdue first place for Rhys on his fourth start at one of our events. Florian Sistemich, riding in the UK for the first time, took second. Ben Chuilon rode through the night for the first (and, he insisted, last) time to finish third, with Ken van Someren – adamant before the start that he wasn’t a contender – an hour behind in fourth.
Ella Brown was the fastest woman from the outset and, after a tactical indoor sleep on the first night, climbed through the field to finish fifth overall. Friends and family were waiting with cowbells and an improvised podium, which she duly climbed despite protesting knees. Nikki Ali-Ray was second woman home despite stomach issues throughout, while Alex Grahame took a huge chunk off last year’s time to finish third.
The second night was bitterly cold, dropping just below freezing as Clive Cosby, Anda Wood, Neil Bryant and Helen Oldridge rolled in with their breath hanging in the air. Tom Roden and Jonny Packham were the only pair back on Monday evening, while Tom King finished outside of classification after his partner Oliver Hall scratched.
The last night brought a heavy frost. Jay Sharp woke to ice inside his tent on Salisbury Plain and gave up on sleep in favour of sunrise at Avebury. He rolled into Brimscombe shortly before 1pm on Tuesday as the last of 34 finishers, very glad of a hot meal from The Long Table.
