Season Finale

It is hard to believe that the 2010 series is now in the books. It seems like it just started and yet it also feels that the season lasted a year. Two months of packing, travelling and racing takes its toll. Yet, you hate to see it end. Especially when the team has done so well.

The last race was in Conyers. A familiar venue with a newly designed course. Winter set in with highs barely reaching 40 degrees. Plus, it had rained some the day before. This made it a perfect day for racing cross (only better if it could have snowed!).

Conyers is on the Augusta side of Atlanta making it convenient for a day trip for the team. The first race of day had a familiar ending with Nate leaving the field on the first lap. John Phelan was fourth in the series going into the last race and needed to beat #3 by two spots to get on the podium. He managed to take third in the Master's race but Daryl was 4th. Brian Culpepper took 10th, Laddie 12th, Robert 15th, and Kelly 16th (his first Master's race).

Right after Kelly finished, he lined up for the C race and got his best finish of the year - a third place podium spot! Kelly crashed out at this venue last year so that result was sweet revenge. Dave Fahrion placed 18th and Steve Jackson 41st.

The single speed race had most of the ACC team on the line. Matt Kogel was in 4th going into the last race and needed to beat #3 to secure a series podium. He did just that with a 5th place. Phelan took 3rd. The winner of the SS also raced the A's and took 13th again on his single speed (ahead of our Nate Zukas and 8 others!). The rest of the race looked like a train of orange and blue - Laddie 9th, Brian 11th, Josh Jackson 12th, Kelly 13th, Robert 15th, Dave 19th. Many on our team signed up for multiple races to increase our overall team chances. Melissa Leigh had a nice top 5 in the Lady B's.

Becca had great race in the A's taking third. Unfortunately, she needed to beat her buddy Rebecca G. by more than two spots to take the leader's jersey. In the end she missed it by three points. If if's and but's were candies and nuts...... She finished on a high note with a podium in the last race. Rebecca Graham was a gracious series winner. Mens B - Josh J. took 17th in his second race of the day. Nate finally stepped up and raced the A's with a respectable 15th in a stacked field.

What a season though! Two leaders jerseys with Nate and John. Becca took 2nd in her series. Jack Phelan 3rd in the Juniors. Young Matt 3rd in the SS. Josh Jackson 5th in the B's. Kelly 5th in the C's. ACC was second in the overall team competition and 1st in the combined. The team really came together this year. Now we get to celebrate the season at our Christmas party! Until next year.......

Serenbe

It was a cold start to the penultimate race of the season. It had been two weeks since the last race. A break after racing for over six weeks straight was welcomed. The course was tough but fair. Lots of singletrack, bumpy cow pasture, and hills to climb.

Nate aced the Masters race. He took the hole shot and didn't look back. The Masters leader's jersey is now secured. Time for Nate to step up and race with the A's next weekend. John Phelan took 6th but unfortunately didn't beat Daryl Sawyer to climb into third for the series.

Kelly E. took a great top 5 in the C's and Dave Fahrion 20th. The single speed race had a nice ACC contingent with John P, Kelly, Dave, Matt, Josh and Steve Jackson competing. John took 2nd and also secured his leader's jersey for the series. Matt is now in 4th and needs to beat #3 in the last race to climb the podium for the series. Josh dropped his chain a few times but managed to beat his Dad. Jack Phelan is now third in the 14 and under series and needs a good result next week to secure that spot.

Melissa Leigh took a solid 6th the Lady B's. The battle of the day was in the Women's A race. Becca was just behind Rebecca Graham by only a few points and needed to beat her to take the jersey back for the series. The two went back and forth for most of the race with Rebecca G. taking it at the end by about 10-15 seconds. It was a nail biter to watch. After the race, the two gave each other a hug.

One race to go. It has been a long, but good season. ACC is second in one team competition and first in the other. Nate and John have won their series. Becca is in second and Jack is in third. Josh Jackson is 5th in the B's. The entire team has come together to make it happen. Now we just need to plan the ACC team Christmas party.

Photos by Drew Graham (Rebecca's husband).