Race Report Rounds 5 & 6: Shredhill
2025 Schwalbe British 4X Series Rounds 5 & 6 – Shredhill, Gloucestershire
Images – Charles Robertson
Words – British 4X
Shredhill in Gloucestershire is one of Britain’s finest 4X tracks. A cornerstone of the British 4X Series for many years, this fast, flowing track is always a favourite for riders and spectators. With fun jumps, high berms and split lines on the track, racing is always amazing and this weekend it was no different.
The team at Shredhill did an incredible job preparing the track. Without doubt the best condition it has ever been in. Everything was perfect and the scene was set for 2 days of racing.
With weather forecasts all week saying that a wet weekend was in store, riders were a little nervous about what weather was going to be thrown at them over the weekend.
Saturday – Round 5:
Saturday morning arrived, and it was blue skies and perfect conditions! Riders needed all of practice to get to grips with the new track. Big jumps and rhythm sections demanded riders full concentration.
Practice got underway at 10.00 and all the riders got going. The first turn is tight at Shredhill, so you could see riders starting to look at lines in that turn especially, but also using insides on several other turns. Shredhill is famous for passing so riders were looking for all the places they would use in racing. A new S bend had been created on the lower sections which would also lead to some dramatic racing.
Gate practice started at 10.30 and then racing was underway by 12.30. Every moto point would be vital towards qualifying for the finals and mistakes would be punished when the total points were added up at the end of the day.
I think it’s safe to say that every race had some drama throughout the day. By finals time we were down to the fastest riders who would battle for the podium positions.
Big Fun class saw a welcome return to racing for Rob Graham and to cap off a perfect comeback he took the win! The rippers 7-9 women class had the crowd screaming all weekend as 7 year old Evie Hulbert rode amazing to take the win.
Leo Britz would carry on with a stella season so far taking the win in 7 – 9 Rippers too. In 10 – 12 Rippers women Olivia Webb was sending the last tabletop jump every lap to the delight of the Shredhill locals and with it taking the win. Marcus Mullen continued his domination of 10 – 12 Rippers and Harry Stevens chalked up another 1st in Juvenile.
Esme Ward heads to BMX World Championships this weekend with some good momentum from winning 13 – 16 women and in the ultra competitive Youth, it was Eric McSwity holding off the field. Jake Hart remains unbeaten in Junior whilst Izak Williams continues his great season with a win in senior. Claire Mardell returned from injury to take the Women’s 30 + whilst Kingsley Mears fought off the masters 30. Matthew Hillyard is not having it all his own way this year but in the final he delivered when he needed to taking the win in Masters 40 with Masters 50 stealing the show for the day. Matthew Pratley taking the win from TJ Baldwin, Gary Vallance, Matt Mayneord and Jai Kemp. It was like a 1988 BMX National podium all over again.
In senior women’s, 4X queen Katherine Byng was simply unstoppable all day taking a commanding win and extending her overall series lead. Silvi Vargas rode strong to finish 2nd with Katherine Oldfield finishing 3rd. Both Katherine’s had just returned from 4X ProTour World Series events and their speed really showed. We have no doubt that Silvi has 4X ProTour speed and hope she gives them a go next year too.
In the Elite men’s, Ian Forsyth was on a mission all day. Battling through his motos and taking 3 wins, he looked good. In the final he would be up against Connor Hudson, Dan Cay and Charlie Currie. The gate dropped and Connor made a strong gate with Dan, leading into turn 1. Ian made an amazing move in turn 1 and went from 3rd to 1st! Connor slipped into second and Dan Cay was challenging. Into the huge hairpin turn, Forsyth began to pull away. Veteran elite rider Currie was challenging but across the finish line it was Ian Forsyth from Connor Hudson, Dan Cay and Charlie Currie.
It was a fantastic Elite final and all the crowd appreciated what they had just witnessed. This was 4X racing from the top drawer with clean, calculated passes by riders going flat out. It was awesome.
After racing it was the podium presentations followed by the DMR whip off, long jump and high jump competitions and a game of laser tag in the battle sports arena next door to the 4X track. It was a brilliant night where the de-brief took place from the days racing in the setting sun with fun, music and good vibes.
Sunday – Round 5:
Sunday morning and this was the day that rain was coming. There were some showers through the night which really helped the track, but when registration opened there were some storm clouds all around us.
During practice some rain and wind arrived, but when the motos started, the sun cam out and we had a perfect race track.
By mid afternoon it was finals time and they began with the fun class and Lawrie Elliot-Mead taking the win before Big Fun which saw the welcome return of Marti Pearce. After a few years out it was great to see him on track again and taking the win. Leo Britz continued his domination of 7 – 9 rippers, whilst Olivia Webb continued her form from round 5 in 10 – 12 rippers women, taking another win and some of the longest finish line jumps all day! . With some of the biggest cheers all weekend, Marcus Mullen took the win in 10 – 12 rippers.
Juveniles and Harry Stephens made it a perfect weekend as did Esme Ward taking the win in 13 – 16 women. Next up the competitive Youth class and it was last years series winner Jack Davey who rode a great lap to victory.
A special mention for Jake Hart. Due to BMX regionals being on the same day, we lost a few junior riders for round 6. So Jake was merged into Elite. It was incredible to see his progression all day, where he made the final and finished 3rd. A star of the future right here. This of course also gave him the win in Junior class.
Senior and Izak Williams made it a perfect weekend with another win as did Kingsley Mears in Masters 30. Matthew Hillyard and Matthew Pratley also completed a perfect sweep with wins in Masters 40 and 50.
Senior women were flying all weekend. When the gate dropped it was Katherine Byng who held it together to take the win. A hard fought second for Katherine Oldfield and healing thoughts to Silvi Vargas who crashed in the final.
Finally, it was the elite men. Ian Forsyth was the man to beat all weekend. He took gate 1, Shredhill local Dan Wagstaff in 2, Jake Hart in 3 and Ben Jones in 4. The gate dropped and it was Forsyth who took the holeshot leading into turn 1. All 4 made it through and set off down the motorway section. Forsyth pulled his lead out convincingly but the fight for second was tight all the way down the track. Junior rider Jake Hart was in the mix and Ben Jones was using every line to carry speed. Crossing the finish line it was Forsyth taking the win to round off a perfect weekend with Wagstaff in second, Hart in third and Jones in fourth.
At the finish line Forsyth said:
“I am so stoked. It has been a perfect weekend taking the win both days. I’m so happy. The track has been amazing all weekend so a big thank you to the Shredhill team. Thanks to British 4X for putting on an amazing race series. I can’t wait for Falmouth now on August 9/10th.”
DMR Riders of the Day:
Saturday – Poppy Gosling, Matthew Parkinson
Sunday – Jake Hart, Isabella Wagstaff
A huge thanks to the series sponsor Schwalbe who help to make it all possible. Our other sponsors Motul, DMR, USE, Surf & Turf, Bikestow and of course British Cycling.
Thank you to all the venues, riders, medics, commentators, officials, commissaires, marshals, family and friends who attend every race. You make 4X the amazing sport that it is and long may it continue.
The 96 Podcast Review:
To listen to a full review of the weekends racing, click on this link to hear series organiser Scott Beaumont and series media co-ordinator Andy McCoy on The 96 Podcast debriefing from the whole weekend:
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