This Saturday Sheffield’s Greno Woods will play host to the latest incarnation of Peaty’s Steel City DH. The biggest little race returns for the 7th time to fill the woods with the excitement of downhill racing accompanied by the cheers of thousands of spectators. With Peaty’s retirement from World Cup downhill he’s had plenty of time to make sure this year is just as special as ever. The 300 racers will spend the morning practising and from midday they will race. With our youngest rider being 9½ and our oldest 73¾, with nearly 50 lasses and 80 riders under 18 we try to be inclusive and are perpetually popular. We had three times as many people entering the lottery as we had places for. We’re still not sure why but you only have to experience the atmosphere once to know you’ve found somewhere special. Greno Woods is owned and managed by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust and this race aims to make it a better place for all but especially us riders!
In the bomb hole
The newly fettled bomb-hole plays host to the most anticipated finish line drop as well as a whole host of goodness to eat, drink and shop. Most important are our own Tee’s and Hoodies which have been designed by the ever wonderful and continually creative Sheffield Legends TADO. Mike and Katie continue to give their time freely and keep coming up with new designs for you to wear with pride and show your support for the trails of Sheffield. Food will be provided by the Whirlow Hall Farm BBQ, Nether edge pizza, Out to Lunch and Steel City DH Cake Stall. With thirsts quenched by Bradfield Brewery, Motore coffee and Forge coffee. Santa Cruz bikes, Hope, Jungle, Cotic, Chesterfield Bike Centre, Flare clothing, Expert bike repair, Shred XS, 6th element, 50:01, Banana Industries and Fasthouse UK will all have lovely things for you to buy and ogle. Beats massage will be on site to soothe wearing racers and spectators. And Ride Sheffield, Sheffield Bike Park and PDMTB will all be on site to get you involved and keep you informed. The best commentator on the scene, Toby Parodi, will be on the mic and keeping racers and spectators informed of what’s going on throughout the day. If you have any nuggets of information you think we should know about racers, do let us know.
Riders
This year’s start list is stacked with talent and speed with riders keen to get their paws on the prizes generously donated by our ultra-kind sponsors. In the Pro category, Peaty has his work cut out to maintain his unbeaten record. World Cuppers Ratboy, Craig Evans, Eddie Masters, Rupert Chapman and Phil Atwill will all be trying to get their hands on the cold hard cash donated by Leighton Vans. Brett Penfold, winner of this year’s Howard St Dual, will also be in attendance and has already tasted victory over Steve. Last year’s fastest lass, Multiple World Champion, Tracy Mosely will be the woman to beat on the day. Last year she also beat 179 of the lads and came away with the cash kindly donated by 60Sticks. Can she do the same this year and will Joey Gough or Carrie Poole be able to get anywhere close? Each rider gets two chances to put down their fastest run with the rippers, our 10 year olds, leading the charge from 12. Racing will continue until around 4:30 when the fastest in the first run will be the last down the hill, will that be Peaty this year?
Sponsors
Each of our categories is liberally supplied with prizes by our very generous sponsors. The fastest three on the day will get up on the podium, spray each other with champagne and receive a bevy of rewards. Please do support each of our sponsors anyway you can, buy their products, recommend them or just give them a hug. They’re all great and we wouldn’t have a race without them.
LADS
- Ripper – Shred XS
- Juvenile – Eighteen Bikes
- Youth – Flare Clothing
- Junior – Expert bike repair
- Senior Lads- Bike Garage
- Master Lads – Polaris
- Veteran Lads – Hope
LASSES
- Senior Lasses – Fasthouse Uk
- Master Lasses – Joystick
- Veteran Lasses – Royal Racing
PROS
- Pro Lads – Leighton Vans– £500 cash in prizes for the fastest 3
- Pro Lasses – 60 Sticks– £500 cash in prizes for the fastest 3
Every winner will get a one of kind medal made by Sheffield Legends TADO.
The racers goodie bag will be stuffed with Beer from Bradfield, A beer token for the New Barrack Tavern, delectable treats from Clif Bar, a unique keyring from Biketrack.org and this years Steel City DH Mug. All of these will also be for sale at our own Merch Stand.
The great guys at Hop Hide Out are sponsoring our marshals this year, they get beer as an extra thanks for helping us out and letting you all have a great day.
Schedule – Saturday 20th May
- 7:00 – Official car park Opens
- 8:00 – Registration opens in event car park
- 8:00 – Course open for on foot inspection (no riding)
- 9:00 – Course open for Practice
- 10:00 – Registration Closes
- 11:40 – Practice Closes
- 12:00 – First Race run begins
- 2:30 – Second race runs begin
- 3:00 – Car Park Entrance Closes
- 5:30 – Podiums and Prize Givings
- 7:00 – New Barrack Tavern for beers and cheers
Map
Parking
If you are driving to the race you must park in our official car park. Parking anywhere else, in the public greno car park or on the road, jeopardises the running of the race on the day and in future. Please be responsible and tell others if you see them. We want to keep running this race!
Parking is in Farmer Jack’s field, at Hall Head Farm on Woodhead Road, the entrance will be clearly marked. It is marked on the map above by the car and the closest postcode is S35 7DS but dont rely on it for a Sat Nav. Do not try to come in to the exit, it is a one way system.
Parking is £3 per vehicle and offsets the loss of hay earnings from damage to the grass in the field. The car park opens at 7am it will close for entry at 3pm. Its about a 10 minute walk to the start of the track from here. Please remove your car as soon as possible after the race.
Tombola
This year we will be running a tombola for a large selection of prizes. Tickets will be only £1 with a star prize of a COTIC frame. Every race sponsor will also be providing a prize for the prize pot, so there will be lots to choose from.
The Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife trust
Greno Woods is a nature reserve owned and managed by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. It is an ancient woodland, rich in wildlife and full of historic interest. Covering 169 hectares, it is one of the Trust’s largest reserves and offers excellent opportunities for wildlife watching, exploration and recreation.
The Trust has carried out work on the reserve to increase the proportion and quality of priority habitats on the site and maintain features of interest as well as maintain and improve recreational infrastructure such as our downhill mountain bike trails.
Help protect and enhance our local wildlife and green spaces by joining Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. By joining Sheffield and Rotherham’s community of wildlife lovers today you can help care for the wild places you love – preserving them for years to come.
Find out more at www.wildsheffield.com or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
After Party
After the race we’re all off to the New Barrack Tavern on Penistone Road where each racer will receive a free pint of Bradfield Ale to celebrate and commiserate with all our mates.
To keep up to date on all things Steel City you can visit Steelcitydh.com and follow us on Facebook or Twitter
The race is run as a not for profit event, with all funds raised from the race go directly back into the trails in Greno Woods and to support mountain bike projects around the city.
For a taster from last year’s event follow this link
See you in the woods… don’t forget to buy Peaty a beer to Celebrate #lastorders!
SCDH