Check out the pix!
Thanks to Ron Richardson of Cyclepix for capturing all the action of the 2009 Cowbell Challenge. Visit the website to view the thumbnails and order yours today!
Timing Services for Cowbell Challenge provided by
WAM Events
Our Wonderful Volunteers
Cowbell is a non-profit, and we rely on volunteers to help with every aspect. So despite the heat and humidity, the hard-core helpers were out, and we want to publicly thank them for everthing: The Lake Norman Teen Council members- Sandra Arroyo, Kate Short, Anna Anklin, Abby Wexler, Dionte Forney, Spencer Jones, Kyle Needleman, Taylor Ryan, Melissa Perez, John Hu, and Zoe Blubaugh worked hard with regristration, parking, and bike washing. Thanks also to Travis Dancy and Kelsey George of Visit Lake Norman, Anna Cain, Colleen Hurd, Ginger Pate, and Mark Sullivan who all did everything we asked and more with a smile and good grace. And most especially thanks to Jake, Tyler, David and Corinne Lewis, who didn't have to do any of it, but were there til the end... toting, lifting, hauling, and everything else. We appreciate all of you more than we could ever say!.
For the Love of the Sport
The 2009 US Cup, presented by Specialized, features the Kenda Cup East and the Kenda Cup West Series.
Our mission: "to establish a national mountain bike series that creates synergies between race organizers, and its pro/amateur athletes. These mountain biking events will showcase our nations finest riders while fostering the development of new talent in a way that makes economic sense for organizers and participants alike." It's an exciting year, and we're happy to be a part of it. Check out all the great races in the 2009 Kenda Cup East:
May 3: SERC #5, Ducktown, TN
May 31: Bump & Grind, Birmingham, AL
June 5: The Hoo-Ha!, Massanutten, VA
June 21: Cowbell Summer Solstice
Aug 8-9: Snow Shootout, Mt. Snow. VT
Aug 15-16: Yankee Clipper, Windham, NY
2009 Cowbell Challenge Race Weekend!
Presented by
The Results are in....
8th Annual Cowbell Challenge Marathon Mountain Bike Race
With the heat index hovering in the 115 range, racers in the Cowbell Challenge Marathon took off from downtown Davidson, NC, at 10 am. Six and one-quarter miles of hard surface to get to the dirt and Fisher Farm, and 6 laps of climbs rock gardens and great single track. Harlan Price (Independent Fabrication) took the top spot on the Men’s Pro Open podium, and also posted the fastest lap on the 8-milecourse at 37:52.389. Just one minute and 22 seconds behind him, Jaifer Beizer (Jittery Joe's U25 p/b Kudzu.com) finished in second. Aaron Oakes (Bulldog/Cycle Craft) finished in third. Nine men finished on the lead lap.
On the Women’s Pro Open side, Carey Lowery (Outdoor Store/Specialized) determined that “third time’s the charm,” took top honors from Rebecca Rusch (Specialized/Red Bull), who finished strong but behind Carey by six minutes and 15 seconds. Carey also scored the fastest lap for the field with a time of 44:26.151. Rebecca Tomaszewski (Niner Bikes/Ergon) took third. Eight women in the 12-racer field completed the full six laps in the punishing heat.
The Men’s Masters field, the largest by far of all classes, saw 40-year old Christopher Cyr (Bikeman.com) take first place with a five-hour, six minute total time. James Shelton (Carolina Bicylce Company) finished nine minutes behind Christopher for second, and Rich Dillen (Moots) completed the podium for the Mens’ Masters. Paula Lamberson (MTBAndy.com) completed the 54 miles in first place for the Women’s Masters, followed by Sally Edwards in second, and Leah Ranney in third.
The Men’s Single Speed field 18 saw some attrition due to the intense heat and humidity, but Dejay Birtch (Niner Bikes) powered through to finish the six laps in five hours and eight minutes taking the bell and the top of the podium. Eric Hagerty came in just ten minutes behind for second place, followed by David Hall (Terrapin Beer Racing) in third. The Women’s Single Speed field, small but just as tough, saw Shanna Powell (EndlessBikeCo./Gary Fisher 29er Crew) complete the six laps in six and half hours, with Sherry George (S.S. Mad) in second place.
Curtis Armstrong took first place honors among Amateurs 18-29, with Chris Joseph and Christopher Danz (GT Dirt Coalition) finishing one lap down in second and third respectively. In Amateur 30-39, Noel Kirila (Carolina Bicycle Company) placed first, with Ronnie Dean (2Wheelcoach/Wobble-naught) coming in 36 minutes behind for second place, and Mark Sackett rounded out the men’s podium in third. Marcey Rader-Rhodenbaugh finished first in Amateur 30-39 for the women, followed by Mia Griggs.
Six duo teams lined up to start the Cowbell Challenge Marathon, and at the end of the day, Hope-Ann and Jay Walsh (Paul’s/ Specialized) stood at the top of the podium with a combined total time of five hours 31 minutes. Ryan Freeman and Robert Niemeyer (Skeleton Crew) finished strong in second, with Curtis Keeler and David Tesh (Cycle Therapy/Sparkies) in third. The Cycle Path’s team finished ahead of Inland Construction.
Cowbell Summer Solstice Cross Country Race
In Sunday’s Cross country events, Thomas Turner (Outspoken/Specialized) and Sam Koerber (Gary Fisher 29er Crew) battled in a sprint to the finish, with Tom taking the win by just 2 seconds, and both averaging lap times of just under 34 minutes for the 8 mile course. Robert Marion (Kenda/KMC/Hayes) finished third, just under 11 seconds behind Sam. Travis Livermon (Cannondale/CNN) took fourth, with Ryan Woodall (Dedicated Athlete / Industry Nine) coming in fifth. Jamie Dinkins(Motor Mile Racing) stood at the top of the podium for the Women’s Pro, finishing 16 seconds ahead of Anina Aaron (Heart’s Racing Club) who came in second, followed by Johanna Kraus (Velo Bela) in third, Kylie Krass (Independent Fabrications) in fourth and Philicia Marion (Kenda/KMC/Hayes)in fifth place.
Seth Kemp powered to a first place finish in the Cat 1 Junior Men, ahead of Wes Lamberson by six minutes and two seconds, and Chase Dickens (Kenda/KMC/Hayes). In Cat 1 Men, 18-29, Jafer Beizer (Jittery Joe's U25 p/b Kudzu.com) took home his second trophy of the weekend as he finished ahead of Eric Jackson with nearly the same lead. Drew Scharns (Boone Velo) finished third with a total time of 1:57:02.350. In Cat 1 Women’s 18-29, Lindsay Bayer (Seven Cycles) finished first, followed by Julia Tellman (Sycamore Cycles) in second and Emily Benson (DRT Racing) in third.
In the Cat 1 Men 30-39 race, Andy Johnston (CY-Kenda/Thomson) took the first-place trophy with a total time of 1:50:59.173, followed by Terri Kolb (Clockwork Construction) in second, and Peter Joski (Quantum Mechanics/APB) in third. Rebecca Tomaszewski (Niner Bikes/Ergon) finished her winning weekend with first place in Cat 1 Women 30-39, and a total time of 2:14:42.392. Nicole Borem (DRT Racing) powered in for second place six minutes and 32 seconds behind Rebecca, while Debbie Gillespie (Greenville Women’s Cycling Team) came in 2 minutes and 13 seconds later for the third. Morgan Olsson (Greensboro Velo Club) topped the Cat 1 Men 40-49 field with a total time for the three-lap course of 1:51:44.592. Richard Pyle (KHS/Kenda) finished one minute and 25 seconds behind Morgan for second place, and Jeff Welch (Fiets Maan Racing) took third. Cat 1 Masters Men (50+) was a two-man duel, with Bob Koerber finishing ahead of Jim Frith (Cycles de Oro/GVC) by eight minutes and 36 seconds and a total time of 2:01:02.465.
Visit mylaps.com for the complete results for all categories in both the marathon and the Kenda Cup cross country.
Proceeds from the weekend of racing will benefit the Town of Davidson's Recreation & Parks Youth Scholarship Fund, and parks and trails improvements.
There's always plenty to do in and around the Lake Norman area. Check out Visit Lake Norman for event calendars, directions, and general info on restaurants, tourist attractions, places to play and places to stay. Bike, hike, fish, boat, swim, tour, shop.... you can do it all at Lake Norman.
