On Wednesday, after contemplating just riding our bikes to the race, KUA down the road to Cardigan Mountain School. Each season they host a fantastic event and this fall was no disappointment. They added onto the A loop to try and bring the race time for that group up to about an hour. This made for both an added downhill component with a long winging uphill. This climb proved to be the most difficult part of the race for AJ Noel. As a Cardigan alumnus, AJ knew the course well. The new climb, however, was something he did not anticipate. With a great start to the race, he held onto a podium spot for most of the race. By the third lap, about 7 miles in, he began to fatigue. He soon dropped back by 3 riders and ultimately finished in 7^th. That said, it was a very strong field. In another strong race, Liam McCoart finished in 16^th place. He raced as hard as he ever has, and was helped by a very strong start. Charlie White, again had a great race, finishing 5^th overall in the C division. He rode hard and well and earned that spot in another strong field. Jacob Greenfield 57^th had another great showing, with Tristin Black finishing just ahead of him in 52^nd. Trey Masson, because of a fantastic start, was able fight off many riders and finish in a solid 31^st position. Lastly, with is brand new bike, Aidan Davie was able to race past sever competitors throughout the course. He was even quoted as saying, “its like a whole new perspective on riding… I can’t even feel the bumps”. This new tool should help Davie continue to improve and have fun on the dirt. With the cool crisp air and the foliage in full spectrum, it was a great day for a race, and fun was had by all.

This week, KUA traveled down to Southern VT for a race hosted by Dublin Academy. Each year, Dublin puts together a long, challenging, and generally rocky course, and this year was no exception. It was a bit cooler than usual which typically makes for great racing conditions. KUA’s AJ Noel had another solid race in the A division, with a 6^th place finish. Liam McCoart also had a good race, finishing 16^th in a very strong B group. Charlie White, again with some equipment issues managed to finish with a great time and in 5^th place, just shy of the podium. He was then followed by Tristin Black in 19^th place. Tristin has had a great year of racing this season. He has been improving his times every race. This has been a great reward for hard work and determination. Aidan Davie 25^th, was then followed by Trey Masson and Jacob Greenfield in 28^th and 29^th, Respectively. While the drive was long and the air was cold, it was a good day for the Wildcats. It was a great day for a race, and fun was had by all.

Each year, KUA faces off against the Blue Bulls from the north. This year on Holderness day, KUA showed up to race. With AJ Noel winning the A group, and Liam McCoart finishing well, the boys were well represented at the “varsity” level. While the C riders, or “JV” level, did well to compete and ride hard, Holderness just had more riders. This resulted in a tie overall on the day.