STRONG START FOR KATEY CURD

KATEY CURD MAKES A STRONG START TO THE 2008 SEASON WITH DOUBLE PODIUM FINISHES

Giant downhill rider Katey Curd has picked up a couple of impressive results in the Women’s elite category, highlighting her incredible talent at only. The young rider picked up a third place despite crashing in tough weather conditions at the last round of the Alpine Bikes Winter Series at Innerleithen in Scotland, with Rachel Atherton and Helen Gaskell picking up first and second places.

This was closely followed by the same result last weekend at the first round of the Maxxis Cup International 2008 in Gouveia, Portugal. Again Katey made the podium finishing in third behind Atherton and Gaskell. “My first run down was alright but the weather conditions were pretty bad, it was raining and there were some really strong winds,” Katey said, “for my last run down it was a lot better, still a bit windy but a lot drier, I had a pretty good run and was really pleased with the result!”

Katey started riding at the tender age of nine, dirt jumping with friends in her local woods. She first rode Downhill in 2007 and signed for Giant after being spotted by Giant rider Rob Warner at an MBUK competition which he was judging. Since riding Downhill Katey’s main achievements have been coming 1st in the Junior Women at the British National Downhill Championships, and 2nd in the Junior Women at the World Championships, as well as coming 1st in rounds 3 and 5 of the NPS.

Earlier on in the year when asked about her intentions for 2008, Katey said, “I mainly ride Downhill and this will be my focus for 2008 but I am also going to start riding 4X alongside Downhill. For 2008 I am going to ride as much as possible…my plans are to enter the European Worlds, the British National Championships, the NPS, and a few others along the way. I am also hoping to enter some 4X races. I am hoping to bring in some good results, and I just want to have fun riding and travelling.”

Rob Warner is confident that Katey can continue to improve, “Katey is a great rider with real talent and I really believe that she will just get better and better, the potential for her is massive.”

Katey’s recent interview in Sportsister can be read at www.SportSister.com