European Masters Championships, Commezzadura -Val -di -Sole, Italy

Jules Coventry retains European Masters Championship title......

Weve just had some great news in from team rider Jules Coventry who recently returned from Italy after succesfully defending her European Masters Championship title. Congratulations Jules from all of us at Team Ancillotti UK. Scroll down to read a report on the event.

This weekend saw Jules heading out to the European Downhill Championships held in Commezzadura-Val-di-Sole, Italy. Her first international event of the year facing her first goal........ to defend her European Masters Championship title. Unlike last year where competitors were treated to a bone dry and dusty track, this year it was damp and greasy with rain most afternoons! It is incredibly steep in places, littered with rocks and roots and with more line choices than Imelda Marcos has shoes!! Most of the riders agree that this is one of the toughest tracks in the World and to back them up it was announced this weekend that it will host the World Championships in 2008.

....The track claimed many a victim this year, me included, after a 'slam dunk' from a root caused me to land heavily on a rock in Friday mornings practice session. I took the full force of the crash through my left hip, I was in agony and unable to walk properly, but even more determined to come home with a medal for my pain! Taking it steady in the semi-final to avoid aggravating my hip I put in a clean run, and finished in second place. The final wasn't without it's worrying moments, feeling the pressure of competing against previous World Champion and good friend, Petra Wiltshire, I suffered a bout of nerves and crashed in one of the first corners, which thankfully had the positive effect of focusing my mind!! I crossed the finish line in one piece and then had a nervous wait in the hot seat to see if Petra could beat my time........... I felt sick as the seconds ticked by........ she crossed the finish line 9 seconds slower......I was absolutely thrilled to have won, but also glad we both in one piece too!!

My aim for 2006 is to win all three major championship titles, National, European and World. So that's one down and two to go.... the National Championships are this weekend in Moelfre, Wales. I'm praying for a dry race...... I haven't been treated to many this year so far.......... and we're camping.......
Finally I'd like to say a huge "THANK YOU" to my friends, family and sponsors for all their support. An even bigger thanks to Chris for coming out to Italy and being my tech support, psychologist, psychic, doctor, driver and (by far the most important) best mate - You're ace you, thanks for not saying I was a complete nutter when I woke up fretting after I'd dreamt I had the wrong tyres on, even if you thought it!!!

Jules