For the fourth stop on the tour the Hi5 crew headed south to Milton Keynes for a night that was more kinky than a Soho speakeasy. As the defending Gold Shovel champions, the shapers were keen to show that victory in 2010 was not a one off. They would have to put up something special though, as Tamworth, Braehead and Castleford had already set the bar high.

Milton Keynes have long had a reputation for building innovative and progressive parks (anyone remember the UK’s first ever indoor real snow pipe?) and this year was no exception. At the top of the park was the rail section, featuring a down bar, down flat gas pipe and a sick quad, yes quad, kink rail. For such a technical section, the riders showed it little respect with Andy Nudds, Ollie Dutton and the evergreen John Weatherly throwing down a bagful of technical mastery. The always impressive Becky Menday also stood out while Callum Paton’s front board through the quad kink was one of the highlights of the night.

Moving on down to the mid section the riders were greeted by yet more kinks in the shape of a down flat down gas pipe, the Burton bench and yet another six inch bar which Jake Binnie destroyed with a front one on switch 50-50 nose tap out. Following that was a kicker, the Burton wedge and an up down gas pipe combo with quite a sizeable gap in the middle. Chris Chatt, a man not averse to the odd gap, showed just what could be done on this feature with some insane back 270’s over the gap. Finally, the riders enjoyed the fun, if not technically challenging, box at a 45 degree angle with a gas pipe above it, much like the one at Tamworth.

The girls final showed again just how good a riding standard there is on the UK female scene with Izzy Jones breaking through to take third place. Orla Doolin again showed here consistency with another strong showing with a sweet front board switch out on the top down bar earning her second. In first though was Becky Menday, who continued a strong tour with even more standout riding. In the mens final, the level was again ridiculously high, with Ollie Dutton trying a ridiculously technical switch run which he couldn’t quite stick and Neil Campbell destroying the park he helped shape. In the end, Ross Needham took third, Andy Nudds came in second with an array of super smooth front boards and John Weatherly claimed a much deserved top spot.

Praise must go to Milton Keynes for the atmosphere, which pushed the riding up a notch from the previous stop at Castleford. Whether the crew did enough to secure the Golden Shovel for a second year running remains to be seen but it was a sick night none the less, with smiles all round. The tour now heads back up the M6 to the Chill Factore in Manchester, see you there!

Full Results

Kids Girls:
1st Becky Menday
2nd Cerys Allen
3rd Skyla Bailey

Kids Boys:
1st Jake Binnie
2nd Tomski Robinson
3rd Leo Fordham

Junior Girls
1st Natalie Silkstone

Junior Boys
1st Reece Gould
2nd Conner Gould
3rd Josh Ogden

Senior Female
1st Becky Menday
2nd Orla Doolin
3rd Izzi Jones

Senior men’s
1st John Weatherly
2nd Andy Nudds
3rd Ross Needham