Steve Biddle's Blog 2010
Previous Reports
2010:
CTR Caerphilly,
Tough 1's Little Bro,
CEC Owthorpe,
MDR Rnd3,
CTR Rnd7,
Builth Rnd2,
MDR Rnd2,
CTR Rnd6,
Horton Trial,
Tough One,
Snowrun,
Colstey
2009:
Long Mynd,
Caio,
Mercian - Llangrove,
Foxwell,
Exmoor HH - Rifton Barton,
Midwest Rnd5 Blackdog Woods,
Red Kite Enduro, GBXC Rnd5 Crickhowell,
Mercian Rnd ? Pandy,
Corinium,
Snowrun,
Mercian Rnd 1 Aberbeeg,
Midwest Rnd1 Chavenage,
GBXC Rnd1 Stourport,
Haddon Woods,
Hethfelton,
ToughOne,
Colstey
2008:
Midwest H&H Nov ,
Tough One's Brother - Nov ,
Muntjac BEC ,
Ceri H&H Nov ,
Whitley Mid-West H&H Oct ,
Mid-West H&H Sep ,
Mercian H&H Jul ,
Mercian H&H May ,
Colstey H&H Jan ,
Foxwell ,
2007:
Bwlchciliau H&H Nov ,
Ceri H&H Nov ,
Midwest H&H Oct ,
Mercian H&H Oct ,
Radnor Sep ,
Rockfield Enduro H&H Sep ,
Mercian H&H Aug ,
Abbeycwmhir H&H Jun ,
Pandy H&H Jun ,
Rhyd-Blawd H&H May ,
Cwmcynydd H&H - Mar ,
Colstey H&H Jan ,
2006:
Ceri Nov ,
Knighton H&H Sep ,
Rockfield Enduro Sep ,
Mercian H&H Aug ,
Dawn to Dusk ,
Intro: Colin Jones. Blog's: Steve Biddle
Intro
Steve has been, and probably will continue to be, one of our most prolific event riders over the last few years, riding Enduros, both Timecard and Hare and Hounds disciplines.
How to use Steve's blog: the latest additions will always be nearer the top of this page and there are always links to Steve's previous events in the right-hand column, (separated into years.)
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The Blog
21Nov2010: CTR Caerphilly (Results and Pics on EnduroNews.com)
On Sunday I reckon nearly every rider from the forest turned up for Carl Tiley's hare and hound at Foxhill woods near Caerphilly.
Being well known for being a really hard track some of the boys were a bit worried whether or not they would finish, let alone enjoy it. I've being speaking to Carl a couple of days before the event and he said he would make the course a bit easier and with the weather also being an issue.
With an entry of over a hundred it looks like Carls earlier bad luck with his events is starting to get better. With a few problems in getting vehicles in the field the start was now at 12, which gave us time to walk the track and have a look at the easy hard route, which looked very hard I have to say.
Some of the riders that were there was Jas Tillings, Gary Standing, Nick Vaughan, Jimbo Watkins, Simon 'homper' Howells, Martin Truman, Tim Truman, Phil Delaney, Matt Maclean, Johno and Benjy Watkins, Sam Jones, Roger and Richy Holland, Craig Thomas my mate from down valleys. Dan Nelmes, Rhys Davies, Arran 'winging' Wells, Steve Cooper. And watching was Andy Tillings, Mikey Wells, Nathan Etheridge, Ade Evans. Bry Collins. Andy Knapman, Roy Breakwell, and not forgetting everybody's mate spanner man Rucky sorting everybody's fuel out. With most of these riders all being local motocross riders I didn't know if they would enjoy this event but they all said it's a lot harder than motocross but they loved it and they're all going to do more and some of them will be doing our Chicken Farm Winter HH.
I didn't have the best of starts but I never do. Straight off the start Carl put us into a dark pine forest which was quite tricky. Some of the riders did struggle on a steep bank here, even some of the experts and some of them were still there when I came round on my second lap.
Marshals did do a good job of shutting it off and sending riders on a different route. I had a hard battle all day with Neil Thomas so didn't see much of the boys out there and also I took the hard route so I may have passed them there. Matt McLean was flying on the first 3 or 4 laps keeping up with me until he seized his engine, bad luck for him. I'm afraid the bad luck didn't end there. Arran got stuck on the bank on his first lap and didn't seem to get going after that, Jas Tillings was going well until he blew his rad hose. Gary Standing lost water then lost his rad cap. Martin Truman suffered a bad eye injury and ended up with stitches. Benjy had dehydration and was seen in St Johns.
This event was awesome I've got to say but quite hard, good job it was only 2.5hrs, loads of cambers and really muddy fields. Later in the race Rucky told me I was running 2nd overall but bad luck hit me then as well, I got hit into track tape and took the lot out, it got jammed solid in my sprocket and slowed the bike right down I had no time to get it out. Then it also got into my back brake and that stopped working. On last but one lap Neil Thomas caught me and took 2nd place from me, gutted I was.
Brill event, well run. I think Carl has got lap scoring sorted now. Everybody said they all loved it, I'll defo go back to that track.
We had a few DNF's but brought home some good results me 3rd, Sam Jones 6th, Martin Truman 7th all in Experts. Phil Delaney 16th in Clubman. Rich and Rog Holland 4th and 5th in Sportsman. Good to see an excellent turnout from the Forest. Next event might be CTRS at Pontypool then Chicken Farm. All of the results can be seen on Carl's website or through EnduroNews.com (also pics on there.)
About a month ago Jason Tillings made the brave decision of asking me if we were going to do the 'Tough One's Little Bro' up at Nantmawr quarry in Shropshire, where they also run the main event, the tough one. In recent years its always been run at Corwen quarry in North Wales where I've rode before, and was very hard natural terrain.
At first I wasn't going to do it because of moving home but Jason and his dad Andy really had to twist my arm a lot to get me to come and hold their hands, (to be fair it took about 3 secs) I really like my tough events and I said I will only do it if we use it for practice for the main event the tough one in March, now to be held at Back Cowm quarry in Manchester.
We set off early Sunday morning so we could walk the whole track. We were also meeting Roger and Rich Holland up there, it's their first tough event and only doing one season with the Mercian I was a bit worried about how they would cope. I gave them as much help as I could and set their bikes up for them. They both have been riding trials bikes for a while and I've been watching Roger closely for a while now and I think he could be a very talented Enduro rider, he's young very fit and pretty good on a trials bike.
Walking the track we soon worked out that Steve Ireland had put in some easy/hard routes and if you didn't want to do the tyres and logs you could miss them out and take a 30 second penalty at the end. Also walking the track I could tell from riding the Tough 1 last year that they had taken a lot of the hard stuff out, but they did have a sportsman class in so fair enough.
We had everything ready for the off at 11 o'clock. Andy and his gang out with cameras and videos but there was zero help allowed in the pits. I had a brilliant start in expert with 3 rd off the line until i got t-boned on the first section by Gary Jenkins and fell off and stalled the bike which put me dead last with it all to do. After the first lap I passed about 2 riders thats all, but a bit later on I started to catch a lot more, I think some of them were motocross riders and they were getting tired and were struggling on the tyres and logs, so that's where I passed them.
Saw Jason out there and he was riding well, fair play. Jason seems to have the hunger for these tough events so he should do well in the future and to do it on a 04 bike and finish is great.
Didn't see Richy out there but Roger was riding well and seemed to be enjoying it. On the 3rd lap a rider went down in front of me on the logs and I dropped my bike hard and bent my clutch lever right out, which was really hard to use and I found it hard on the tougher sections with no clutch.
With the course being a bit easier than the Tough 1 it did become quite fast going in the later stages. I came in 1 minute before the flag so got 1 more lap in [tidy]. Saw Jason already in the pits with Rog and Richy, gotta say it was great to see them there all finished well done to them all. Did speak to Richy Holland afterwards and he'd bust his footpeg on the first lap and did struggle because of that, but did enjoy it. Well done for finishing on 1 footpeg but that is what these kind of events are about.
Hopefully Andy will have some pics and vids to follow.
Results are on mx247 and WOR website. (That's easy for you to say Steve but I can't find them! ed.) Some results are: me in 9th in expert on 10 laps, Jason 23rd in clubman on 7 laps, Roger 6th in Sportsman 7 laps, Rich 20th on 3 laps ( on 1 footpeg). Some good results brought home I think and fair play to Jas Rog and Rich for even just finishing a really hard event when you all have only been riding enduro for 1 year. Now you are already for the main event so get your reg's filled out and if anybody else wants to come with us to the tough 1 in March get hold of me or Andy, it's something everybody should have a go at.
Next race CTRS at Newport then probably the Chicken Farm, won't being doing much this winter for once, got to do my new house up a bit. Oh, by the way don't know if everybody knows but Rob Breakwell is back in hospital with his arm again so all the best Rob, hope it all goes well mate.
10Oct2010: Long Mynd (Results and Photos)
Sorry I haven't put any reports up lately but been busy with some other stuff.
That doesn't mean I haven't been riding though. I've done rnd 3 and 4 of the Mercian, 1 CTR round, The Caio timecard, all with tidy finishes and this weekend me, Rucky, Phil, and Dan Bishop did the Long Mynd at Church Stretton.
Done this event last year and with a 10 mile loop all in the woods, it adds up to a quite tough good event with a very strong and talented entry list and this year was no exception.
Met up with some mates from down Wales at about 8 o'clock, had a quick look at the track and started at 10 o'clock. On the start line we were all mixed in together, vets and experts. Dan, Ade, and Phil were in vets, Craig in Clubman and me in Expert.
I had a crap start and made a few mistakes first off but soon settled down and got past a few riders. Dan had a good start and I didn't catch him till about the 3rd lap, I stayed behind him for a while and he was going well until he went down on one of the fire roads quite hard. I made sure he got up and pulled on and never saw him 'til the end but he was okay and he enjoyed it he said.
Towards the end they did take some harder routes out and some of the other parts were rutted out quite bad which made for a tiring race. On my last lap I caught up with last year's winner Barry Furber, we had a good old battle but he just got me in the end.
Spoke to Phil at the end and he said he enjoyed it too. He came in at 4th in Vets, Dan 2nd in Vets, me 8th in Experts, all on 8 laps.
Good days riding with no problems. Results are on manchester 17 club website.
Next ride was going to be West Wilts at Farleigh Castle, but its cancelled I see due to lack of entries, so it will be Mercian's last rnd at Aberbeeg.
(Ed says: Just in case you haven't spotted the Mercian Rnd 4 page, here is the video I shot during a quick walk around the course.)
11Jul2010: CEC Owthorpe (Results)
With the Chicken Farm coming up this Sunday I wanted to race to try and keep bike fit. With not much happening it was either WOR at Berwyn Leisure Park or Cotswold at Owthorpe in Nottingamshire.
I rode Cotswold (Enduro Club) in the end because I've never ridden that track before . So, early start for me and Steve to get there to sign on for 8.30 ish and try and walk a bit of the course. It looked mostly all woods with some flat out fields out the back with not much overtaking in the trees.
Pete Carter thanked us all for coming and told us that two of the fields were really fast so go steady on the first lap. Had a quick chat to Andy Keyte, who I rode the tough one with and he was telling me all about Erzberg which he had done this year, next year he tells me he's doing Red Bull Romaniacs and he's trying his hardest to get me to go with him but with an entry cost of 1700 pounds I don't think so.
We started at 10 o'clock for 2.5 hrs but into the first lap something went wrong with the track tape and we all ended doing the lap twice. Pete pulled us all back in and had a few strong words with us all saying that a rider had pulled them down and if it happens again we can all go home. We restarted then at 11 o'clock for 2 hrs which was fine because the track was quite tiring but also very good and tight.
With about 5 miles of wood and a couple of very fast fields it made for a very good day and well worth the journey. I used to do a lot of events for the Cotswold but then went over to the Midwest, but I think I will be doing a few more for them now and also you don't have to collect track anymore so that's a bonus.
I entered Expert plus because I checked some earlier results and seen a lot of riders which I have ridden with before so thought 'well that will do'. Last time I rode any Cotswold was in Clubman so didn't really know which to go in ,and they have a lot of groups. I came in at 6th on 8 laps which was the same as race leader Darren Carter, so pleased with that, anyway I checked the results and if I would have entered enduro expert I would have won it but I think I chose the right group.
From then on it was all down hill, got back to the van lifted my kit bag up and trapped a nerve in my back and then had to drive home bloody agony. Also had to have a day off work and it is still hurting. Helped out at track building last night which also didn't help so I'm hoping I'm going to be alright for the Chicken Farm this Sunday don't know yet.
Well done to all at Cotswold Enduro Club, good event.
Next event after ours is Midwest then Cwmowen.
27Jun2010: MDR Rnd3 Pandy (Results)
Last Sunday was Rnd 3 of the Mercian Champs at the awesome track at Pandy. With a great turnout of about 120 entries at this superb venue it was looking to be a very good day's racing.
Eight of the riders being Forest regulars, me Jas Tillings, Gary, Tim, Craig, Martin, Nick and Phill Gardner. We all got there nice and early to walk some of the track because we had heard from Glenn and Phill there were a few changes out on the course, a lot more technical stuff.
The start was at the normal 11 o'clock but for only 2.5 hrs instead of the normal 3. The Super Vets and Vets were in with us Experts so quite a few bikes up on the front line. We pushed across the road and over to the start which a few had a quick moan about but fair play the weather was very hot and it was good to get started.
I had a very poor start leaving nearly last but by the time we got to the first set of woods I only had Rhys and Phill in front of me and Phill was going well with Rhys right on his tail. Then into the second set of woods Phill had problems with his clutch lever allowing me and Rhys past. I followed Rhys for quite a while then changing places a few times and both of us struggling with back markers in the tight going with not many overtaking places.
Then at the halfway mark Rhys pulled in for fuel but I pulled out to do another lap which I knew I could do. I pushed really hard on that lap to try and pull a gap on Rhys but I knew he wouldn't be far behind. Rhys is a very good rider in the tight going. When I came in for fuel on the next lap I expected Rhys to get back in front but there was no sign of him so I pushed on and never saw him for the rest of the race.
I passed most of the other boys out there and fair play they were all going well, Nick Vaughan seems to have found his feet with his new bike and going well. There was a lot of new bits that the club have put in and its made the track even better. One bit in the trees near the finish is really good with a small jump then two tight turns then over a tree and hard left, it was a good place to get past some back markers. I came alongside Jas Tillings here and we both took the hard route over the log and managed to get passed 2 other riders. Its only Jason's second or third event and he is doing well already. He came in at 4th place in clubman on a borrowed bike off his dad, good ride. I came through the transponder with plenty of time for another lap but there were a lot of riders in the holding area, I think the heat was a problem for most of them.
Just like to say what a great track and a great day, thanks to all at Mercian and all their efforts. I spoke to Rhys and his dad at the end and Rhys did say he had a few problems with back markers and did have a couple of offs. His dad congratulated me on my win fair play to both of them good sportsman.
Gary Standen had plug problems and lost a lap, Craig Jones had a front puncture an hour into the race but carried on, true enduro rider there. Some results are me in Premier, Rhys 2nd, Phil Gardner 1st in Super Vets and 3rd overall, my old mate from Wales Ade Evans in 2nd in Super Vets. Ride of the day though must go to Jas Tillings 4th in Clubman other results on Mercian's website and some pics as well.
Next race for me is Cotswold club at Nottingham then our Chicken Farm.
20Jun2010: CTR Rnd Mamhilad (Results/Report)
We had a nice and local one this weekend for CTR Racing right next door to the karting centre at Mamhilad Ind Estate Pontypool. All new venue.
We got there early because parking was an issue. This event was held in the old brickworks but Carl had to put a new road in to take us up into the woods out off the way. He was telling me and Rucky that the Pontypool Manor own the land here and have let him race as a tester to see what its like, if everthing goes well he will be back and there is a lot of land here with plenty of scope for more bigger and better races, so should be good.
Entry list was better than last time with about 80 to ride. Carl said that the first 10 mins was all wood then 5 mins of flowing tracks. Track length about 4 mile on 3 hrs 12 o'clock start after the kiddies race.
We then walked the course just before the first race and the trees was very tight and twisty really slow stuff. Then has you got out at the top it opened up a bit with some nasty little log jumps and bomb holes. Walking the course you could see it was all new going, loads of stumps just at exhaust height. When me Rucky and Ade got back the parking area was full and parked next to me was Dakar rider Simon Pavey on his BMW 450. I had a quick chat with him, nice bloke.
I had a good start, 2nd into first corner, Pavey was in front and Derek Bawn right behind me. I could have took Pavey no problems but there was nowhere to overtake in the first wooded section so I just waited for him to make a mistake which he did, he stalled it going into one of the corners out on the faster stuff. Once I got passed Simon I pulled quite a big gap. After about 5 laps Derek passed me and we were together for a while, I then got snarled up with a sportsman on one of the log jumps and Derek pulled away and I never caught him again.
As the day went on the track got better and better but was very tiring with no let up at all, really good for your fitness though. After about 150 mins in I lapped Pavey then Derek lapped me, he was riding well, fair play, he also got another lap in because he just got through before the 3hrs and I was the first rider in for the flag, I missed another lap by 7 seconds, I was gutted (Actually us mortals would have said thank christ! ed.) but never mind I had 2nd overall on 24 laps.
Ade rode well and won the Vets with a lap up on Simon who came in 2nd. Quick chat with Tiley, grabbed a trophy and home, Great day, good venue defo go back.
Next race Mercian Pandy then to Devon enduro.
13June2010: Builth Hare & Hounds (Results)
Straight after the hillclimb it was straight home to get the bike ready for the 2nd round of the builth wells hare and hound championship at church farm crossgates on the old special test track for the welsh 2 day. I couldn't do rnd 1 as I was racing somewere else but I was determined to do this round as I missed it last year and heard it was quite good.
Just me and rucky went up, all the other boys were busy or had done the hillclimb. There is prize money for this event so the Expert line was all good riders, including Jon Hinam, Andy Edwards, Gethin Price, Rob Reese, Tim Forman, Ashley Wood.
Myself and Rucky walked the course with Ade Evans and Bryan Collins, They both ride most of the events that I ride and we always bump into them.
We knew there was 2 easy/ hard routes, so we had a good look at them and the first one was three log jumps that looked quite tricky but worth going for. They other one was just a small hillclimb out of a stream, no probs.
I had a poor start but by the second lap I was in 10th battling again with Neil Thomas. Even though the weather was good the course was really muddy in places and some of the bends were polished up quite bad. There was some technical going in some gullys and a few bogs but all in all the track was great.
photos and pics all on enduro news.
After the 3hrs I came in at 7th on 19 laps which is good really considering who was riding. Ashley Woods won on 20 laps, the laps were just 4 miles long.
23May2010: Mercian Dirt Riders HH Rnd 2 Results
Last Sunday saw most of us returning to Mercian's rnd 2 at Aberbeeg South Wales. I say most of us because we have had a few problems, Steve Ruck's father, who has not been well for a while now, sadly passed away last week so Steve and Craig decided not to come. Steve came passed my house on Saturday and was still upset and said that he didn't want any problems as the funeral was on Monday but he told me to carry on and 'fuel your bloody self for once'.
James also couldn't race because of a injury to his knee which he got at Carl Tiley's race at Bargoed. I think he might be out until the next mercian round. So it was just me Gary, Craig Jones, Martin, Mikey Wells, Phil Gardner and also it was nice to see Mr Ian Vessey there too.
Spoke to Glen and Phil and they told me that the track was still 7 miles and some nice new bits thrown in. Some people are not so keen on Aberbeeg but I love this track and most of the time I do well. I walked parts of the track with Sam Jones and Rob Breakwell and saw the fields and start were very rough and dusty and hard packed and lots of loose rocks, so try and go steady on the first lap so it might break up a bit, "yea right!". Rob was telling me that his elbow is now okay and he nearly has full movement.
I came 3rd at Llangrove so I could do with a good result at Aberbeeg to get some points back. Rhys Davies was also riding, I rode with Rhys at the last 2 CTR rounds and he beat me both times. Rhys has come up from clubman last year and fair play he's riding really well and is only 19yrs of age so I am struggling to keep with him, however I knew if I was going to beat Rhys it would be here. Everybody knew the weather was going to be hot and dusty so I tried to hydrate all week and wear the least [riding gear] I could. Since the Tough One I've been using hydration tablets in my camelbak and they work a treat.
On the start line we had Expert, Vet Expert, and Vets, so I knew a good start would be good. Rob holeshotted with me second but by the first corner Rhys was past me. I managed to keep Rob and Rhys close so I stayed behind for a while but by the second lap Rhys was pulling away from Rob so I had to try and pass Rob. In the next set of woods Rob slipped off so I took him and tried to pull away and catch Rhys. I kept him close but could not get passed him so I just dug in and enjoyed it.
The track was awesome, it's the best track at Aberbeeg I've ever ridden. The new bits were really good. At the hillclimb, before the transponder, it was a bit tricky and a few were struggling, but the marshals were there all the time, fair play to them all.
I could see that the heat was affecting a lot of riders and there were a lot of them in the holding area. I just made sure I took on water every time I came to the transponder and I never got tired for the whole 3 hrs. On the last but 1 lap I could see I was catching Rhys and I was told by a few spectators that he was only 30 secs in front so I pushed harder. When I was out then on my last lap I saw Rhys on the crossover and I was then in front by about a minute. Apparently he had pulled into the pits to refuel and was suffering with exhaustion and could hardly hold on to the bike but he did restart and came back out but had slowed right off. Fair play, Rhys rode really well and I didn't think I would beat him but its all on the day. I spoke to Rhys and his dad and they both congratulated me which I always return to them. That's the good thing about the Mercian club, everybody gets on and has a laugh.
I saw Craig and Gary out on the going and they were both riding well and I think they will get a lot better soon.
The results were; me 1st overall expert 9 laps, Rhys 2nd 9 laps Rob 3rd 8 laps, (Sam just behind). Phil Gardner had a good ride to get the Vet Expert win on 8 laps Mikey 3rd in Vets Gavin 6th Vets, Craig 6th in Clubman Martin 11th Gary 13th. Full results and photos on Mercian website. Gary had suffered with dehydration and was quite ill and had to pull in to the holding area, we sat him in the van with air con on and some water and he was fine after.
Good job, well done to all at the Mercian club, the event was brilliant, next event for us is either CTR or Crossgates for the Builth Club, or and maybe the Hillclimb.
25Apr2010: Carl Tiley Racing. Round 6. PenyBanc (Deri). (Results)
With not much happening last week me, James, Gary,and Martin went and rode Carl Tiley's enduro at Deri nr Bargeod. Carl hasn't had much good publicity with his events so we thought we would go and see for ourselves. I've known carl for a while now through time cards and various British rounds I've done and I thought 'well, if anybody knows how to set up a track he should, being British champion for many years'.
We got down to sign on for nine oclock then it was the kiddies race at 10 till 11.30, then our race at 12. We walked most of the track and I reckon it was about 3 to 4 miles long but quite tecnical and no let up at all.
The track put you through a field first with two nasty bogs in which looked like they would be a problem later on. Then it took you out across the mountain and back again which had some really good hillclimbs on it. Then you went into some woods, Then down a drainage channel which was like riding down pant-glas, then at the bottom a hard left turn and up a steep hill on a nasty camber, which caught a load of riders out, most of them wouldn't do it.
After about half an hour in Carl took it out for everybody apart from the experts, which was not too bad, at least you had no riders holding you up on it. By the end of the 3hrs I had pretty well had it because there was no let up at all and the laps were so short, but it was a good track and a good day and I will try and do some more of his events because they're local and he seems to have quite a few tracks coming up.
James and Gary thought the same as me and they're going to do a few more as well. We all came home with good results. I had 2nd in Expert on 21 laps, James 12th, Gary 19th Martin 20th.
I also had a trophy on the day as well. If anybody is interested, because Carl is looking for more entries, his website is www.ctrevents.co.uk you can also see his calendar on there for all his dates for the season and results and photos from the race last week.
Our next race was going to be for the midwest but because they have gone to the same venue for the last 4 events we have pulled out and are doing a CTR event at Pontypool which is advertised on enduro news as being a really exciting new venue with jumps, rocks and log piles, sounds good. Then its rnd 2 for the Mercian at Aberbeeg.
28Mar2010: Kingswood MCC Horton Trial (Results)
With not being able to afford to do the Sprint Challenge and still wanting to ride we entered the Glos and Cotswold trial at Winstone, but with all the rain last week they had to cancel late on the Friday night. So, it was straight out with the Trials and Motocross to find another trial, and we did. The Kingswood trial at Horton Nr Tetbury. I rung Mike Fear up and he said no problem sign on at 8.30 sharp so we were fixed up tidy.
Me, Andy, Ashley and Jason Tillings were all doing it and Phil Gardner also got a late entry. Me and Phil are enjoying doing the odd trial, it's a lot cheaper and good practice for enduro.
We got there about 9 signed on and got ready, Clerk of the course said it was 4 laps with 10 sections and 'be as quick as you can cause the rain is coming in later'. All clubman on the standard route started on section 1 which we were all in and we all rode togther so we could watch each other and take the p' a bit.
Ashley and Jason are both long time trials riders and are quite good too, their dad Andy has also been riding trials a long time and is very good himself and also good at giving some advice to me and Phil who think we are always on a enduro track flat out. Phil kept saying to me "how are we going to attack this one Steve?" and I always said "enduro style Phil, jump that log and them rocks flat out", but funny it didn't work out. After the first lap I could see how tight it was so I did calm down then and tried my best.
The sections did look easier than they were and it caught a lot of people out. We never had any rain at all, it was a really good day and made a change not to go home covered in mud.
The results are on www.kingswoodmcc.co.uk but can't really work them out, but basically I dropped 53, Jase 48, Ash 38, Andy 96, Phil 62.
Just like to thank Mike for letting us ride and for a good day's riding, really good trial, he's just sent me the dates for their other 4 trials for the year so see if I can do few more, good club fairplay.
Next race Red Kite then first round of the Mercian.
the Tough One - Andy Tillings' Gallery (Sorry can't find results!)
With the tough one being cancelled first time round it gave me a bit more time to get myself sorted and bit fitter, well I know now I wasn't fit enough. Me, Rucky and Wayne went in my van because I had 1 free entrant and the other had to pay twenty pounds, James, Darren, Martin, Phill all went in James car and all paid twenty each which worked out good. The other car load was Craig, Gary, Tim, Nicky. Andy Tillings and his wife and his son also came up to give me some support, which I was really glad about. Andy spent most of the race taking the photos and shouting at me to get on with it, which really did give me the edge to push harder.
We all watched the clubman go off at 9.30 then I wanted to walk the whole track to see where they got in any trouble so I could maybe sort out some lines for my pro race later. There were quite a few places where they had trouble, including the lorry trailer, the rocks up in the woods and on the steep downhills. I think worst place was the lorry trailer because you could ride up into it okay but to jump out the other end was really scary, about a six foot drop out onto the floor. The problem was you just couldn't put any power on because the floor of the trailer was wood and covered in mud and water, there were bikes flying everywere, most of them going over the bars. Then the marshals did pull back the curtain on the side of the trailer a bit which did help, but most riders lifted their bikes out, it was total carnage. All this was worrying to watch and I was beginning to think 'what the hell have I done'.
I had a couple of mates from Pontypool riding the clubman, Andy Keyte and Graig Hawkins and they both did really well. I spoke to them after and they both said to me 'you will be okay Steve, you will love it', this did make me feel a bit better. The difference between the clubman race and the pro race was one uphill and two downhills, which we went and looked at and I wished I hadn't. They were unreal, no way was I going down them and that was the feeling of most of the expert riders, really scary. You will be able to see them on utube but really you needed to see them for real.
After the clubman race it was time for the hot lap for the pros to do which determind their start order which meant they had to go down the hills so we hung about to watch them, Paul Eddy was first to do it and he came down okay and Knighter just jumped off the top no trouble but as the riders came through you could see someone was going to get hurt. Jarvis and Lampkin both overshot the bottom and had to run off into the tape, then others got into trouble as well. So after the hot lap Steve Ireland decided to take the two downhills out because of safety reasons and frost still on the floor, good decision.
By this time my nerves had got to me a bit, so Andy Phil and Wayne had to have a few chosen words with me, which did me good, I just listened to them and went and got dressed. Steve Ireland had also put some wooden strips down in the lorry trailer to get some grip on so it looked okay now.
We started at 1 o'clock sharp in a field at the top of the quarry while the pros started behind us and soon caught us up in the first rocky wooded section. Eddy was first past me and clipped my boot and undone every buckle, cheers Paul. I battled on though getting past some other experts on the rocks, got to the first field and Knighter and a few more passed me then it seemed to settle down a bit so I thought I was doing okay. When I got to 'the root of all evil' I got up there okay, then it was 'the alligator pit' and some logs, pissed over that and the hillclimbs.
Next was the rocks and then the trailer, flew over the rocks okay, but when I got to the trailer a rider had gone over the bars and his bike was on top of him and apparently he'd broke his shoulder. I got up the logs into the trailer okay then just kept the momentum going and stayed off the power and just lifted the front end and sat back, that was the way to do it. I was fine. Then it was the logs and lorry tyres, about thirty logs all layed down, they weren't too bad as long as you kept the power off and sat back, the lorry tyres were a bit nasty, you had to try and ride upon the rims of the tyres but it was hard, fairplay.
Next was the skips which were a bit nasty to get out off and they just trashed the frontpipe. Then it was the dumper tyres, which everybody told me was the worst thing on the course but I managed to go over them with feet on the pegs no problem every lap then I couldn't wait to get to them, a lot easier than they look.
I think what you've got to do at these extreme enduros is not to race them but just ride and take a little bit of time and take every obstacle steady not to get hurt then pick up the pace when you got yourself sorted. I'd seen many good riders rush off and ended coming off and only doing 1 lap, there was so many dnfs, which was not what I wanted, I just wanted to finish it so I can say I've done it and my result wasn't that bad really, 16th in expert with 7 laps. I did feel that I could have pushed harder but I just didn't want to damage the bike and dnf.
I did stop a few times for a breather and grabbed a drink off one of lads who came to watch. At the end I did feel like I was dying but it was all worth it, awesome event.
I was going to ride the next day at rnd 1 of the Midwest at Chavenge but I hurt my ankle jumping out of the trailer on the last lap. A spectator came up to me at the end and said he'd seen me jump out of the trailor and said that the end of my boot was nearly touching my shin plate and he thought I'd broken my ankle, pity he never had a photo of that, I think he was exagerating a bit myself though.
I then met up with everybody and watched the boulder dash which was crazy, I'm never doing that, no way. Iv'e never done an event as hard as this but I've got to say it was brilliant, the atmosphere is awesome and I loved it, definately doing it next year and some more exteme enduros if I can afford it.
Its amazing to have done rnd 2 of the world championship extreme enduro here at Wales and Steve Ireland is having some stick about cost for spectators, all I can say is for twenty quid per person, it was a bargain for how many top riders were there and how many races there was. Compared to the beach race this event is much better for your money.
I would like to thank everbody who came and supported me at the tough one and especially to Wayne for helping me every lap on those bloody rocks, even Knighter got stuck on them. And also to Andy Tillings for all the help and a bit of tuition on the trials bikes down on his bit of land, without that I would have struggled a bit more.
The results and some photos are on www.mx247.com and www.worevents.com there is also some vids on u tube, try these in tough one 2010. Next year this event is in Corwen North Wales where I did Tough One's Little Brother last year, I think it will be good up there so if anybody wants to have a go next year come up with me, its not so bad as it looks. I think next year there will be more of us, I've already had some interest from a few lads. Oh, and thanks also to Guy Mansfield-Smith for his support up there.
Next event Wentwood.
11Feb2010: Snowrun (Results)
The snowrun is always great to do because its the first good timecard for the season and me, James and Rucky were there once again to have a go. For me it was my 6th snowrun and I think it was the best one so far. I was on 4 laps with two tests each lap but not on 1st lap, so had 6 tests to do and James was on 2 laps with 2 tests. The weather was pretty good just a little icy first thing.
The first check turned out to be quite tight and the test was all in the trees. The second check and test was the complete opposite, but both really good. I picked up the pace for the first check on all other laps because they were taken a fair bit of time off us, but stayed on time all day and so did James who had a great ride to win sportsman. Seen Martin and Ben there who both had good results too. Fair play to all at WTRA for another good Snowrun. Probably be back for their Red Kite enduro in April.
Wayne Hewitt says: "I just wanted to say Good luck Steve on doing the W.O.R Tough One on the 20th Feb. I know how hard its going to be and whatever you come across on the course you will get over it. All your mates will be there, myself, Andy, Rucky, Herman the German, Woody and Spanner man will be there to drive you on. Remember what you always tell me, Ride the bike like you stole it!!!!"
31Jan2010: Colstey H&H MWTRA. (Results)
After practicing all winter on a trials bike to be ready for the Boxing day trial, (which was absolutely brillant by the way, well done to all), and the Tough One it was time to get back on the enduro bike and off to do the Colstey Hare and Hounds at Kerry mid wales.
James and I haven't rode our bikes for quite a while because of all the bad weather and cancellations. We set off early to get a good place at pitside.
With 2 inches of snow and hard frost we were worried it was going to be a bit dodgy as like last year, so the first lap would be a trier, well that was the plan. With having a bad start that all went out the window, starting last I had it all to do. It was a 4 hr race for the ironman class so it was going to be hard for our first race of the season.
The going was all in the trees and very whooped out, as it is every year. This will be my last year at the Colstey because of this. They never use new ground and its really hard work.
They sent out the quads and the sidecars after the first hour which was a real pain they just held you up all the time. I had a nasty off after about 3 hrs which niggled a few old injuryies and I felt like retiring but I hate giving up. James thought much the same as me but did enjoy it at the end.
We both finished and james had a 9th on 11 laps which is a excellent result in that area of the country where there are a lot of good woods riders. I had a 4th in expert on 16 laps which was the same as the winner so pleased with that too. It was a good workout which was what we both needed for our season ahead.
James is loving his new Gas Gas and I could see in his riding that he has improved a lot, seems to be a good bike. This year James is doing two championships Midwest and Mercian and other chosen events. I'm doing Mercian some Midwests and hopefully some British Championship events and some extreme events like the Tough One. I might go on a Paul Bolton extreme course later in the year if anybody else wants to come.
Our next event is the Snowrun then the Tough One