The 3rd round of the Metzeler ACU British Enduro Championship trundled into the picturesque Mid Wales town of Lanidloes on Friday 4th June. The start was at the Rugby club and the weather in Llani was beautiful. With a European and a World round under their belts. the Hafren club have assembled a professional team who make the complex challenges of putting on a major event appear to be seemingly effortless.
At 3.00pm scrutineering began. All the bikes had their major components marked with paint before they were housed overnight in the Park Ferme. Following concerns raised about the noise output of some bikes at the Scottish round, the ACU introduced an amendment to the regulations and a random selections of bikes were tested. David Stokes, Craig Reynolds and Robert Jones were amongst the riders who had to represent their machines with modified pipes. Even a traveling marshal had his KDX tested and it scraped through on 94db, MPS Racing's Tom Braddock went for a corporate look to match the new transporter with a Husqvarna red sunburn. Leyton Roberts borrowed Ade Dealey's KTM which he hoped would prove to be more reliable than his own 200exc. Neville King's collection of Techno CDs - broadcast over the PA from the guard's tower - encouraged everyone to strive for Victory through Work. Scrutineering finished at 7.00pm and the ACU held a training session on the use of the noise testing equipment before everyone wandered off to enjoy the summer's evening and relax in the bars and restaurants of Llani.
Day 1 The warm summer sun made short work of the morning mist but a heat haze lingered and shaded the riders as they prepared for the day ahead. The race began at 9.00am. The MX test was in the field next to the start. In conditions that suited him perfectly, Greg Evans won the first test of the day by 1 second from David Knight. The riders then rode around the medieval Market Hall and north to cross country test at Geraint Jones' farm. The main features of the test were a 10 foot "step off" and a 40 feet bank which dropped into a wet patch of mud that gripped the front wheel and punched it through the bars. It could have been laid out by Chris "Kiwi" Hockey to test out his "Dr Shox" handy work. Geraint pre-rode the test and despite the warm sun there was still some dew on the grass under the trees. David Knight was cautious on the big 530 but he still set the fastest time.
After the test the riders began the 45 mile lap around the Hafren forest. There were twp and a half laps for the Championship and 2 laps for the rest. Following Check 1 the course divided into two with a Championship/ Experts loop and a Clubman route. For the top boys it was a "Stickfest" as there has been a considerable amount of felling in the forest recently. Jon Hinam, Dave Brick and Gethin Price all shredded their mooses. On his 2nd cross country test, the front wheel of David Knight's KTM530 demolished a shailly berm and the big thumper went down but he kept the motor running and again set the fastest time. Dust was a problem for some riders. Army rider Danny Jones missed a turning and he rode check 4 twice. There was some water about. Dan Phillips found a bog big enough to bury his KTM and he dropped 6 minutes. Tom Sagar lost time when he dropped his bike on ST4 & short circuited his electrics. Alex Rockwell's Husqvarna cut out on the last lap when his battery charger became disconnected. Frazer Norrie also lost his power when his coil bolts undid. Euan McConnell flattened his exhaust and went through 4 plugs before diagnosing a faulty CDI.unit. Charlie Evans' injury elbow gave him too much grief to carry on. Joe Deakin lost 30 minutes when he holed his radiator. Mark Roberts crashed heavily on his final cross country test and although his bike made the Parc Ferme he was a doubtful day 2 starter. Craig Reynolds went to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone. On the last lap the Championship class rode the cross country and MX tests back to back. David Knight had found his rhythm and he extended his lead. The Working area became a hot bed of controversy over the interpretation of a ACU rule concerning assistance. It was decided that in this case it was not allowed. Aaron Poolman trapped his rear tyre clamp under the bead and his Midwest team set up a duplicate wheel for him to practice releasing it in the morning. The Day 1 results were posted by 6.30pm. David Knight was the overall winner from Greg Evans. Paul Edmondson was 3rd. Danny McCanney was the best of the Experts ahead of Gavin Houson. Jack Twentyman won the Vet A class from Murray Thomson. The best Clubman was Steve Holcombe and Gethin Humphreys was the runner up. With the course in perfect condition very few riders incurred time penalties.
Day 2 More blue skies. The course was the same as Day 1 but the MX test was reversed. There was a 5 minute delay as the gate to the MX field was padlocked. The schedule was two laps for the Champs/Experts and one and half for the Clubmen. At 4.00an a sharp shower wet the grass which suited Greg Evans and he once again won the first test of the day. Mark Roberts' ribs were clearly too painful for him to ride. Tom Braddock also had to retired to return home on family business. Mike Bailey's mooses popped out on the Experts loop after check 1. Fellow REME rider Jase Corden had a carburetor problem. Aaron Poolman lost 3 spokes in the Stickfest. He repaired the wheel at the picnic site service stop but he had to take the tyre off a second time at the farm to get it balanced. At noon a bank of low cloud swept across the forest and brought down the visibility on the higher parts of the course. It left as quickly as it came & the afternoon was bathed in beautiful sunshine. Ollie Moyce commented "2 days in Wales without rain, is this a record". The Championship and the Experts class rode the final XC & MX tests back to back. David Knight was the overall winner ahead of KORR's Greg Evans. Putoline Suzuki Fast Eddy's Tom Sagar was 3rd & KORR's Daryl Bolter was 4th. Fast Eddy team manager Paul Edmondson was 5th. A super charged Alex "Rocky" Rockwell took 6th for the MPS Racing team despite sustaining a painful burn on his forehead - resting it on a hot exhaust. Ollie Moyce brought the Midwest Husaberg home in 7th. Andrew Edwards was lucky to keep going after a rock hit is chain off and he locked up With special test times comparable to the Championship class, Danny McCanney the best of the Experts. Gavin Houson was the runner up, Jonny Walker was 3rd and KB Racing's Lewis Belfield was 4th. Once again Jack Twentyman and Murray Thomson topped the Vets A table. The clubman class again went to Steve Holcombe and Gethin Humphries. Russell Millward was the best of the Vets B. Phil Smithson was 2nd & Neil Williams was 3rd. Late starter Jason Way was riding his 2nd enduro and he did well to finish in the Vets.
After the event David Knight said "It was good. It was about getting back into the Welsh grass tests. It was slippery early on and I couldn't afford to make any mistakes because of Greg. You can struggle a bit on these big bikes to find grip and you can't get on the power. It was long way between tests and I would like to see more cross country tests but the course was good. On the last two tests, up at the farm, when I had built up a lead, I could ride harder. I really enjoyed it". Paul Edmondson said "Cracking event. Real good course. The special tests were obviously enjoyable. It was like the World round but a lot drier". R
