A Little cracker...
By TMX Archives on 6th Nov 08
IT'S a boy! The Tough One's Little Brother has arrived, kicking and screaming onto the extreme enduro scene as Sunday witnessed one of the most exciting races of the 2008 season.It had a lot to live up to, but when its day of birth finally arrived, the Tough One's Little Brother didn't disappoint and it can rightfully claim to be the UK's second toughest extreme enduro, close behind its big brother, and equally spectacular. Paul Edmondson and Tom Sagar battled solidly for two gruelling hours and finished with just two-seconds separating them. Commentator Roger Harvey only took three breaths in two hours!
With the long established success of the Tough One, the TOLB was a risk taken by Steve Ireland to try and emulate the event but on a slightly smaller scale, but it was a risk, which proved to be very successful.
Not as extreme as Nantmawr Quarry, Wern Ddu provided a completely natural course of around four kilometres, which proved to be too much for many though just enough for most riders.
Very steep climbs and drops, long rocky stream sections which had become seriously tough from constant overnight rain plus plenty of off-cambers, usually located at the base of a steep downhill drop, tested riders to the maximum.
With a spread of riders of all capabilities, the course made for great racing and proved to be an excellent spectacle as back-markers played their part, to some small degree, in the overall outcome of the race.
The event attracted an impressive line-up from across the country with Paul Edmondson, Tom Sagar, extreme specialist Wayne Braybrook and ‘Mr Endurance', Mick Extance, aboard a brand spanking new BMW, which attracted great interest from the crowds of spectators who witnessed the Beemer's first serious UK outing.
The many riders from the Devon Massive, who competed across all classes with some distinction, made their long journey worthwhile and gave good representation for the south.
As bikes were lined up it was interesting to note that out of 80-plus bikes, only 12 were four-strokes, so much for the predicted ‘death of the two-smoke'. This type of event demands nimble, responsive, lightweight surefootedness, not weight and muscle.
A two-hour race time was set and despite serious downpours overnight, the day remained dry, which was a real advantage for both riders and spectators.
With five classes on the line, the Pro riders took off first – 30 meters to a tight uphill right-hander with a double step up. The charge for the corner saw Sagar, Edmondson and Braybrook mid-pack as Lincoln Brewster and Richard Ellwood shared the lead, but ever so briefly.
With just one lap down Sagar had stretched quite a lead over the rest of the Pros with Ellwood second and Paul Edmondson third.
THE TOUGH ONE'S LITTLE BROTHER
Wern Ddu Quarry, near Corwen (WOR Events)
Pro: 1 Paul Edmondson, 2 Tom Sagar, 3 Wayne Braybrook, 4 Richard Elwood, 5 David Myers.
Expert: 1 Rob Reese, 2 Simon Comer, 3 Andrew Hackett, 4 Lewis Belfield, 5 Rob Pollard.
Clubman: 1 Craig Parkes, 2 Richard Tucker, 3 Scott Hughes, 4 Phil Houghton, 5 Johnny Jones.
Sportsman: 1 Gethin Humphreys, 2 Darren Williams, 3 Thomas Healey, 4 Darren Heyes, 5 Aifion Davies.
Over 40: 1 Ian Jones, 2 Gary McCoy, 3 Chris Roberts, 4 Mick Extance, 5 Ian Coburn.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2008
The going's ‘Tough' for one pair of riders who struggle up a steep Wern Ddu incline.