Full of Easton promise
By TMX Archives on 2nd Apr 08
AT the beginning of 2008, Midwest MCC promised to introduce new venues for its Hewitt National Cross-Country Championship. So keeping to its word, virgin land at Ston Easton in Somerset was selected for round two of the current series, although typically the unpredictable British weather did its very best to ruin proceedings. .
Following persistent rain during both the previous day and overnight, ground conditions were left rather soggy in both the pits area and out on track. However, the Midwest MCC is a very determined bunch, and refusing to admit defeat it decided to proceed with Sunday's event, a move which was to prove totally correct as race-day was to be blessed by pleasant, warm, sunny and most importantly, dry weather.
Report and Pictures: MIKE WOOD
Although the saturated terrain, featuring plenty of open blasts along cambered banks, uphill turns and a ride through a fast flowing stream, claimed many victims on the opening laps, the top Expert riders made a fast start.
Indeed, before the traffic became congested and the ruts axle deep, the eventual top five riders, Darren Wheeler, Derry Milling, Rich Warner, Jeremy Box and Gary Baker all recorded the fastest lap time of the day on the opening circuit. Aboard his Midwest Racing supported Husaberg, Wheeler, the round one winner, was again to be victorious completing 13 laps, a total matched by both Milling and Warner. At the finish, Wheeler's winning margin was to be just over three minutes.
In the Veteran Expert class, winner Jerry Adams finished one full lap ahead of his closest rivals Marcus Barnes, David Lote, Stuart Keedwell, Alastair Bramwell and Gerald Poole. In the battle for second place, Barnes was a clear seven minutes in front of his challenging pack.
Mitch Pearce produced an incredible performance in the Clubman 2T class at Ston Easton, completing 12 laps which was a full two more circuits than runner-up Ben Roberts. In a tight tussle to the chequered flag, Roberts was to be just a minute ahead of Andy Howes whilst a slender 43 seconds separated the next four riders, Jez Dance, Peter Kyte, Seb Dexter and Gary Taylor.
Completing a great day for the Midwest Racing team, Tyson Maytom-Jones was the top Clubman 4T rider.Leading the contest from start to finish, Maytom-Jones was a full lap ahead of two incredibly tight battles. Kye Banks beat Gary Sims by just 24 seconds for the runner-up slot whilst David Fowler out-gunned Adrian Francis by 28 seconds for fourth.
Over in Sportsman 2T, Benjamin Wyles, Jeff Cripps, Paul Jones, Wayne Tibbles and Daniel Hosznyak all completed nine laps. At the flag, Wyles was nine minutes ahead of runner-up Cripps. In the battle for Sportsman 4T honours, John Bradley, Scott King and Colin Smith were locked together on eight laps completed. Whilst Bradley took the win some 12 minutes ahead of his rivals, King just edged out Smith for the right to be runner-up.
In the final Ston Easton class and completing another super Midwest MCC promotion, Guy Mansfield-Smith was top Veteran, just over a minute ahead of Stephen Milling whilst David Johnson took third.
Round three of the Hewitt National cross country championship is due to take place on Sunday, May 11.
Hewitt National Cross-Country Champs
Rd 2 Ston Easton, Somerset
Experts: 1 Darren Wheeler, 2 Derry Milling, 3 Rich Warner, 4 Jeremy Box, 5 Gary Baker, 6 Derek Bawn.
Veteran Experts: 1 Jerry Adams, 2 Marcus Barnes, 3 David Lote, 4 Stuart Keedwell, 5 Alastair Bramwell, 6 Gerald Poole.
Clubman 2T: 1 Mitch Pearce, 2 Ben Roberts, 3 Andy Howes, 4 Jez Dance, 5 Peter Kyte, 6 Seb Dexter.
Clubman 4T: 1 Tyson Maytom-Jones, 2 Kye Banks, 3 Gary Sims, 4 David Fowler, 5 Adrian Francis, 6 Jason Balley.
Sportsman 2T: 1 Benjamin Wyles, 2 Jeff Cripps, 3 Paul Jones, 4 Wayne Tibbles, 5 Daniel Hosznyak, 6 Guy Pilgrim.
Sportsman 4T: 1 John Bradley, 2 Scott King, 3 Colin Smith, 4 Richard Shore, 5 Nicholas Keen, 6 Stephen Chesterton.
Veteran: 1 Guy Mansfield-Smith, 2 Stephen Milling, 3 David Johnson, 4 Robert Shore, 5 Stuart Jones, 6 James Browning.
For full pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, April 4, 2008