Lossie awaits

While it would seem that the rest of the entire United Kingdom has suffered from copious amounts of rainfall throughout 2012 in the micro-climate that is known as the ‘Laigh O' Moray' in the north east of Scotland there has been virtually no rainfall and members of the organising team are looking forward to the opening round of the Championship series on March 30/31.

 

Back in 2010 everything had to be postponed for a month due to severe winter conditions suffered in the area during April. Although the event was bathed in sunshine when it ran the following month.

 

For many Lossie will need no introduction, having been the main venue for previous, well received British Championship rounds and also the traditional opening two rounds of the Scottish Enduro Championship.

 

For those unfamiliar with this small forest on the Moray Coast, it is close to the popular seaside holiday destination of Lossiemouth and the RAF base. Elgin is the nearest major town.

 

The forest is mainly fairly flat and is normally well drained. There are a few highly technical sections in the course. The description suggests a fairly straightforward ride in the woods. This assumption is common for first time Lossie riders. However very few retain this view after a day or so of racing.

 

Lossie Enduros test rider stamina to the limit. The perceived flat landscape encourages quick riding through the trees but the unseen, bumpy nature and stumps soon start to sap energy.

 

The surface constantly changes, loamy earth merges into loose pebbles but the real sting in the Lossie tail is the sand. Mile after mile of deep, soft sand! Ride it fast and you're left with a sense of achievement – ride it slow and you exhaust yourself.

 

Either way, it's a great feature of any Lossie Enduro, the long ride along the ‘Dunes of Death' and the tight and twisting special test.

 

After the 2010 event, David Knight described it admirably by saying: "It was a really hard work out.”

 

This year the riders start in Lossie, then there's a road section which takes them to Birkenhill Wood – venue for the first special test. Birkenhill is a small wood that has been made available for Scottish Championship H&H events. The test length is 2-5 miles and is fairly flowing.

 

Birkenhill is fairly well drained, but heavy rain can make for slippy going through the trees. The wood has much greater elevation changes than Lossie. After the exertion of the test, a fairly relaxed road (with two-way traffic) leads back to Lossie Forest.

 

On re-entry to the forest the public car park will include a fuel stop.

 

The run to the end of the lap is probably the toughest section of the course and that includes the dunes and the second special test.

 

After the struggle through the dunes there's a short respite before the test. The Lossie test is long by any standards and is probably the most technical section of the whole course. It is almost 100% sand and winds it's way through very tight trees. After the test it's a short ride back to the pit area to end the lap.

 

Finally, all at Elgin Endurance Club look forward to welcoming riders from far and wide and they're sure you'll have a great weekend. So get your entries in and join the fun in Scotland over the Easter weekend.