Sandiford, no Butts about it
By TMX Archives on 2nd Jul 08
AFTER a wet trip to the Welsh Two-day Enduro, the DirtBike-Traxs team headed home via the famous Butts Quarry venue, in Derbyshire, to stage their Husqvarna Summer Hare Scramble.
Once again they provided competitors with an interesting track at the compact Butts venue, using the motocross track, surrounding woodland and the quarry. After grading the track on Saturday, the course was in prime condition for a full house entry.
Sunday kicked off with a Youth Hare Scramble with over 50 Youth and Lady riders participating on an easier course. The race got under way at 9am and weather conditions were perfect with sunshine breaking through the light cloud cover and with rain through the night the track was damp, just enough to keep dust at bay.
With the race duration set at 90-minutes the leading pack set off around the quarry. As the race settled down over the first few laps Robert Johnson emerged in front of the Senior B Youth (12 to 14 years), a position he has occupied all year, with Scott Altass, Luke Flack and Davey Todd all trying hard to catch the flying Johnson.
Although Todd set the fastest lap of the race, Robert Johnson won by a lap from Luke Flack with Todd third.
The Junior race (8 to 11 years) was a very close affair with Harrison Bell passing Michael Gilby in the final few hundred meters to take the win, with Michael Tatham in third.
The Ladies class, which is steadily growing in popularity, was dominated by Jane Daniels with a clear two-lap winning margin over Deborah Kerr and Gina Bewlay.
As soon as all the Youth riders were off the track the hard working track team set about the course changes for the main adult race of the day, including the challenging uphill rocky climb to the top of the woods.
With a good line-up of Expert riders, including the new Sandiford Husqvarna team, with Martin Sandiford and Biff Smith campaigning different models from the marque, 2.5 hours of serious hare scramble action was in store.
As the clock hit 11.30am, the bikes roared into life and the Experts were away, with Martin Craven leading the pack out of the quarry.
As the riders made their way around the track for the first time jostling for position the watching crowd eagerly awaited their return to the quarry.
First back was Dave Wood, closely followed by Mark Houson fresh from his excellent result in the Welsh Two-Day. In third place was 'Biffster' Smith. After four-laps, smooth riding Martin Sandiford hit the front with Dave Wood chasing hard.
Following a poor start Harry Hillas had worked his way in to third by lap ten, pressing Wood and eventually passing him on lap 12.
Hillas was flying, setting equal fastest lap of the day. He started to pressure leader Martin Sandiford, but over the last few laps Sandiford upped the pace and pulled away from Hillas, winning by 90-seconds. Third spot went to Dave Woods. Gary Daniels won the Clubman class, from Josh Bendall, with Ian Harrison a lap down in third.
Meanwhile, Kevin Hipwell took top spot in Over 40. Richard Mellon won the Sportsman class. In Youth Senior A, Adam Taylor was first to the finish line ahead of Josh Luckup with Jane Daniels third and picking up her second trophy of the day, having won the Ladies race in the morning.
The feed-back from the riders was excellent – another outstanding day's riding. Event director, John Kerwin, said: "It is great to see Martin Sandiford win on a Husqvarna, especially as this event was supported by Husqvarna!” Dirtbike-traxs will be back in action on the weekend of July 13, at Gisburn, Lancs.
Husqvarna Summer Hare Scramble
Butts Quarry, Derbyshire (DirtBike-Traxs
MAIN RACE (2.5-hrs)
Expert: 1 Martin Sandiford 19 laps - 0:40 time penalties, 2 Harry Hillas 19 - 2:10, 3 Dave Wood 19 - 3:25, 4 Adam Smith 19 - 4:11, 5 Mark Houson 19 - 4:27, 6 Martin Craven 18 - 1:12.
Clubman Open: 1 Gary Daniels 18 - 0:56, 2 Josh Bendell 18 - 5:05, 3 Ian Harrison 17 - 7:13, 4 Mick Hammond 17 - 8:37, 5 Simon Douglas 17 - 9:00, 6 Reece Emson 16 - 0:49.
Over 40: 1 Kevin Hipwell 18 - 4:19, 2 John Boden 17 - 7:37, 3 Michael Rayson 16 - 0:26, 4 No 31 16 - 3:23, 5 Colin Blunt 15 - 2:04, 6 No 32 14 - 3:00.
Sportsman Open: 1 Richard Mellon 17 - 0:42, 2 Matthew Inneson 17 - 4:03, 3 Thomas Healey 17 - 4:16, 4 Steve Irvine 16 - 4:06, 5 Mathew Ward 16 - 4:22, 6 Phil Dodsworth 16 - 6:57, 7 Lee Carling 16 - 7:21, 8 Chris Perry 16 - 8:22, 9 Chris Coulson 16 - 8:27, 10 Darren Simpson 16 - 8:30.
Novice: 1 Marc Clayton 15 - 5:09, 2 David Dudley 15 - 10:02, 3 James Wilkinson 14 - 2:52, 4 James Goodall 14 - 3:10, 5 Andrew Harrison 14 - 5:50, 6 Ian Livesey 14 - 7:04.
Senior A: 1 Adam Taylor 16 - 7:34, 2 Joshua Luckup 15 - 1:47, 3 Jane Daniels 15 - 3:44, 4 William Hillas 15 - 4:59, 5 Connor Spray 14 - 9:42, 6 Becca Dawson 12 - 1:00.
YOUTH & LADIES RACE (90-mins)
Ladies: 1 Jane Daniels 11 - 5:54, 2 Deborah Kerr 9 - 2:09, 3 Gina Bewlay 9 - 7:57, 4 Molly Howe 8 - 0:10, 5 Jade Gordon 8 - 3:51, 6 Tara Johnson 8 - 8:51.
Junior: 1 Harrison Bell 11 - 7:32, 2 Michael Gilby 11 - 7:52, 3 Michael Tatham 10 - 4:39, 4 Dan Bewlay 9 - 0:02, 5 Harry Eccles 9 - 0:06, 6 Ben Clark 9 - 8:59.
Senior B: 1 Robert Johnson 12 - 6:33, 2 Luke Flack 11 - 0:25, 3 Davey Todd 11 - 1:01, 4 Scott Altass 11 - 4:20, 5 Matthew North 11 - 5:58, 6 Andrew Howe 11 - 6:18.