True calling...
By TMX Archives on 16th Oct 08
THE final round of the popular National Putoline Hare Scramble Championship took place at Driffield, East Yorkshire, at the weekend organised by True Grit Off-Road. Despite the unfortunate clash with Weston Beach Race the organisers have to take the dates allocated to them by the MoD the Driffield event attracted over 400 riders, a staggering achievement.
The course, comprising five plantations linked by grass and chalk tracks, had undergone a lot of hard work over the previous month. With the inclusion of Quads in Sunday's schedule the course had undergone a considerable amount of widening compared to previous events at the venue which benefited the solos as well.
Following a Husqvarna-supported training session with instruction from Paul Bolton and team, nearly 100 Youth and Ladies lined up for a 90-minute Hare Scramble in favourable weather conditions.
During the early stages a battle for the front of the Senior B class raged between Robert Johnson, Davey Todd, and Luke Flack. Johnson eventually claimed victory ahead of Flack second and Todd third. All completed seven-laps and the win ensured Robert wrapped up the Senior B championship.
Once again, Michael Tatham topped the Junior class ahead of Dan Bewlay with James Watts third, all completing six-laps. In the growing Ladies group, Jane Daniels, was the top performer ahead of Gina Bewlay and Debbie Kerr.
All through Saturday the hard working admin team were bombarded with request for entries for Sunday's Adult race, so much was the demand that event director and time-keeper Martyn Field had to instruct the track building crew to add in a further five-minutes to the going for Sunday's full line up of just short of 300 riders.
With warm weather and sunshine, Sunday's Adult race started at 12 noon. Ian Shannon took the RAS Sport holeshot award provided by the kindly Royston Palmer as he lead the pack towards the first wood.
The leading Experts Hackett, Daniels, Reynolds, and Smith were locked in a race-long battle for the win with Cumbrian Adam Smith taking the win by an 18-second margin from Craig Reynolds with Daniels a further 34-seconds down on the winner all three completed ten-laps.
In Clubman E1, Josh Bendell and Joe Deacon were riding for the overall championship both mounted on 125 Husqvarnas. Bendell got off to a poor start but made up ground on Deacon and the pair then swapped the lead. In the end, it was Deakin's day and he squeezed out a 94-second winning margin which gave him the overall championship win. This pair are now on their way to Expert land where they will have no problems in mixing it with the top lads.
David Wilson was the top Clubman Open rider while Ian Shannon maintained his great start in winning the Over 40 class,
After a long lay-off with a knee injury, Robert Dawson claimed the honours in Sportsman E1. Jane Daniels, sufficiently recovered from her Saturday exploits, put in another outstanding performance to win the Senior Youth class, and with Billy Parkinson winning the Novice category, that drew a close on another outstanding weekend at Driffield.
Once again the National Putoline Hare Scramble Championship has stood the test, with vast numbers of riders supporting the series. Next year will see some new venues in use, but before then, on December 6, the awards will be presented with Biff' Smith picking up a 1,000 prize for the overall win, with cash and product prizes for all the other classes. A massive thanks to Putoline Oils for their support and don't forget it all starts again in February.
NATIONAL PUTOLINE HARE SCRAMBLE CHAMPS
Final Rd Driffield (True Grit Off-Road)
MAIN ADULT RACE (Sun)
Expert: Adam Smith 10 laps - 5:15 time penalties, 2 Craig Reynolds 10 - 5:34, 3 Gary Daniels 10 - 5:54, 4 Andrew Hackett 10 - 10:30, 5 Phil Corner 10 - 11:12, 6 Simon Cartwright 10 - 11:29.
Over 40: Ian Shannon 9 - 1:02, 2 John Lofthouse 9 - 4:46, 3 Colin Blunt 9 - 5:50, 4 John Hedley 9 - 6:32, 5 Bill Howe 9 - 7:35, 6 Philip Brown 9 - 10:34.
Clubman E1: Joe Deakin 10 - 15:51, 2 Josh Bendell 10 - 17:25, 3 Chris Ball 9 - 1:59, 4 Chris Berrill 9 - 5:13, 5 Dom Garnham 9 - 5:49, 6 Robert Berry 9 - 7:06.
Clubman Open: David Wilson 10 - 16:30, 2 Richard Pearson 9 - 3:57, 3 Mark Smith 9 - 4:11, 4 Charles Dennis 9 - 8:47, 5 Phil Darwin 9 - 8:56, 6 Mick Hammond 9 - 8:58.
Sportsman E1: Robert Dawson 9 - 7:31, 2 Brad Keyworth 9 - 8:51, 3 Steve Thornton 9 - 11:36, 4 James Allinson 9 - 14:57, 5 David Shaw 9 - 16:47, 6 Mark Grainger 9 - 17:55.
Sportsman Open: Gareth Lodge 9 - 11:19, 2 Mick Thompson 9 - 13:20, 3 David Haith 9 - 15:11, 4 Richard Spencer 9 - 15:39, 5 Matthew Chamberlain 9 - 16:03, 6 Darren Simpson 9 - 17:39.
Senior A: Jane Daniels 9 - 15:04, 2 Adam Taylor 9 - 18:17, 3 Jordon Johns 9 - 21:37, 4 Josh Luckup 9 - 22:37, 5 Reece Morewood 9 - 23:41, 6 Edward Field 8 - 12:32.
Novice: Billy Parkinson 9 - 21:38, 2 Steve Crellin 8 - 11:41, 3 Rick Rial 8 - 16:36, 4 James Reeve 8 - 20:10, 5 Andrew Blythe 8 - 20:32, 6 Clifford Dunning 8 - 21:23.
YOUTH & LADIES RACE (Sat)
Senior B: Robert Johnson 7 - 5:14, 2 Luke Flack 7 - 6:10, 3 Davey Todd 7 - 9:48, 4 Billy Grimmer 6 - 0:49, 5 Chris Wells 6 - 1:46, 6 Luke Gorse 6 - 3:19.
Junior: Michael Tatham 6 - 5:33, 2 Dan Bewlay 6 - 8:43, 3 James Watts 6 - 12:51, 4 Michael Gilby 6 - 13:13, 5 Ben Clarke 6 - 16:58, 6 Charlie Robinson 6 - 17:10.
Girl Power: Jane Daniels 6 - 2:50, 2 Gina Bewlay 6 - 15:17, 3 Debbie Kerr 6 - 17:35, 4 Jade Gordon 5 - 2:24, 5 Emma Ball 5 - 2:59, 6 Molly Howe 5 - 4:40.