Report: WOR Events - Sucker Punch
By TMX Archives on 2nd Nov 16
Keelan Hancock made the much coveted Sucker Punch winners boxing glove trophy his own last Sunday, as he put in a fantastic display of determined, skilful, smooth and fast riding to secure the overall in this classic Extreme Enduro.
This was the fourth running of the Sucker Punch and it has evolved into a fantastic event.
The track was gruelling and demanding but still offered some respite and enjoyable forest riding along its 20k lap.
The format was quite simple – five laps equals a Gold, four laps a silver and three laps a bronze finish in the time that the organisers allow.
Racing at the sharp end of the Expert class was fantastic as the top three riders pushed each other for nearly three hours over some very hostile terrain.
Gethin Humphreys was out on his Husky 250 2T to try and claim a win in an event that his brother, Owain, has done twice before.
But it was runner-up three times in row for the strong Welshman.
After leading up until the last lap he was passed by silky smooth Cornishman, Hancock, who managed to hold a very narrow 20-second advantage to the chequered flag.
Charlie Frost was in the thick of the action and after two crashes off the start and being mixed up in the Clubman riders, he showed some fantastic pace to catch the front two riders and get in the mix.
However a front puncture held him up, along with a nasty cut on the elbow from the earlier crash ending up with Frosty taking third.
Juan Knight was in typical form making things look so easy and carrying some fantastic pace out on the forest going.
The Manx Enduro legend won the Expert Vets by a comfortable 15-minute margin, placing himself a solid sixth overall in the standings – not bad considering he has not done too much riding of late.
Grant Churchward was also in superb form as he made the runner-up spot his own with a determined ride. Grant managed to shake off the challenge of the competitive Mick Boam and put more than three minutes' advantage between the two at the end of their five laps.
Fred Adams topped the Clubman class from start to finish as he completed his five-lap target in three hours and nine minutes.
Adams had 10 minutes to spare on WOR Extreme regular and all-round nice guy Sam Skyrme, whom fully deserved his runner-up spot and Gold finish. Grant Thompson from the isle of Man was third after a neat ride.
Other stand-out rides in the Clubman class came from Nathan Rogers, Ryan Shacklady and Ryan Bevan.
Gareth Leonard was top rider in the Vets B group with Lee Allis Smith and Steve Currie chasing him home.
Leonard and Smith took Gold with Currie making the trip down from Scotland worthwhile, taking home a silver.
The top three Over 50 riders all managed a Gold finish with some great efforts especially as this took them all to the four-hour time distance.
Again Scottish visitor going home happy was winner, Duncan McCormick, who headed Paul Mckie and Richard Lewis.
It was a KTM 1-2-3 in the Sportsman class as Dawson Marriott put in a fantastic shift to top the class with a Gold finish and some very gutsy riding giving him a 15-minute win over runner-up, Adam Dunn and Darren Kendall.
Tom Brazier was the top Novice and the only one to take a Gold in the group after 4.5hrs of riding – a determined effort from the big lad.
Runner-up was the ever-improving Liam Belfield as his trusty Beta got him round very well, with third spot going to Charlie Goddard.
