It was Matt by a long 'way
By TMX Archives on 18th Feb 09
A NEW venue greeted riders for the second round of the Putoline XC Championship on Sunday and looks as though it will become a popular place to return to over the coming season. Despite the horrendous wet weather over the past few weeks, compounded by thawing snow, the course was in good shape but many riders hearts sank when they realised they would have to be towed onto the paddock. Good organisation by the Fast Eddy team and the landowners meant that there were no dramas and everything went like clockwork as two tractors got everyone on and off the grassy paddock.
The course was a little sticky in places, two large and undulating fields joined together by an interesting woodland section with a choice of routes through the trees and a slightly different course for the first race of the day, for the Youth riders.
The youngsters had the worst of it in many ways. A virgin track, which needed the top taking off it, was initially hard going but improved greatly as the opening race ran its course.
The first lap produced mayhem in the woods as riders struggled to come to terms with the slippery off-cambers and there were plenty of breathless dads running around to help their offspring and anyone else who needed a pull/ push but, as the race wore on, things smoothed out and the course ran well.
George Bayliss, who had blitzed the opening round of the championship in Kent, returned for another blitzkrieg in Bicton, taking the overall win and the Youth 125/250F class victory by a clear lap to stretch his lead in the title table. Stourport's Liam Garbett followed Bayliss home for second in class with Dean Plumstead a lap down in third on 13 laps.
Jack Edmondson claimed an easy class victory in the Junior 65cc category but finishing fourth overall was a really great achievement considering his class started a minute behind the leaders. Alex Walton, in second, could match Jack Eddy for pace but put in an extra lap over third-placed Ross Davies.
Hannah Hope topped the Big-wheel 85/ 150F class. Hope rode well to take the win but Max Varney, who took second, pushed her hard to the finish, both bagging 12-laps. Billy Johnson led the next three riders home, all on 11 laps, to take third ahead of Callum McClean and Rhian George.
Adam James won the Small-wheel 85cc division as regular front-runner Oliver Benton DNF-ed after three laps, leaving the field wide-open. Joel Hughes matched James lap for lap and took a creditable second place with Katie Walker a lap down in third.
The course changed significantly as the Clubman, Novice, Sportsman and Veterans set off. More steep climbs were added in the woodland section and this created havoc on the opening lap as a few riders got stuck and clogged the course for many others. The marshals reacted quickly, opening new routes around the blockages and by the third lap things were running a little more smoothly, although some riders struggled with the steep uphill sections for the entire race. However, looking at the results only 12-riders out of 91 DNF-ed.
The exit from the woods provided spectators with plenty to see and do as many got involved in pulling fallen riders to the top of the banks.
PUTOLINE X-COUNTRY CHAMPS
Rd 2 – Bicton, Shropshire
(fasteddyracing.com)
Expert: 1 Matt Ridgway, 2 Jamie Paget, 3 Jon Hinam, 4 David Brick, 5 Gethin Price.
Veteran Expert: 1 Christian Walton, 2 Ryan Griffiths, 3 Wynn Hope, 4 Dennis Harrison, 5 Dave Cooper.
Clubman: 1 Scott Hughes, 2 Lee Hattersley, 3 Gareth Delahay, 4 Mark Mealham, 5 Richard Cookland.
Veteran: 1 Keith Patstone, 2 Kev Neesam, 3 Steve Hough, 4 Peter Benton, 5 Stewart Lines.
Sportsman: 1 Chris Pryce, 2 Alec Trawford, 3 Kevin Byrone, 4 Chris Coolson, 5 William Hillis.
Novice: 1 Danny Morris, 2 Kieron Jordan, 3 Ben Rolls, 4 Anthony Hall, 5 Glynn Boughton.
Youth 125/ 250F: 1 George Bayliss, 2 Liam Garbett, 3 Dean Plumstead, 4 Aaron Smith, 5 Will Atkins.
Big-wheel 85/ 150cc: 1 Hannah Hope, 2 Max Varney, 3 Billy Johnson, 4 Callum McClean, 5 Rhian George.
Small-wheel 85cc: 1 Adam James, 2 Joel Hughes, 3 Katie Walker, 4 Jamie Sutton, 5 Oli Benton.
Junior 65cc: 1 Jack Edmondson, 2 Alex Walton, 3 Ross Davis, 4 James Angel, 5 Jordan Kendrick-Jones.
Darren Purdy finds plenty of grip on his KTM on the tacky terrain.