Rowl over for Jack
By TMX Archives on 6th Dec 13
With the winter enduro season now in full flow, and many riders wishing to test themselves just a little bit more ahead of the 2014 season, Wayne Braybrook prepared a perfect course at Lee Dell, Rochdale for all classes to have a good old-school thrash around a hard enduro event.
The course had been designed so that rather than putting in chicken routes or easy options, riders had to think as they rode and look for the many lines that were available in the event of any blockages.
The recipe proved just right, the old mill ruins sections slowed the pace for everyone as they negotiated their way through each lap. An unusually dry, bright and sunny day meant deterioration of the course was kept to the absolute minimum, something which was a bonus for the organisers on the day.
The two-hour event started at 11am with Expert lady rider Jane Daniels grabbing the holeshot. She was followed down the quarry road by the usual Expert and a high capacity Cubman entry. First through lap scoring was Jordon Rose, out on a 300i Sherco – his first outing since the ISDE. Rose was tailgated by MPS rider Jack Rowland, getting some hard enduro training, as requested by team principle Mick Seward.
After six laps in the lead and looking good, Rose hit mechanical problems, which forced him to retire. This left Rowland to take victory in the Elite class.
In the Expert ranks, Mick Boam set a consistent pace up front, and as usual stayed feet-up and out of trouble – this despite pulling his hamstring on lap one. Making good progress after a poor start, and on his return to bike fitness after suffering a broken ankle was local ace Biff Smith. Biff eventually overhauled a tiring Boam to take the win, eventually getting 18 laps in before the chequered flag went out.
Jane Daniels rounded out the podium with a fine third place. With most championships wrapped up for 2013, many riders who have upgraded a class for 2014 were having their first outings against stiffer competition. Sportsman class honours went to the quiet Nathan Ball, wgo comes from of family of off-road enthusiasts and his Sportsman win came from a determined ride. Youth upgrade, Brandon Sharples, finished in second spot only a couple of minutes adrift, with Gary Nicholson taking the final podium place in his ride up a class from the Beginners ranks.
A new for 2014 Sportsman Vets class was tested out for the first time, following requests by some regular club members. Alan Smith took a surprise win ahead of Mansfield Motorcycles' Shane Marriott. Jon Malone crossed the finish line in third spot congratulating the organisers with a quip: "What a bloody good event that was!”
SEE TMX NEWS DECEMBER 6 FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES
RESULTS
Pro Elite: 1 Jack Rowland 18 laps - 0:52 time penalties.
Expert: 1 Biff Smith 18 - 6:44, 2 Mick Boam 17 - 1:08, 3 Jane Daniels 17 - 2:03, 4 Neil Marshall 16 - 7:16, 5 Ryan Ireland 15 - 0:55.
Clubman: 1 Josh Law 17 - 1:40, 2 Iain Robinson 17 - 9:13, 3 Neil Croston 16 - 4:05, 4 Craig Thomson 15 - 1:38, 5 Mike Pye 15 - 5:50, 6 Daz Skillin 15 - 7:06.
Sportsman: 1 Nathan Ball 14 - 1:35, 2 Brandon Sharples 14 - 3:51, 3 Gary Nicholson 14 - 4:51, 4 Josh Bailey 13 - 1:05, 5 Lee Mackay 13 - 9:46, 6 Tom Rial 13 - 10:22.
Sportsman Vets: 1 Alan Smith 13 - 7:02, 2 Shane Marriott 12 - 4:08, 3 Jon Malone 10 - 5:56, 4 Rick Rial 9 - 0:26, 5 Steven Dean 9 - 1:01, 6 Steve Johnson 8 - 0:43.
Beginner: 1 James Cooke-Thomas 10 - 4:47, 2 Adam Greener 8 - 12:40, 3 Dean Hutchinson 7 - 3:07, 4 David Johnson 5 - 1:57, 5 Robert Miller 4 - 0:49.
Youth: 1 Danny Culkin 9 - 7:27, 2 Josh Haith 8 - 12:47, 3 Declan Sewed 7 - 4:21, 4 Reece Pickersgill 7 - 16:15.
