Tough at the top

At a spectator-filled Nantmawr Quarry, near Oswestry, in north Wales, Jarvis led home the 26-rider strong Pro class entry, to secure a near start-to-finish win in the three-hour event.With the formidable Nantmawr Quarry announcing the opening race of the Hard Enduro season, The Tough One was full to capacity with many of the world's best riders

 

And with competitors from as far and wide as Spain, Germany, Italy and even South Africa in attendance the stage was set for an exciting season opener.

 

However, with Britain now regarded as the home of the world's best hard enduro racers, the international 

contingent knew they faced an uphill battle.

 

Following the morning Clubman race the main event got under way at noon with the traditional Le Mans style dash. 

 

Gas Gas runner Alexz Wigg proved fastest on his feet and reached his machine first. 

 

However, he was closely followed by the Husaberg-mounted duo of 16-year-old South African Wade Young and Britain's Graham Jarvis. 

 

Wasting little time in carving his way to the front of the field, Jarvis blasted his way past both Young and Wigg on the first of the technical uphill climbs. 

 

With a clear track to follow, the Husaberg rider opened up a comfortable gap over the chasing pack.

 

Behind him, the KTM pairing of Jonny Walker and four-stroke mounted Paul Bolton battled their way into second and third respectively following mid-pack starts.

 

With Walker beginning to match the pace of Jarvis, the young Cumbrian quickly caught up to his rival. 

 

However, trying to pass Jarvis on a tricky downhill section he crashed. 

 

Forced to pit for fresh gloves and goggles, Walker then lost touch with Jarvis and slipped back behind Bolton.

 

Steadily upping his pace as the race progressed, Jarvis gradually began to stretch his advantage. 

 

Feeling incredibly comfortable in the slippery conditions he quickly and unrelentingly worked his way around the Quarry and mountain-side course.

 

Putting in a highly-impressive final charge during the last hour of racing, the Husaberg rider crossed the finish line to comfortably win the race by almost eight minutes.

 

"I'm really pleased to have taken the win,” confirmed a cold but relatively fresh Jarvis, at the end of the three-hour race. 

 

"There were a lot of world class riders here and with this being the first race of the season it's always difficult to know just how the race will pan out.

 

"I got a good run up the hill and reached my bike in third position. At the first tricky climb I worked my way into the front and took control. 

 

"From then on I just tried to control my pace and maintain a comfortable advantage over my rivals that I was happy with.

 

"At about the two hour mark I felt strong and pushed on. I found some better lines and fought hard to extend my race lead. 

 

"Starting the last lap my lead was almost eight minutes so I took it steady and ensured the win. 

 

"Getting my third victory in a row victory at The Tough One has been a great way to start 2013 and it gives me a lot of confidence for the season ahead.”

 

With Jarvis controlling the race from the front Walker fought hard to recover from his early mistake.

 

Reeling Bolton back in he pushed his way into second, but with Jarvis holding a sizeable lead from the mid-way point of the race, Jonny was forced to settle for the runner-up position.

 

 

Nantmawr Quarry, Oswestry (WOR Events)

MAIN RACE (3-hrs)

Pro Class: 1 Graham Jarvis (Husaberg Extreme Factory Team) 12 laps - 3:05:52 time, 2 Jonny Walker (Red Bull KTM) 12 - 3:13:56, 3 Danny McCanney (Gas Gas UK) 12 - 3:17:10, 4 Paul Bolton (Eurotec KTM) 12 - 3:18:39, 5 Alfredo Gomez E - Husaberg Factory) 11 - 3:10:10, 6 Ben Hemingway (Beta Extreme Team) 11 - 3:12:29, 7 Fabien Planet (F - Factory Sherco) 11 - 3:13:23, 8 Wayne Braybrook (Sherco UK) 11 - 3:17:17, 9 Xavi Gallindo E - Husaberg Factory) 11 - 3:21:08, 10 Alexz Wigg (Gas Gas UK) 11 - 3:23:10, 11 Wade Young (Fever Husaberg Factory) 11 - 3:24:29, 12 James Dabill (300 Beta) 10 - 3:13:41, 13 Gary Daniels (KTM) 10 - 3:16:15, 14 Carsten Stranghoner (D - Gas Gas) 9 - 3:06:53, 15 Jack Lee (Gas Gas UK) 9 - 3:07:17, 16 Dan Hemingway (Beta Extreme Team) 9 - 3:10:13, 17 Melcior Faja (E - KTM Croa Racing) 9 - 3:13:53, 18 Philipp Scholz (D - KTM) 9 - 3:17:08, 19 Carlos Barrio Virtus (E - 300 Off Road KTM) 9 - 3:21:06, 20 Rienk Tuinstra (NL - 300 Husaberg) 9 - 3:24:23, 21 Matt Ridgway (125 Husaberg) 8 - 3:06:12, 22 Andy Noakley (KTM) 7 - 3:08:09, 23 Christinel Babes (NL - Husaberg) 6 - 3:18:43, 24 Enrico Garavelli (I - Techno Team Husaberg) 6 - 3:24:27.

Expert Class: 1 Owain Humphries (KTM) 11 - 3:21:18, 2 Gary Jenkins (MRS Sherco) 10 - 3:25:25, 3 Nigel Crellin (Gas Gas) 9 - 3:05:59, 4 Josh Law (Sandiford KTM) 9 - 3:07:58, 5 Derry Milling (KTM) 9 - 3:12:47, 6 Scott Austin (MRS Sherco) 9 - 3:13:14, 7 Tom Smith (KTM) 9 - 3:17:59, 8 Luke Flack (KTM) 9 - 3:30:58, 9 Michele Cobuzzi (I - Beta Extreme) 8 - 3:20:22, 10 Neil Thomas (KTM) 8 - 3:23:43, 11 Vadi Paolo (I - 300 KTM) 8 - 3:25:54, 12 Shaun Eckersley (KAIS KTM) 8 - 3:26:53, 13 Benny Menzel (D - KTM) 7 - 3:15:45, 14 Aled Humphries (KTM) 7 - 3:15:52, 15 Steve Biddle (KTM) 6 - 3:06:04, 16 Tom Potter (Gas Gas) 6 - 3:06:07, 17 Iain Robinson (Gas Gas) 6 - 3:19:30, 18 Lee Sealey (Husaberg) 5 - 1:45:36, 19 Luke Copestake (D3 Husaberg) 5 - 1:50:00, 20 Freddie Davis (KTM) 5 - 3:06:02,...

CLUBMAN RACE (2-hrs)

Veteran Class: 1 Andrew Reeves (KTM) 7 - 1:54:06, 2 Kiaran Hankin (Sherco) 7 - 1:56:02, 3 Scott Stephenson (KTM) 7 - 2:03:06, 4 Chris Brightmore (KTM) 7 - 2:05:22, 5 Craig Parkes (KTM) 7 - 2:08:12, 6 Julian Holmes (Sherco) 7 - 2:13:48, 7 Jason Crossland (Gas Gas) 6 - 1:54:25, 8 Pete Bailey (PJB KTM) 6 - 1:59:59, 9 Howard Blundell (KTM) 6 - 2:04:13, 10 Mark Pickard (KTM) 6 - 2:08:58, 11 Dean Johnson (KTM) 5 - 2:07:04, 12 Nial Jinks (IRE - KTM) 5 - 2:08:25, 13 Martin Wells (TGE Potatoes Gas Gas) 4 - 1:54:29, 14 Andrew Keyte (KTM) 4 - 2:00:24, 15 Micheil Som (NL - Husaberg) 4 - 2:01:49, 16 Richard Holland (KTM) 4 - 2:14:19, 17 Lee Cornish (KTM) 3 - 1:40:11, 18 Mark Crellin (KTM) 2 - 0:44:44, 19 Allan Burt (Hopwood KTM) 1 - 0:19:13.

Clubman Class: 1 Ade Deeley (KTM) 7 - 1:55:56, 2 Charlie Frost (KTM) 7 - 1:59:56, 3 Mick Boam (KTM) 7 - 2:03:26, 4 Ben Howard (Sandiford KTM) 7 - 2:04:15, 5 Harvey Dark (KTM) 7 - 2:05:25, 6 Roger Holland (KTM) 7 - 2:09:08, 7 Paul Kalafuz (KTM) 7 - 2:09:15, 8 Iwan Roberts (200 KTM) 7 - 2:10:27, 9 Grant Church (KTM) 7 - 2:12:01, 10 Ian McMahon (KTM) 7 - 2:15:25, 11 Alex West (KTM) 6 - 1:55:59, 12 Liston Bell Tig (KTM) 6 - 1:57:37, 13 Leighton Roberts (KTM) 6 - 1:58:56, 14 Mike Slater (KTM) 6 - 1:59:31, 15 Mitch Frost (KTM) 6 - 2:01:38, 16 Luke Stringer (300 KTM) 6 - 2:02:34, 17 Mark Copeland (KTM) 6 - 2:02:41, 18 Reece Morewood (Sherco) 6 - 2:06:38, 19 Dave Blackburn (KTM) 6 - 2:10:47, 20 Jack Chapman (Cowm Leisure KTM) 6 - 2:16:12,...

Sportsman Class: 1 Ben Clark (KTM) 6 - 2:04:26, 2 Tom Collett (Husqvarna) 6 - 2:19:57, 3 Brad Copeland (KTM) 5 - 2:07:32, 4 Paul Ellis Smith (KTM) 5 - 2:07:42, 5 Blake Summers (KTM) 4 - 2:23:41, 6 Jamie Price (KTM) 4 - 2:27:03, 7 Will Emery (KTM) 4 - 2:28:56, 8 James Breslin (IRE - KTM) 3 - 1:54:44, 9 Tony Pederson (KTM) 3 - 1:56:05, 10 Andrew Hunt (Suzuki) 3 - 2:18:43, 11 Liam Kelly (IRE - KTM) 2 - 2:06:08, 12 Russ Taylor (KTM) 2 - 2:06:25.