Time Check Marshals required

Organisers of this year's Welsh 2 Day are counting down the days, weather is looking good with a dry spell promised by the weather gurus. One area of slight concern at the moment is the need to cover all of the time checks.

The event relies on the good will of the regular check marshals who are out in all winds and weathers to ensure that the competitor's progress is managed in accordance with the time schedule. Each year, this is getting more and more of a challenge. Sadly, several of the regular check marshals have decided to call it a day, meaning that there are some gaps which need to be filled.

If you would like to be part of the event, and get to say hello to the whole entry, the 'Welsh' would love to hear from you. Contact Dai Price 07989 424674- david.price70@yahoo.com  or Joe Griffin - joegriffin@btinternet.com 

Welsh 2 Day
CoC Huw Watkins

The biggest and most popular single lap timecard enduro in the UK is less than two months away… The entry filled up in 40 minutes – and hasn’t stopped changing since!

The Welsh 2 Day Committee have consistently worked their collective socks off to produce – year on year- an event that attracts a whole range of entrants. 

The three wheel brigade have a voyage of discovery like no other – despite the fact that it is a championship round, they will be alternately racing, competing, hating, helping and loving each other (repeat till fade…..) and having a great time…

The solo entries also have a variety of competitors. There are those who liken the ‘Welsh’ to an annual pilgrimage – despite the fact that “the Welsh isn’t what it was….” - and that in years gone by - old fellers (and ladies) had to drag their bikes over hot coals, bottomless bogs and avoid radioactive sheep (well – only one year) the ‘old guard” are joined every year by a range of riders who need to feel the pain that only 300 miles round Wales can bring.

There are those well heeled individuals that openly admit they have catered sessions, masseuse and hot tubs – and there are those at the opposite end of the scale that sleep in horse boxes, eat sheep poo and growl at special test marshals… we love them all ! (except the sheep poo….)

We have a new breed of riders who have no respect for the traditions – no beer, no fried food and early to bed… It’s as scary as that!

This year – despite hassles with the online entry… The organising team are as confident as before that they will do their best to put on a great couple of days of sport. The letters are going out as we speak… “Dear Mrs Jones, on the 26/27th June, 500 bikes a day will pass your home – we won’t compensate you, but we’ll drop in a programme for you to wave to the riders like you do every year.”

This is the magic of the Welsh – only on rare occasions would such an event be accepted in this day and age.. The continent has a variety of locations – The Auvergne in France is such an area where they welcome the circus that goes with the WEC or the European equivalent. Only in ‘Llandod’ is there such a welcome in the UK.

How many small and quaint Victorian spa towns could require the town Mayor to be out at ‘silly o’clock’ to wave a multitude of technicolor © clad individuals off on a jaunt past lots of homes, waving schoolchildren, and knowledgeable pensioners on folding chairs outside cottages they have owned forever…..??

The welcome in the hillside is particularly warm for the influx of visitors who come and enjoy the stunning scenery and wonderful roads (and forests) that comprise the route. Anyone wearing the tribal clothing of snazzy T shirts, hoodies or even the ultimate in ‘de rigeur’ clothing – a 1990 Wulf Sport jacket is welcomed at almost any shop, takeaway, filling station or public house with the conversation opener – “Here for the Bikes – are you?” and a nod and comment on how wet the last 15 hours of rain is greeted with a knowing smile….

The event deserves the support it gets – we all hope to see you at the Lakeside, tests, splashes or just being about Llandrindod – but especially at the presentation where the new champions will be applauded !

The event could not take place without the goodwill of the people of Llandrindod Wells, the villages and towns on the way – the support of Natural Resources Wales (Lately the Forestry Commission!) and the many and varied souls who do the work so that others may have fun, suffer, complain and otherwise have life crises at the event…

See you soon

Huw Watkins – Clerk of the Course