All content © Bob MuIIins

Cotswold Enduro Club
Slow Pete Series
Round 3 at Ashby Moto Park

Ashby Moto Park might not be one of the biggest venues on the Cotswold Enduro Club calendar but it certainly was one of the toughest on Sunday for the third round of the Slow Pete series.

On and off torrential rain throughout the event made for two hours of hard going in places but it didn’t have much effect of the riders, who toughed it out to the end. No pro or experts were allowed and the Clubman riders certainly made the most of this although there was a strong showing from the vets, as usual. Experience was the key to having a good ride in such conditions.

Ashby has been constantly upgraded over the last 12-months with thousands of tons of woodchip which definitely helped the course maintain its shape although the going was very tough in the woods, not so much ruts but lack of traction was the main obstacle. It recovered after each downpour but just as it was getting manageable another heavy shower struck changing the conditions once again for the riders. The MX track stayed pretty consistent but it was the woods that caught many riders out.

A big vets contingent failed to stop Clubman 2t rider Rob Clark from taking a great win against stiff opposition from track owner Keith Staines whose last minute decision to ride was one of those ‘it seemed like a good idea at the time’ senior moments and even though he came second overall, he instantly regretted it once he sat down after the race and seized up.

Clark was unstoppable. He was one of only four riders to complete 12 laps and outrode some very talented vets who filled the podium spots. Clark took the win and his class ahead of Guy Britton and Chris Bushnell while Stainer won the Over 40’s vets, (even though he looks over 50!) ahead of Darren Bedford and Gareth Lodge.

Rob Sewell’s fourth overall came with the Veterans Over 50 class win and Sewell certainly had to dig deep to fend off Mick Belcher and Simon Chelener.

The Clubman 4t class saw Andy Whieldon take his first ever class win and he had to work very hard for it, finishing just 40 seconds ahead of Russell Pullen while Dean Hancox grabbed third in class.

The Sportsman and Novice class was huge as usual and it was a real free-for-all initially, the slippy conditions meant there were a few jams in places but by the second lap everything had smoothed out and the race was on. Nick Hope and Ellis Frend began to pull a lead on third placed Tim Woodhouse and it came down to the last couple of laps to see who would win the class. Hope took the win by just eight seconds with Frend second and Woodhouse third.

Ian Jones hade some competition for once in the Trail class as Eric Shaw took the class win with Jones second. Anne Cherry was the lone Ladies class rider and went on to complete the race with five laps to her credit.

It was a tough day contending with the rain showers and the changing track conditions but despite this, the competitors seemed to really enjoy the challenges that Ashby Moto Park threw at them. It was done and dusted by midday, one of the great things about the Slow Pete events, but the cleaning up may take considerably longer.

This was a great event and very enjoyable. Well done to Cotswold Enduro Club.