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All content © Bob MuIIins |
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Beta mounted Steve Holcombe won the 2015 ET James Welsh 2 day Enduro on the 25/26th June at Llandrindod Wells. Joe Wootton won the second day to secured the runner up and Jamie Lewis was third. Tree felling in the Tywi forest resulted in the loss of the Water Splashes near Strata Florida but Clerk of the Course Huw Watkins and his team rallied to re-open an exciting 130 mile loop around Knighton plus a week of good weather ensured that the 2015 Welsh was one of the most enjoyable events of recent years for riders and supporters. By Wednesday morning the temporary W2D village had sprung up around the lakeside at Llandod with teams arriving from as far afield as Australia, America, Iceland and the Falkland Islands.
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Steve
Holcombe wins the Welsh
At 8.00am on Thursday morning the
first 2 of the 37 strong sidecar class were flagged away by the mayor. The
opening test was at Church farm - 3 miles outside the town near Crossgates.
The grass under the trees was still heavy with dew and many of the Sportsmen
found that the fastest line was horizontal. In the middle of the field the
Classic Expert class arrived with it's unmistakable fanfare of blowing exhausts.
Ashley Wood set the fastest time on a 240 Husky ahead of Robert Jones on a
450 Maico. The Championship class rode all 3 tests twice. Steve Holcombe
kept his grip and established a 16 second lead over Joe Wootton. Less than 3
seconds separated Jamie Lewis in 3rd from 5 times Welsh winner Daryl Bolter
in 4th.
Carl Jones set the 6th fastest time on his first test but a collision with
Frazer Norrie wrecked his front wheel and ended his day. David Knight was a
non-starter. Test 2 was at the
Saints Well MX track. As well as the freshly graded track the riders were
also treated to woodland section and a "spiral". Steve Holcombe
extended his lead by 11 seconds. The 3rd test was at Abbeycwmhir. Notorious
in the wet, the grassy bank of Little Switzerland was fast and flowing in this year's dry
conditions. Steve Holcombe once again set the fastest times to take the
first day by 33 seconds from Joe Wootton. Jamie Lewis was 3rd. In a close
battle - with both sides setting fastest times - the combination of Jonathan
Williams and Neil James won the Championship Sidecar class by 2 seconds from
David Williams and Simon Brown. Rob Jones won the Expert Classic class.
Overnight
passing showers tapped lightly on the roofs of the vans parked around the
lake but by the time opening marshals set off the ground was dry and the sky was
clearing. The competitors were flagged away from 7.00am. As usual the
course was reversed and the first test of the second day was at Abbeycwmhir.
Steve Holcombe set the fastest times but at Saints Well he lost 8 seconds on
his first run and Joe Wootton overhauled him. Steve pulled back some time at
the Church but as Joe circled the lake at Llandod he was the Day 2 winner.
Overall Steve Holcombe took the Premier. Joe Wootton was runner up and Jamie
Lewis was 3rd. Daryl Bolter was 4th, Lee Sealey 5th, Edward Jones
6th, Ade Smith 7th, Euan Mcconnell 8th, Charles Evans 9th, David Herring
10th, Dylan Jones 11th, Frazer Norrie 12th and Chris Hockey 13th, Shaun
Buchan was the Best Expert. The
Classic Experts recalled the great days of Enduro with close to 50%
retirements. Rob Jones was the winner. Ashley Wood was runner up and Wayne
Price was 3rd. In the Sidecar
class Jonathan
Williams and Neil James extended their Day 1 lead over David Williams and Simon
Brown by 4 seconds.