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All content © Bob MuIIins |
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Fast Eddy Original at Hawkstone Park Paul Edmondson's big weekend at Hawkstone Park could not have had better weather or a better turnout for what proved to be one of the best events of the Fast Eddy Racing season. The mecca of UK moto-cross was in pristine condition for the beginning of two hard days of Sprint and XC racing. The Fast Eddy track team worked alongside Salop Motocross club to give riders a first-class Hawkstone experience, which will long be remembered as one of the best off-road meetings this year. A landslide of last-minute entries swelled numbers considerably across all classes and following a capacity FED day entry that rode the MX course until 1.00pm, two GBXC Sprint groups attacked two special tests which took the course into the surrounding woodland. The Pro, Expert, Clubman and Clubman Veterans hit the Enduro test first while the Sportsman, Novice, Youth and Sportsman Vets charged at the MX test which also included a good chunk of woodland. The first group had the unenviable task of the hard layout for the Enduro test, which included two very tricky climbs that became harder as the event progressed. Starting initially on the hallowed Hawkstone MX track the course soon entered the woodland and the first climb hit riders hard straight from the off, followed by a lengthy woodland section with an even longer and steeper climb before flowing through the woods and back to the start area. Lee Sealey made his intentions clear right from the start and rode consistently throughout the day to win the Pro class. He gained enough of a lead to hold on through the afternoon as David herring won every MX special test to take second place. Jack Staines upped his game on a new KTM to take third in the pros with some hard-charging runs in the morning session. Jedd Etchells topped the Experts ahead of Brad Williams and Joe Chambers while Alex Walton won the Clubman class and posted the third fastest time overall in his group. Elliott Bradshaw and Ryan Phillips followed him home, both over two minutes adrift. Andy Daniels had another terrific day to win the Clubman Vets class ahead of Dave Coles and Dave Grimshaw.
In the other group of riders who tackled the MX test in the morning and Enduro test in the afternoon Ben Clark and Brad Lilburn began a weekend long battle which saw Clark win the Youth 13-16 class with Lilburn second and Max Ditchfield third. Sam Nunn took the under 13's win in style from Cole Cookland and Sam Davies while at the other end of the age scale Andy Harvey took the Sportsman Vets win from Shaun James and Andrew Whieldon. Tom Grimshaw headed up the Sportsman class followed by Mike Dutton and
Luke Fisher while Dawson Marriott won the Novice class ahead of Frankie
White-Edwards and Josh Powell. Sunday morning dawned cool but bright and the freshly graded track was in mint condition as the youth riders took to the line for a special Rock Oil Youth XC race. It turned out to be a cracker and a great indicator of what was to come later in the day. The BW85-150's were first away and Archie Collier grabbed the hole-shot just ahead of Cole Cookland. Cookie soon took control and built a terrific lead, but he would need it as the second batch of riders left the line. Charlie Chater hit the front first but Sam Nunn soon put his extensive MX experience to good use and within a couple of laps was chasing down Cookland at the front of the pack, despite being on a SW85. Agonisingly slowly the gap closed and on the half hour mark Nunn took the lead and went on to take the win with Cookland in second and Chater third, all three on eleven tough laps. It was some consolation that Cookland won his BW85-150 class ahead of Harrison Holdcroft and Archie collier but Nunn's overall win gave him the SW85 first place followed by Charlie Chater and George Yardley. In the 65cc's Adam James kept 40 seconds between himself and Keelan Hope to win the class with Cory Cookland in third. Well done to Alfie Davies as he managed to get his Auto around the monster track. Things suddenly got serious for the Steady Eddy competitors as the track tape was removed from across the bottom of the fabled Hawkstone Hill, it was well and truly in and essential to complete anyone's Hawkstone experience. A huge entry lined up on the start for the first of the days adult races. It was time for the youth riders to give it their all as they powered off the line and into the tight right-hander at the end of the long start straight. The Youth 13-16 class didn't hold back and hit the corner as hard as any class over the weekend. Harry Edmondson was first to exit, just ahead of Jacob James, James Palmer and Max Ditchfield. Harry took his chance and tried to put some distance between himself and the pack but there were some very good riders present and he couldn't escape too far. Disaster awaited him on lap seven and he DNF'd while a battle royale raged between Ben Clark and Brad Lilburn at the front of the race, a battle that Lilburn eventually won. The lead changed hands numerous times but Lilburn's 125cc was certainly a small part of the advantage over Clark's 85cc. Max Ditchfield took third overall and in class as youth riders dominated the first five positions. Young Tom Grimshaw won the Sportsman class and had a great outing in doing so over Ryan Hughes and Cole Regan-Hunter. It was not until eighth overall than any rider 'of age' came into play. The freight-train dressed as a dustman that powered a tatty old Honda up the big hill one-handed while rolling his goggles was, of course, Keith Staines. He may have climbed higher up the overall ranks if he didn't have to stop and pull his racing pants up after most jumps but he certainly proved he still has what it takes to ride quickly and entertain the crowds at the same time as winning the Sportsman Veterans class just ahead of Martin Jakeman and Andy Harvey who were the only two rivals on the same lap as Stainer. Novice class rider Adrian Latham was top of his group, once again the riders in second and third positions matched the class leader on laps, in this case it was Connor Stewart and William Bache. With the hill in play and a few extra sections of woodland included the Fast Eddy Original got underway on Sunday afternoon. An impressive line up of Pro, Expert, Clubman and Clubman Veterans were to provide the finale to the weekend over two and a half hours of flat-out racing.
Expert Jedd Etchells made the top three overall in third spot, two minutes clear of Charlie Frost, who didn't expect to be racing but his stolen bike was recovered earlier in the week. Frost made the most of the reunion with second in the Experts as Robbie Dawson claimed third. Elliot Bradshaw won the Clubman class ahead of Ryan Phillips and Ryan Heinz while Alex Owen put up a great show for the old uns by taking the Clubman Veterans win over Ryan Griffiths and Chris Wagstaff. The race provided a fitting climax to a brilliant weekend. The Fast Eddy Original is back to stay at Hawkstone Park and it can truly boast that it is the only event to bring together top class Enduro and MXers to one meeting and satisfy both camps. A terrific weekend that was very well attended by both riders and spectators. Well done to the Fast Eddy crew. It was great. GBXC Sprint Results
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The Pros left the line in a whirlwind of sand, Jack Staines and James
Dent wheel to wheel into the first corner but it was MXer Ash greedy who
powered through into the lead as Jack Eddy, Daryl Bolter, Gary Daniels and
Tim Foreman bulked out the leading pack. Greedy made good going over the
rutted surface but in just the blink of an eye Jack Edmondson had hit the
front and was tearing away from the rest of the pack. As riders settled into
a face-paced rhythm it was Daryl Bolter who seized second spot ahead of
Greedy and began to chase young Edmondson down. Greedy was fighting off a
strong challenge from Jack Staines for most of the middle section of the
race as some top runners were falling by the wayside. David Herring was out
after five laps, Jamie law after 12 but to everyone's surprise race leader
Jack Edmondson retired to the pits after 11 laps with clutch trouble as
Bolter seized the moment and powered onwards to take the win. James Dent
worked his way to second spot as an exhausted Greedy held third.