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All content © Bob MuIIins | ||
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The first 2 rounds of the 2016 ACU British Enduro Championship returned to the picturesque North Yorkshire town of Helmsley this weekend. Un-Springlike weather came close to sabotaging the event as the fag end of Storm Jake collided with a cold north east wind on the Thursday night and dumped 4 inches of snow on the high ground. There was some traffic disruption and Leeds Bradford Airport was closed but the organisers took the decision to go ahead and not to disappoint the 200+ entry who were enroute. On Saturday morning the snow had gone and the sun was shining. Steve Holcombe (Beta) started as he meant to go on by setting the fastest time on the first test - 5 seconds ahead of Josh Gotts (TM). Jamie Lewis (ORE Yamaha) was 3rd, Brad Freeman (Colwyn Bay KTM) in 4th was back to form after 12 months off through injury, Tom Sagar (Sherco) 5th and Jack Edmondson (KTM) 6th. Charlie Evans was a non starter as he and his partner Karleene were welcoming their new baby girl Isla May Evans into the World. For some riders - in the slick conditions - at Helmsley. giving birth would have been a pleasant alternative to riding a bike. Out on the going the riders soon found where all the snow had gone. After a week of dry weather It had soaked into the ground and turned a firm track into porridge. Hills became difficult and the scheduled 4 laps for the Championship class rapidly became unfeasible as bottlenecks began to develop.. Charlie Frost dropped 4 minutes while being held in a queue and under the new "All rounds count" ruling his season was over before it had begun. Out in front Jack Edmondson upped his pace to take 2nd on the 2nd test - less than one second off Steve Holcombe's time. Brad Freeman took the 3rd and final test as the organisers cut the Enduro test and stopped the race after 2 laps. Steve Holcombe was the winner. Brad Freeman was runner up and Josh Gotts was 3rd. Jamie Lewis 4th, Jack Edmondson 5th, Daryl Bolter 6th, Tom Sagar 7th, Joe Wootton 8th, Owain Humphreys 9th and Lee Sealey 10th. There was the stubble trouble on the grassy test as the usual suspects ploughed their own furrows. David Knight was unimpressed by the course cutters and he retired. In the pits the sound of engines was drowned out by the moaning of supporters complaining that the extreme test was too extreme and there was a serious lack of cucumber sandwiches. Tom Elwood was the Best Expert ahead of Jake Gowan and Jordan Ridgway. Joe Chambers was 4th and Dan Mundell 5th. James Benny from Truro was the quickest Clubmen on the first of their 2 tests but James Jackson (Eurotek KTM) was more consistent and he won the class. Alistair Griffin was runner up and best E1 2T. Fred Adams was 3rd. James Benny 4th and Harry Houghton 5th, Day 2 started with Steve Holcombe again posting the quickest time on the first test - 7 seconds ahead of Brad Freeman. Tom Sagar was 3rd. Daryl Bolter 4th, Joe Wootton 5th, Jamie Lewis 6th and Josh Gotts 7th. Steve Holcombe also won the second test from Brad Freeman with Owain
Humphreys putting in a flyer to take 3rd. Owain said "I liked the test,
a proper Welsh one". Tom Sagar crashed and dropped half a minute. Josh
Gotts clipped his radiator on a post and lost his coolant. Steve Holcombe took the Premier and Brad Freeman was the runner up. Jamie
Lewis was 3rd, Jack Edmondson 4th and Joe Wooton 5th. Steve Holcombe: “Everything went as planned in Helmsley and I’m glad I was able to make a winning return to the British Enduro Championship. In terms of my performance there’s not a lot better than topping the overall on both days. I feel it shows how well my winter preparation has been going. It was also a good chance for me to get more seat time on the bike I’ll race in the EWC. The bike was handling great and I was riding within my comfort zone from the start. On day one I won the first two tests fairly comfortably and had enough of a cushion to take it steady and get the win. On day two I started with some really good test times and just kept plugging away. I’m feeling great at the moment and it’s nice to see all the hard work paying off. Now it’s just a case of getting down to Italy to do some more testing with the team ahead of the World Championship opener in Morocco. I’ll also spend a few weeks training with my Beta teammates Alex Salvini and Johnny Aubert, which I’m really looking forward to.” Tom Ellwood was the best Expert ahead of Richard Ely and Lee Sampson. Jack Pentaligon was 4th and Lewis Belfield 5th. Shaun Buchan was the unluckiest rider of the day when his chain snapped on the final test. Less than half the Clubmen made it home. James Jackson was the winner. Jack Ditchfield was the runner up and Fred Adams was 3rd, Allyn Taylor was 4th and Richard Curphey was 5th. The 4 Ladies 1.Glesni Jones, 2.Rosie Rowett, 3.Ellie Cooke and 4. Kate Smith were all finishers. The Over 40s took a pasting with less than 50% finishing. Russell Millward was the class winner and Karl Greenhall was the runner up. Dave Nellis was 3rd, Paul Davies 4th and the indestructible Richard Hay 5th. There were 5 finishers in the Over 50s class Mark Houson, Philip George, Robert Murfin, Stephen Askin and Colin Blunt. Photos: Nicky Morson Photography
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ACU
BRITISH ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP