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Fast Eddy Racing Round 5 at Castle Caerienion Freestyle Husqvarna's Joe Wootton returned to XC racing on Sunday with an emphatic victory at the fifth round of the Rock Oil XC Championship. Following his third place at the Welsh 2 Day Enduro earlier in the week Joe rode steadily to the front of the pack within a lap then turned up the gas to win by over four minutes as the two-hour race reached its conclusion. Organised by Fast Eddy Racing the event was held at Castle Caerienion in mid Wales, an MX venue noted for its dust on occasions but not this time. Heavy overnight rain saw the course in great shape although initially it was a little slippy for the opening Youth race, which began at 9.00am. Fast Eddy had made a few changes to the course to accommodate the younger riders, some of the MX track was cut or adjusted as even a four-times World Champion thought it was tricky in places following his early morning course check. The course wasn't solely MX based, far from it. A quarry section and massive field section plus several places where the MX infield came into play made for a really interesting and challenging course with the MX course running backwards for a change. As the youth riders left the line it was the 85-150cc class who were first into the holeshot corner. The start looked tricky, off-camber and uphill with a step to cross over the MX track before a sharp left turn but everyone managed it fairly easily. Sion Hughes had the best start and hit the corner first with Matthew Harries close behind as Charlie Chater took third. It didn't take long before Chater had the lead but in his effort to extend it he took a big spill and was playing catch-up from that point onwards.
George Yardley headed the 85cc SW class and was in touch with the leaders throughout the race, the only non 85-150 rider to post 11 laps. William Farrow took the runner up spot nearly three minutes clear of Trystan Williams in third spot. Sion Evans and Adam James battled it out for supremacy in the 65cc class with Evans taking the win, James second and Cory Cookland third, a lap adrift of the leading pair. The adult race got underway ay 11.00am, on time despite Derek Bawn's best efforts to hold everyone up. He arrived just 10 minutes before the race started and just made the line-up as the flag dropped. As the Pro class left the line James Jackman had a terrific start and hit the first corner in hardcore MX style, holding his line as Bawn tried to sneak up the inside. Jackman was free and clear as Bawn collected a wooden post and also Ben Wootton, who rammed into the back of him. All this turmoil allowed Ben Murphy a clear line around the outside and he moved into second spot. Jackman charged away but managed to bin it partway into the lap allowing Wooton to take the lead followed by Murphy and Bawn. Jackman managed to get underway before the Expert class caught him and began his charge back to the front of the field. It didn't happen. Wootton was riding extremely well, confident in the conditions, as Murphy stuck with him for quite a few laps. The introduction of a large ditch, with plenty of water in the bottom for the adult race, gave riders a choice of a hard but short route or a longer easier route around the obstacle. It put paid to Murphy's chance of second place as he dropped his bike with just a few laps to go and took a while to get started. His machine was coughing and spluttering as he tried to finish but Jackman made the most of Murphy's misfortune to take second spot behind Wootton. As the race neared its conclusion Bawn hunted Jackman down and there was just 1.5 seconds between the pair at the finish as the unfortunate Murphy watched from the pits.
Luke Rudd and Jack Ditchfield had a terrific race in the Expert class as the Bowden brother Ash and Jacob made things interesting and it was a close contest throughout the race although Rudd always seemed to be in control and he did eventually take the win, two minutes clear of Jack Ditchfield as Ash Bowden took third. The Youth class has taken on a new look recently as Harry Edmondson flexed his legs on a 125cc machine and took the class win by two minutes clear of friend and rival Henry Yardley as Jacob James grabbed third. It was great to see terrific sportsmanship from these riders as they all shook hands at the end of the race. Rich Cookland lead the Clubman class home with an extra lap over fellow Sheffield rider Lee Hattersley, who took second spot with Andy Myers third. Chris Wagstaff took the Clubman vets win, followed by Colin Blunt and Kev Sandland. Sandland had been going well until he caught a tree exiting the ditch and was stuck for 10 minutes while a quad was sought to recover his bike. Disappointing for him but very entertaining for the spectators. He wasn't alone, the ditch claimed victim after victim as the race wore on. David Williams took the Sportsman Vets win ahead of Darryl Mead and Shaun James while Scott Mead nailed the Sportsman class victory ahead of Neil Stokes and Sean Taylor, although it was anyone's guess who would take the class win during the race as positions swapped and changed throughout. The Novice class saw victory for Ben Martindale ahead of Lewis Walker, both on 13 laps but nearly four minutes apart. Ashley Williams completed the top three. The course dried significantly as the race progressed and it was great to watch the numerous battles going on through the field of riders, all of which intensifies after the 90-minute mark leaving the last half hour full of tension and cracking racing. An excellent day of racing from Paul Edmondson and the Fast Eddy Crew. Results Youth Race
Adult race
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Sam Davies had it all to do after a poor start where he was virtually
last off the line. That didn't deter him as he worked his way to the front
with Alfie Webb and Matthew Harries in hot pursuit. Chater had gathered
himself, straightened his bars and re-joined the race, coming from nowhere
to eventually take second spot behind an uncatchable Davies as Alfie Webb
clung to third in class just five seconds ahead of Harries.
