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All content © Bob MuIIins | |||||||||||||||||||
 
Fast Eddy Rock Oil XC Championship The pen-ultimate round of the Fast Eddy Rock Oil XC Championship saw a new name at the top of the results sheet. Jack Cadwallader nailed the overall win in what proved to be a tough, uncompromising, muddy and testing race on Sunday. Green Hall Farm, Llanfillin, is on the large side with terrain to match its size. Everything is big, especially the climbs, so following several downpours on Saturday night the venue was on the slippy side as much of the course was across fields and through woodland that didn’t have a flat or level spot anywhere. In an effort to try and get some lines appearing the adult racers went first for once to give the youth racers a slightly easier time later on in the day. It worked a treat! Just after 11.00am the Experts left the start line into a short U turn before heading into the great outdoors and almost immediately disappearing into the woods. The first section was tough but it did little to prepare riders for the large climb in the second section where only a dozen riders made the summit at the first attempt. With some riders turning around a coming back down the hill as others powered up it the course became sketchy so Paul Edmondson sensibly cut the section, much to the relief of most riders. As the race progressed the course improved, despite the odd few spots of rain, and a proper old school battle developed between the leading pack. Expert rider Jack Cadwallader had made his way to the front and was determined not to give up his spot while rival Jack Ditchfield tried his hardest to close the gap on the leader whilst fending off Ash and Jacob Bowden, Aled Price and Ted Bailey, even Youth class rider Harry Edmondson who was up amongst the front runners within a few laps, alongside Clubman Max Ditchfield for a while.
Gaps lengthened and it was Jack Cadwallader who took the win on the two-hour mark with Jack Ditchfield second and Ash Bowden third, all three knew they had been in a tough old race. Jacob Bowden suffered a puncture and dropped down the ranks but Aled Price pushed hard for third spot, just missing out as time ran out. Eventually finishing fifth overall Harry Edmondson topped the Youth class and posted the fastest lap of the race into the bargain as he circulated with a snapped spoke clicking constantly, much to the concern of his pit crew. His close friend and rival Henry Yardley managed to take second in the class, matching young Edmondson on laps but was some three and a half minutes adrift by the finish. Jacob James took a solid third place while James Palmer had a terrific race and looked extremely comfortable in the tricky conditions but unable to catch James.
Max Ditchfield nailed the Clubman class win and finished just behing harry Eddy in the overall standings. Young Ditchy always talks a good race before the event but recently he has backed up his predictions with solid results and taking the class win four minutes ahead of Andy Myers was quite a feat. Lee Hattersley and Ryan Armitage swapped third position throughout the race and it was only decided on the last lap where Armitage reckoned Hattersley had the edge on him out of the corners. Hattersley third, Armitage fourth.
Chris Wagstaff felt at home in the slippy conditions and dominated the Clubman Veterans class almost from the start. He was the first of the 10 lappers (everyone ahead of him posted 11 laps) and he built up an unassailable lead to take the class win by some seven minutes over David Wright who maintained second spot 90 seconds ahead of Kev Sandand in third. Scott Mead kept his Championship hopes alive with a win in the Sportsman class and one round to go at Brake Hill Farm. Mead was a lap up on his closest rival Dave Simpkin in second place as Ant Trawford nailed third just under five minutes behind Simpkin. It was tough going for the Novice class riders but one stood head and shoulders above the rest. Ben Martindale posted eight hard earned laps to win the class as his nearest rival, Richard Lewis, completed five. Even five laps was good going in comparison to the rest of the class who all DNF’d after the first lap. Pro rider James Jackman asked to be omitted from the report but everyone had a bad day occasionally and Green Hall Farm was Jackman’s. Over the years he has battled with the best and received the glory when earned. Today wasn’t a glory day but he will put it behind him and charge onwards.
By 1.15pm the Youth race was underway and Charlie Chater stamped his authority on it within a couple of laps. The course had been changed considerably and most of the woodland sections were removed but even what was left still presented a real challenge for the younger riders. Luckily the sun began to break through and the course dried to perfection, much to the envy of the adults from the opening race. While the morning riders were covered in mud, the youth racers were spotless for the whole of the 90 minutes of their race. Charlie chater was untouchable and took the overall and BW85-150 class win ahead of Sam Davies and Matthew Harries while George Yardley grabbed third overall and topped the SW855cc class ahead of William Farrow and Adam James. Respect must go to the 65cc riders who tackled the big hills with ease. Sion Evans took to 65 spot followed by Cory Cookland and Jack Sandland.
This was one of the toughest rounds of the Championship this season. No other venue can match Green Hall Farm on scale alone The eighth and final round will run on September 25th at Brake Hill Farm, Northamptonshire, a firm favourite amongst Fast Eddy riders who raced there earlier in the season. The venue always provides terrific racing and close finishes. With many of the Championship classes still up for grabs the entry should be impressive. Results
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