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Steve Holcombe claims BEC title at the Natterjack This weekend the REME / Army MCA Team's Natterjack found a new venue at Eelmoor in Hampshire and made itself at home. After 39 years at Longmoor Camp near Bordon a change of land use meant a change of location for the 7th and 8th rounds of the 2016 ACU British Enduro Championship to Aldershot. With it's sandy soil and pine trees the Natterjack - under an Indian Summer sun - has always had a Mediterranean vibe and the torrential rain that flooded nearby Newbury on Thursday soon drained away.
The riders were flagged away from 10.01 am on Saturday, The course was beautifully designed with a 16 mile loop returning the field to within yards of start for the first Special Test and then there was a short ride through the service area to the second test before they disappeared into the trees on the next lap. Steve Holcombe's progress towards the Championship title was going equally smoothly as he set the fastest times on the first 2 tests but on his 3rd test he took a tumble and dislocated his left shoulder. He managed to ride back to the paddock but he needed to go to A&E to assess the damage and he was force to retire.
Rockstar Husqvarna factory rider Danny McCanney took the lead and he went on to win his 3rd round of the season. Colwyn Bay's Brad Freeman was 2nd and Jack Edmondson KTM was 3rd. Tom Sagar MRS Sherco 4th, Jamie Lewis ORE Yamaha 5th, Daryl Bolter 6th, Josh Gotts 7th, Lee Sealey 8th, James Dent 9th and Fraser Flockhart 10th. Luke Flack had a mechanical problem.
Army rider Tom Ellwood on a MRS Sherco extended his lead in the Expert Championship with another win. Daniel Mundell - best E1/2 - was runner up. Brad Williams - best E3 - was 3rd, Bradley King best E1/4 - 4th and Jordann Ridgway 5th 17 year old Aaron Gordon from Portsmouth was riding his first time card Enduro and he won the Clubman class. Ryan Comer was runner up. Daniel Price was 3rd, Allyn Taylor 4th and Ben Coleman 5th. Ladies 1 Rosie Rowett 2 Glesni Jones 3 Ellie Cooke 4 Kate Smith 5 Gemma
Holtham
On Sunday morning the race started at 9.01 am and a heavily strapped but determined Steve Holcombe was on the line with a question mark over his head but all questions were answered when he set the fastest time on the first 2 tests. Steve did not have the race sewn up though and it became a three way battle with Danny McCanney and Brad Freeman as each took a test. It was very close racing and coming into the penultimate test Steve had a 0.3 second lead over Danny McCanney but as these things happen both Danny and Brad both crashed in the trees and took the pressure off Steve to coast home to collect maximum points and the British Championship. Unscathed Brad Freeman was the runner up and Danny McCanney was 3rd. Jack Edmondson in the 4th won the E1/2 class. Jamie Lewis was the best E2. Daryl Bolter was 6th, Josh Gotts 7th, Lee Sealey 8th, James Dent 9th and Fraser Flockhart 10th. Tom Sagar crashed on the penultimate test.
Tom Ellwood won the Expert class and secured the Expert Championship. Daniel Mundell was 2nd and Bradley King was 3rd. Kevin Murray was pleased with his 4th after little bike time and Brad Williams is always happy.
In the clubman class Aaron Gordon claimed the double with times that would grace the Expert class. Ryan Comer was runner up and Jack Ditchfield was 3rd, Dan Price 4th and Ted Bailey 5th. Ladies 1 Rosie Rowett 2 Glesni Jones 3 Ellie Cooke 4 Kate Smith 5 Gemma
Holtham The REME Army MCA are expected to do a faultless job and once again they did not disappoint. |
With 3 rounds in hand the 2016 British Championship had come down to a six horse race
between Steve Holcombe Jack Edmondson. Jamie Lewis. Danny McCanney
Brad Freeman and Tom Sagar with Factory Beta Holcombe the hot favourite. He came to
Hampshire with a World and Sprint Championship under his belt as well as 114 points - 40 points
more than his nearest rival Jack
Edmondson. Put simply if Steve won the day he would win the Championship but
Enduro is rarely that simple. 
