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All content © Bob MuIIins | ||||
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The ACU British Extreme Enduro Championship 2017 Strong Start at Tong The opening round of the 2017 ACU Fast Eddy British Extreme Enduro Championship at Tong began with a strong start this weekend- The season opener certainly lived up to it’s billing by providing the toughest and longest course ever built at the venue. The Fast Eddy crew went all-out to include new sections and their attention to detail was obvious. The going was gnarly with no respite anywhere. The infamous waterfall, rock slabs, gulleys and ditch jump lurked in trees like evil ogres, Heavy overnight rain certainly didn’t make things easier but as it abated conditions stabilised and racing began. The two and a half hour main race began at 12.30 pm. The forecast rain failed to materialise. David Knight {Eurotek KTM) had won all 6 of the previous Eddy's Extremes at Tong but he was recovering from a hip replacement Paul Bolton (Eurotek KTM) was competing in his first event for 6 month due to a snapped Achilles tendon. Graham Jarvis was the man in form alongside his new Rockstar Husqqvarna team mate Billy Bolt who rode at Tong twelve months before in his first Extreme Enduro. Danny McCanney (Rockstar Husqvarna) took opportunity to brush up on his technical skills before the first round of the EWC in Finland. Organiser Paul Edmondson dropped the flag and Paul Bolton took the holeshot ahead of Danny McCanney. Danny took a heavy in the first rock section but he was quickly back on his feet. David Knight stalled on the line and he was last away. He pushed hard to regain contact the leaders and he had made his way into the top 5 before he crashed heavily while overtaking Danny McCanney on a steep downhill. With head and neck injuries he retired to seek medical attention. At the front of the field Paul Bolton's Achilles Heal lived up to it's reputation as he was forced to rely increasing on one foot. Graham Jarvis and Billy Bolt moved up to battle for the lead where once again experience proved to be decisive and Jarvis took the win with 8 laps. Billy Bolt was runner up and Paul Bolton was 3rd. Keelan Hancock was 4th, Danny Mccanney 5th, Iwan Roberts 6th, Luke Flack 7th, Owain Humphreys 8th, Sam Winterburn 9th, Gary Daniels 10th and Richard Ely 11th. Eddy's Extreme is the opening round of the FIM European Extreme Championship and the 3 man Stiinta Viking Pruszynski team from Romania made their way to Tong in van full of KTMs and enthusiasm. Nicusor Botoaca, Dumitrescu Alexandru and Stefan Muntean hope to compete in all 3 rounds. ski KTM 250 EXC. All 3 finished and returned home with valuable points and memories. In the Experts class Olly Megson from the Isle of Man held the lead for 2 hours until a crash put him out with a back injury. Graduates of the CTR School of Hard Knocks Matthew "Wimpy" Jones (Husqvarna) and Charlie Frost {Active Bikesport/Malcolm Rathmell Sport/Sherco GB) slugged it out for the last half hour with Valley's boy Matthew taking the win in 11th overall. This was a tremendous achievement for an unsupported young rider in his first extreme event. Sam Ludgate (Appleyard Beta) was 2nd and Charlie Frost was 3rd. Fred Adams won the Clubman class ahead of Brad Lilburn (Colin Appleyard Husqvarna BPH) and Ryan Armitage. With an electrifying holeshot by Neil Crayston on a battery powered KTM, the Veterans dominated the morning race, 50 year old Mick Boam took the win, Mark Houson was runner up, Kieran Hankin was 3rd and Karl Greenhall was 4th. Dawson Marriott in 5th was the Best Youth. Harry Edmondson was 2nd and Tom Knight 3rd. Les Mudie won the Sportsman class. Chloe Richardson was the runner up and Jamie Rogers was 3trd, The Championship could not have asked for a better start and if Tong is
an indicator of what’s to come then the whole series is going to be epic.
The second round is on February 5th at Cowm Quarry where there is not a tree
to be seen. Talk about going from one extreme to another!
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