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All content © Bob MuIIins | |||
 
WOR EVENTS NATIONAL HARE SCRAMBLES RD 2 – SOLOS – MAESHAFN 2017 JON IS THE ONE WOR events took the 2017 NHS (National Hare Scrambles) series on the road to Maeshafn in North Wales last weekend for the 2nd round of the championship at one of their most established and proven venues over the last two decades. The event was held in stunning weather with a very demanding and testing 5-mile lap, laid out very professionally for the big turnout of riders with a little bit of everything thrown into the mix of terrain that a true multy lap Enduro track should have. The flag was dropped by the Race Director at just past 11 o clock after a nice tribute to Aled Evans in this 9th running of his Memorial shield event. Aleds family where there in big numbers to enjoy the race and its superb atmosphere, and what a race the first 1 hour and 25 minutes was! Jon Hunt was back home at WOR for the first time in ages and was looking in fine form on the 250f Sherco , Gethin Humphreys, whom had won the last 2 Aled Evans Shields’ was out on a borrowed Yamaha 250 and he too was in literally warp speed form. Hunt and Humphreys banged bars, swapped places at the front, diced, chopped, floated and blasted their way around the always demanding and tiring Mold mountainside. The crowd of spectators really did lock onto the battle that was unfolding in front of them as both riders gave more than 100% to keep up with each other. Humphreys took a blow when the back wheel / chain tensioner gave up and
caused a drop back in the results but you cannot take away from Hunt the sheer
speed and consistency he continued to put out to stay at the front and go on to
win the 2.5hr race with a comfortable 3 minute plus win margin over eventual
Runner Up, Owain Humphries, with both riders on 16 laps. Maeshafn always
demands massive rider respect when competing as the stony, bumpy track takes no
prisoners so a massive well done must go as well to young Ted Bailey, whom rode
smooth and quick with some very consistent lap times to take the final spot on
the Expert Podium with 15 circuits to his credit.
Steve Pattison was unstoppable in the Expert Vets and pulled away from the rest of the class from the off. He pushed his KTM round the course so smoothly, he looked like he was not on full attack but his times and speed proved otherwise as he managed to put over 3 minutes’ advantage between himself and Runner Up, Chris Wagstaff. Wagstaff matched the 15 laps of Pattison With Kev Freeman taking 3rd spot on 14 laps in the class.
Chris Berry(KTM) kept quick and consistent to eventually grab the lead at
the front of the Clubman Vets and broke away from the chasing pack of Lee
Chance(KTM) and Euros Jones (Husqvarna) to leave the standings exactly like
that with 13 laps to each rider’s credit. Liam Belfield on his Yamaha was in great form in the Sportsman and he must be thinking of following his racing rivals and moving up into Clubman as he easily topped the group. Runner Up was Steve Farthing who is now finding his feet in the class after moving up from Novice. 3rd placed Sportsman went to Rhys Evans who again is an old school WOR rider making his way back to riding more and he was only 2 little seconds behind Farthing. Again, all on 11 laps. The Sportsman Vets group was topped by James Cooke Thomas who managed to hold off the consistent challenge of Mick Mills, Mills pushing hard in the dusty conditions towards the end. The Bronze award in class going to Lee Sephton on his trusty Sherco. Sion Hughes was flying on his little wheels in the Youth class as where all of them. The smaller bikes really do have a tough time of it at the bumpy and gnarly circuits and they all deserve a big pat on the back. Runner Up was Frank Skillin and the ever-improving Haydn Rainford took 3rd spot making it a top 3 for Husqvarna in that group. The Novice Group was topped by Dan Griffiths with Ashley Holt and Arwel Thomas in 2nd and 3rd place respectively with all 3 riders on a very creditable 10 laps a piece.
Some huge thanks as always goes to the sponsors, staff, medics, caterers, land owners and most importantly the massive turn out of riders, solos, quads, sidecars that turned up over the two days to support the event. Film link : CLICK HERE Lpatimes / stats link : CLICK HERE WOR have a very busy May coming up and some more very tasty venues and races , more details on all things WOR can be found at www.worevents.com
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Top Clubman was another returning WOR old school rider, Harry Eccles. Eccles
(Husqvarna)was neat and tidy and showed great fitness to take the class win by
a near 4 minute margin over Runner Up and the leader for an hour, Paul
Engerlen(KTM). Third place went to Wayne Williams matching the 14 laps winning
score but a good 2.5minutes down on Engerlen.
The day rounded out with a superb presentation of the day’s trophies and
of course the Aled Evans Shield, the feedback and general consensus was again
that WOR Events had just delivered a class leading event in all aspects and
shows why after all these years they are still out there as one the leaders in
promoting this side of the sport.