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All content © Bob MuIIins | |||
 
RAW Chill Winter Series Winter – Burn Stays Chilled at Ripon. Images CH-Images RAW Enduro opened their 2018 Enduro Hare & Hounds events schedule at Ellington Banks Ripon with a true winter event that tested everyone over the day’s competition. A huge turn out of riders saw the new RAW Enduro Youth supporters arrive on mass. No less than 24 riders lined up for the stand-alone Youth event. Wayne Braybrook had prepared a perfect YOUTH ONLY short course designed to engage youth riders into enduro riding on a large scale. The relatively dry and snow free woodland areas provided just enough of a challenge for the smaller bikes without being too difficult. A mistake by one rider taking a wrong turn on lap one saw a handful of youth riders turning onto the adult loop which clearly wasn’t intended, a swift sheep dog style operation by RAW Marshals soon rounded up the stray riders and chaperoned them back to the simplified loop where the fun could begin. Tommy Tate took the Youth A win from newcomer Alex Morris in second place. Lewis Hutchinson had a superb event to finish third on a 9-lap tally. Youth B Honours went to NE-XC rider Sam Boyd, Sam was chased to the line by RAW team rider Bert Boam, both riders were separated by just over one minute at the flag. Bradley Robson credited himself with a fine third place on the day. The Race 2 Off Road Dirty Dozen Youth Auto Team ventured down the A1 to start their enduro season. Close collaboration between Wayne Braybrook and Gary Nicholson to set up this new Youth Squad will see all suitable venues running a tailored Youth track to accommodate 50cc Autos throughout the season. Theo Nicholson was in great form taking the Junior Auto win on 3 laps, Sam Ward placed second on 2 laps, and Brooke Mudie entering her first event was really pleased getting the vital first event finish in third place. Well done to all Youth riders and parents for supporting this new RAW Enduro project to bring the Youth feeder classes to the RAW Schedule. On to the Packed Adult event, a slightly later start time saw adult riders getting a sighting lap session to get a feel for conditions. At 11:15 Wayne Braybrook who has ridden in differing conditions all over the world delivered the adult safety briefing on the start. His expert advice saw the event run without any incidents thanks to the co-operative riders who were seeking a tough winter work out.
With a snowstorm coming across the UK and engulfing Ripon area, Clerk of the Course Wayne Braybrook took the calculated decision to reduce the race duration by just 15 minutes in the interest of safety. This was totally the right call, using experienced “on track” marshals in radio communication to relay track updates; the early finish was a welcome one for most riders. Mark Fenwick won the Sportsman Vets class ahead of RAW Regular Nick Barrow. Colin Mills took the Over 50 class win from D3 KTM Boss Neil Crayston by a mere 3 seconds at the flag. In the Novice class Lewis Arrowsmith was victor ahead of Steve Fitzsimmons and John Marsh in third. It has to be said that as the faster Novice riders have been upgraded to sportsman, the 2018 Novice group at RAW is once again set to lead the way in entry level competition once the Rock Oil Championship Starts on the first weekend in March. Riders came from all over the north of England to participate at this event, the keen group from Lincolnshire also headed north to get some vital bike time. All in all the entire event ran well despite the elements providing more than a challenge for everyone. Well done to all riders and crew for supporting the event, and as usual EVERYONE who assists in the running of RAW Enduro events, thankyou. Next Event March 3/4th Rock Oil Championship R1. The month of February for RAW Enduro See’s a schedule of Enduro Training Days for entry level groups of riders, through to a Big Extreme Enduro Training weekend on February 17/18th at Lee Dell Rochdale. Limited to 10 riders per day, all interested riders should contact Wayne Braybrook Direct on 07802 572023 or email wayne@rawenduro.co.uk
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Sam Winterburn predictably took the holeshot and led all race, this was
until Luke Flack caught him on the penultimate lap and passed the Eurotek
KTM on the new Acklams 125cc Beta. Having none of it Winterburn fought back
to re pass Flack, in doing so Flack took a roosting and fell foul to having
removed his goggles before setting out on his lap, this resulted in a broken
nose and two black eyes! Brad Lilburn is no Stanger to tough events, placing
P3 on his Moto4 Husky in a very competitive expert class rounded off his
Family Holiday in style, even if it was cold and muddy. The Clubman class at
RAW is set to be the most competitive one ever in 2018. Lee Harrison used
his MX Skills to take the win from the in form Dawson Marriott out on his
brand new EC250GP Gas Gas UK machine. Eurotek apprentice Rhys Bradford used
his local knowledge to place a fine third in tight racing conditions, D3
Racing hotshot Burt Crayston has made the big jump straight to clubman for
2018, if this result is anything to go on watch out clubman he’s on a
mission! Ripon saw the first test of the New Vets Elite class bringing
together Clubman and Expert Vets. D3 pilot Anthony Crowe knows the enduro
game; he used consistency to bring him his D3 KTM 4t for a great win. Andrew
Dean upgraded from Over 50 placed runner up, Andy loves the harder events
and took this one in his stride. Gas Gas UK Importer John Shirt came to RAW
to Run his new Demo GP bike in, Shirty looked as stylish as ever doing his
PR duties for the new GG range and in doing so placed third showing how good
the new bike really is out of the box. Sportsman top spot 
was taken by
trials and enduro addict Scott Aitkin, Scott used his trails skills to stay
out of trouble and take a great win in class. Richie Moorhouse out on his
new 125 Sherco did a great job for his new sponsor Race 2; Moorhouse used
the bike to great effect to take runner up place on the day. Aden Overend
placed in third and only just missed staying on the lead lap by 42 seconds
at the flag. Still on his way back to full fitness, Aden rode well in
difficult conditions as he attacks the extreme enduro events schedule on his
Matt Rudd Photography Supported KTM.