All content © Bob MuIIins

The inaugural Cross Country Grand Prix was delivered in fine style indeed..
22 July 2019 by 002

Joe Wootton was the top man at the inaugural CCGP enduro event that was delivered in fine style indeed by David Knight and Steve Ireland last weekend at the fantastic Baden Hall venue in Staffordshire.

The old MOD bomb factory site laid on a fast and flowing,100% cross country/enduro lap of approx 4 miles per circuit that was certainly demanding terrain but also allowed for the riders to stretch the legs of the big bore machines as the PRO podium proved with 2 x 450 4t Bikes topping the event and a 300 2t in 3rd.

Jamie McCanney was the early leader on his super-fast and smooth 450 Yamaha and his Brother Danny McCanney on the Factory TM 300 2t was always in the pack of 4 riders that where away at the front challenging for honours. Alex Snow on the GasGas 300 was the holeshot man and held a solid 3rd spot for the duration of the race but after fuelling and some swapping of places out on the going it was the Effortless, silky smooth style of Joe Wootton on the big 450 Husky that pulled away at the front to claim the epic £1500 top prize pot. Only 16 seconds behind and a well-deserved Runner Up was Jamie McCanney, claiming a superb £800 winnings for his efforts and a further 34seconds behind Jamie was his sibling Danny whom managed to grab 3rd spot and £500 off the hard charging 4th place "Snowy" come the end of 1hr and 40 odd minutes of racing. Snowy in 4th place rounded out the Pro Prize pot with a £200 winnings for his efforts.

Ben Murphy was Top Expert and took the £300 prize money with a superb ride, really smooth and fast on his Et James KTM.

Tim Forman was the winner in the Expert Vets on his Beta 300.

Top Clubman and winner of another big chunk of the massive prize pot was another one of the IOM contingent that supporte the race, Jordan Corkhill on his KTM was winner in his group with just under a minute advantage from his nearest rival.

Sam Hughes moved from Youth to the Sportsman group and blasted to the win with a 4-minute advantage in class.

Over 40 victory went to Jason Clarke but only by seconds as he had a real battle with his main challenger Anthony Foulkes.

Top Over 50 pilot was Mick Alderson as he looked top quality too claim his 2-minute winning margin.

Former BEC ladies Champion, Glesni Jones was top female rider and can now add the 2019 CGGP ladies title to her CV.

Arnoldas Nauseda was top Novice as he improves every week and is looking good for Sportsman Class promotion.

The Kids did a slightly smaller course and they were on fire as they all put on superb show on the challenging circuit.

Top Rider and 100% a star of the Enduro world in the future is Jayden Jones. Only 10 years of age... his mastery of his little 65cc is fantastic and he looks faster than many adults, even one of the World’s top enduro riders said on Saturday in the practice sessions that they were having to push hard to stay with the mini warrior in the tighter woods sections. Jayden came from row 3 and a 2-minute disadvantage off the start line to power through and win the 9/10-year-old class by a lap and the event overall by 2 minutes... Watch this space with this young man.

Jack Keenan was another IOM visitor and he's got the "quick Gene" too as he was top 13/14-year-old rider and event Runner Up.

Lewis Hurdsman put in a brilliant shift to top the 11/12 years group and got a fine 4th overall too.

The 7/8's top spot was James Gittins Jones has he took a 6-minute advantage at the sharp end of his class.

The Top Auto class rider was Harry Jordan with number 1 on the bike he justified that superbly with a narrow 17 seconds winning margin.

To sum up is easy... The event was superb... A fantastic atmosphere as you would expect from an event that is put on by Steve and David, both lads love a laugh and love getting involved with the riders and racers and families having a laugh etc ... Saturday nights fun Electric bike race, kids balance bike races and the "throw a boot the furthest" challenge all went down amazing and the Serious side of the weekend, The racing was neatly, professionally and superbly presented with super quick, accurate results, superb prize ceremonies and military like precision time keeping and discipline throughout.

The event deserved some more riders, especially in the pro / expert race and now the first one has been delivered by Knighter and Ireland the riders and racers can look forward to a 3 round series in 2020 with a Welsh round, and English round and an IOM rd making up a superb series of CCGP....

Watch this space ..

For now, Steve and David would like to thank all involved for getting behind and supporting the first one... Well and thanks to everyone, staff, sponsors, medics, caterers, landowners and most importantly the riders ....

Photos 

Results

Auto laps

Kids laps

Clubman laps

Pro/Expert laps