All content © Bob MuIIins

William Hoare wins 3rd Motul Edgeberg Extreme

Report by Phoenix Media.
Images by Mick Whitehead Photography

Sunday 21st July saw the Edge Offroad crew host the 3rd Edition of the Motul Edgeberg Extreme at the awesome Kilburn White Horse venue - with the clue being in the title, it was certainly going to be a challenge for the men, leaving the boys to sit at home with their feet up! As promised, the team did exactly what it said on the tin! With some tough long and wet hill climbs, dry steep hill climbs, muddy gullies, wooded off camber descents, some classic Cross Country going, including some Special Test areas, this was sure to be a great event!

The Kids got Mini Edgeberg underway slightly on time for a gruelling one and a half hours, luckily conditions were a lot drier than last year so we wasn't going to be as tough on the young Stars of the Future! With 9 Youths and 3 Juniors ready to go, it sure was going to be fun to watch. These kids were on a much shorter course than the Adults, but it was still tough due to the hill side location. In the Youth class Edge rider Jak Heaney got an unbelievable holeshot, sending it straight up the massive hill on his KTM 85 Small Wheel! Cameron Baker Haste was hot on his tail followed by Bert Boam. These lads had a great battle, but Cameron dug deep to get away and take the overall win on a massive 17 lap tally! Bert thoroughly enjoyed riding something more extreme, like his dad, and was happy to take second place home with a 16 lap tally, and Jak settled for third place on 15 laps. In the Juniors, Riley Freeman had a fantastic ride, and took a great win home as an early Birthday treat, managing to complete five laps, his younger brother Ryan was second on a three lap tally and Henry Newton Freeman also finished on three laps in third place. These little ones on their 50's did so well to complete such a tough course!

Once the Kids had finished, it was time for the Edge crew to make the necessary track changes in preparation for the start of the main Motul Edgeberg Extreme! This was going to run for three hours regardless, and it sure was going to be a tough slog! Maybe a case of survival of the fittest, bravest and those that dig real deep and don't quit? Or maybe just stubborn!! Starting slightly later than planned, the Experts got off to a flying start with 15 year old Burts "Bertsberg" Crayston taking the holeshot on his Baydale D3 Racing KTM 150XC-W, followed by Rosie Rowett. The Westgarth brothers teamed up for this event due to their bikes going off to Romaniacs, so had to use dads bike, they put in some great laps, but were only a lot fresher than the rest of the pack! With the Premier riders again starting AFTER the last row of Novice riders...right at the back of the pack, with an 8 minute delay on the Experts, it sure was going to be an interesting day!

At the end of lap one, Berts came round still leading, looking smooth and in control. Showing all his training is paying off, he certainly is a star of the future! Berts used his head for the whole race, and took a very well deserved win on 12 laps. Tom Tennant had to settle for second place this time on 10 laps and Declan Helliwell was happy to secure third place after such a gruelling day! The Westgarth brothers, Will & Josef, obviously won the Team Expert class on 12 laps. In the Premier class, Will came through after the first lap, two minutes up on his nearest rival Charlie Frost - these two had a great battle all race; all depending on what lines were free out on track, as to who got held up where! With Will lead for the first two laps, Charlie then got back out in front for the next three laps, by lap six Will had got a 10 second lead, but not for long! Charlie came back at him for another two laps! By lap nice Will had a seven second lead, and gradually pulled away. Come lap 13 Will managed to go through with one minute to spare to get the extra lap up on Charlie, who missed out by 57 seconds! Luke Owen had to settle for a third place behind these two, but still had a battle with Josh Bailey throughout. It was absolutely awesome to watch, and certainly made everyone wonder how difficult this Edgeberg really was!? 

In the Clubman class Robert Allen had a storming ride all day, clearly in his element on the harder going, and absolutely over the moon to win the Clubman class on 11 laps and finishing 5th overall. Danny Calkin pushed on all race and secured a fantastic second spot on the podium also on 10 laps, and Jamie Williams grabbed third place completing 10 laps. In the Masters class, Ricky Tropman, totally in his element, pushed on and completed nine laps with Mark Raynor having to settle for second place on eight laps, and Neil Crayston delighted he got third place with a seven lap tally. In the Sportsman class Mike Taylor had a stonking ride! He looked like he wondered what he'd let himself in for initially bur once he settled down after the first few laps, he got on with it and secured the top spot! Finishing with an 8 lap tally. Lewis Moore took a fantastic second place spot also on 8 laps, and Jonny Balfour rounded out the Sportsman podium managing to complete 7 laps. In the Vets class, Paul Jefferson was over the moon and totally shocked to find out he'd won his class! Finishing with a six lap tally, his nearest rival was Steer Commercials boss Tim Reynolds won also rode a great race finishing on five laps and Ollie Crabtree rounding out the podium also with a five lap tally. 

The Novice class riders really all deserved a Finishers Medal! Everybody deserves a mention in every class, but these lads really are special! Anthony Farrow, new to enduro this year, was over the moon to take his first win at Edge managing to complete five laps! Tom Slater was only 19 seconds behind Anthony at the end, he was elated to secure second on five laps and Royce Mallett took the third spot on the podium with an impressive four lap tally

A massive Well Done to everyone that took part, you all deserve a huge pat on the back! Ultimate respect to everyone that started, you pushed yourselves out of your comfort zone, and the finishers should be super proud. Plans already in place for the 2020 Edgeberg Extreme, to make things bigger and better, plus more Extremes to come, watch this space!

A massive thank you to everyone for coming and supporting us, especially to every single one of the Marshals that took time out of their weekend to help out in tough conditions!

Next event is the Protect My Income Rd 7 at Lea Bridge, Near Matlock, DE4 5JN on August 11th - please note - no Play Day. Entries are open - www.edgeoffroad.events  or the Event Mobile is 07557 447084, please text your name, class, rider number and if you need a licence and we will get you booked in! See you all soon!