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All content © Bob MuIIi | |||
 
CHICKEN RUN SPRINT 2021 Saturday the 12th June 2021 saw the second ever running of the Chicken Run Sprint hosted by Saintswell Motocross and Enduro Centre in Mid Wales. The riders were greeted with beautiful Welsh summer sunshine as they arrived at signing on, as the dew burnt off the 170 competitors began to gather at the start area for the sighting lap around the three and a half mile special test. The course comprised of the recently transformed Saintswell motocross track; the all new winter sand track; the enduro loop that takes the riders around the chicken range; various link up tracks; a small extreme section including a river jump. This was topped off with 12 acre Welsh style grass section designed and built by Hafren Club legends Wyn Hughes and Edward Jones. Adam Rees Clerk of the Course provided competitors with a ten minutes plus course of mixed terrain to really test them and give them a great day of racing enduro sprint. He already has a fresh 2022 route planned.
Next to set off was the incredibly strong and vast Expert category, followed by Expert Veterans, Clubman, under 19s, Clubman Veterans, Ladies, Sportsman and a new Youth 85cc category that the organisers are trialling for 2021. After a 5 minute break in riders starting, it was time to set the chariots off, with a strong entry of 11 crews. The conditions were perfect - after the late night watering by the Saintswell crew the dust was under control and it was prime time on the MX track when the Championship class came back into view and the first test times were logged. It was local rider Walton who took the early advantage pulling four seconds on his nearest competitor Gotts. Shock third fastest test was posted by Expert rider Harry Houghton and the fourth fastest was Yamaha rider Charles Evans having a brilliantly strong start to the day.
A battle was set alite in the expert sidecar class between Strutt/Gostling and Cuff/Baker, originally a battle for second place turned into a battle for first as early leaders Scrivens and George were forced to retire due to injury. Cuff and Baker holding on for the win while team Nevill took third. Sidecar Clubman was a family affair as father and son Wayne and Jack Mason took on their son/brother Billy and his passenger Ben Gwillam. Billy and Ben taking the glory on this occasion. The youth class proved their worth as after the first timed run they were
seeded in amongst the adult solo riders with rising stars such as Dylan
Tinker, Mason Hughes and Tomos Jones to name a few being sprinkled amongst the
clubman the veteran experienced riders. In the ladies class it was easy win for Leonni Tighe who was the only entry in the class this year but she set a brilliant pace breaking the eleven minute barrier on four out of six tests. It was late entrant Morgan Williams who took the Sportsman win fending off Rhayader man Aaron Bates and Harri Clarke taking third. A special mention to our local Romanian Radu Cosmin who had an excellent ride taking sixth position. Tom Knill blew off the cobwebs to take third place in the Vet Clubman class, behind Bo Anderson from Knighton in second and Luke Powell winning the class.
The Under 19 class was outstanding showing the quality and talent coming through ranks on the UK enduro scene with the top three breaking the ten minute barrier on several occasions. It was Samuel Hughes who took the win posting Championship times, PAR Hughes Academy rider Sion Evans taking second and Sion Hughes taking third. The largest class of the day was the Clubman class with local lad Kris Price taking the win, Motofit rider Ashleigh James taking second after a day long battle with Tom White in third.
The Championship class put a show on with some fantastic racing and it was Walton's speed and consistency edging out a hard charging Gottsy who got within two seconds of Wally on two out of six tests. Alex taking £200 prize money and Josh taking home £100 for second place. It was Aaron Gordon taking £50 prize money for third place. Saintswell would like to thank all the businesses and people who helped to make the event happen. ET James and sons Rhayader, Amped, Vison Media, P3 Solutions, Lasermaster, Steve Plain Michelin, EnduroTyres .com, Rhayader Motor club, Hafren Motor club, T Timing and all the family, friends and local riders who helped set up. Bring on 2022.
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With
the sighting lap in the bag it was time for the first timed test of the day,
2021 champion Josh Gotts aboard his TM UK machine led the strong championship
class away. Josh was followed by local high flying Sherco rider Alex Walton.
The remaining championship class riders took off on their first test around
Saintswell.
In the sidecars Winnie and Jon were on the hunt as they had caught Willams
and James pulling nearly twenty seconds on them on the first test. Jonathon
and Nell did try their best to fight back but the consistent efforts of Winnie
and Jon were unbreakable and they took every test win. It was a solid ride for
Lawry and Stokes who took third place in Sidecar Championship.
A three way battle in the Veteran Experts saw Andrew Edwards, John Shirt and
Paul Herbert inseparable and it looked like Andy had done enough until he ran
out of petrol on the final test of the day dropping him down to 15th in class
- apparently he filled his son Ewan's bike up and forgot to do his own! Shirty
took the win, Paul Herbert second and Arron Crowder took a strong third place.
Experts was bossed by Jack The Cad, no messing from Jack as he fought to
overcome second place Harry Houghton, unbelievably close racing with their
third test time being identical. It was local star boy Adam James riding his
ET James Sherco machine who took a strong third place, Ad started well and was
determined to have a strong 2021 Chicken Run Sprint.