Enduro, Hare and Hounds and Enduro Tryout Days with WOR Events

WOR SERVES UP ANOTHER CRACKER

“WOR Events made their annual pilgrimage over the mountains to the awesome Penybontfawr venue on the Powys borders last weekend and served up another cracking weekend of Cross Country motorcycle racing.

With this venue WOR have one of the best off road circuits in the UK, with a huge mountainside to go at the course offered everything including a superb grass special test area adjacent to the pits and paddock area that made for great viewing as the riders battled the now customary (for UK!) wet conditions.

The weather plays such an important part in the smooth running of any off road event and can certainly make or break an event.

Luckily the superbly planned courses that the WOR track building team had in store for the weekend's racing managed to hold out and give the riders a brilliant time on their bikes. WOR have now returned to the “Old School” format of running just one race in a day.

All the classes combine in one big race now for a 10am start and at the 2hr point the intermediate classes get the chequered flag and their stuff is done.

The Experts and the Clubman and Championship Vets then carry on for the rest of the race whether that be for 2.5 hrs or 3hrs.

The “new” format had a great feel to it and most riders are glad to see it back.

With the change in race format comes several bonus' for the event with less noise and impact on the venue and surrounding neighbours along with an easier clear up for the track construction team but best of all an early home for the riders.

Getting home that little bit earlier is always nice for the tired XC racer and families.

In the Expert class it was that man Lincoln Brewster who once again was top dog. Leading from lap one the 38year old car dealer from Bolton was super smooth on the KBR KTM 200. Brewster took a nasty cut to the throat area and at one stage was pouring with blood, The events clerk of the course Steve Ireland had Lincoln pulled into the pits for the Medics to have a look at and after tending to him allowed him back on to the track still in front of the chasing hounds. Even a cut throat is not stopping Brewster doing his winning at the moment, Tough lad indeed! The 2nd and 3rd place battle was truly brilliant to watch with young Harry Hillas and Craig Reynolds not letting go of sight of one another. Swapping places and racing bar to bar saw the wiry Hillas just edge out Reynolds come the chequered flag just after the 2.5hr mark. Hillas (KTM) and Reynolds ( Manchester Xtreme Yam) were literally only 5 seconds apart at the end, close XC racing indeed. Martin Sandiford was pushing for honours until a fall hurt his shoulder and the new Husky dealer had to retire.

In the Clubman class it was a top 3 of young testosterone as the 3 lads are all under 19 years of age. The 3 rd place on the Michelin podium was owned by TM mounted Scott Hughes with 11 laps to his credit. Six minutes clear of Scott was young CF racing rider Daf Jones. Jones riding the GG ec 125. The top spot glory went to Gary Daniels as he came from dead last to win the group. A very special mention must go to Young Owain Humphries though. The older brother of Junior FMF race winner Gethin was in flying form. Out his new KTM 200 the committed 16 year old was miles ahead of the clubman and was about to finish his 12th lap, unmatched by the other clubman poor Owain ran of petrol cruelly within sight of the finish. After receiving petrol from a marshal the honest young Welshman owned up to his illegal fuelling (non prompted!!) and said he was a none finisher. Fine stuff from Humphries and the podium will certainly see a lot more of him.

The Over 35 ‘s was Jack Twentymans' once again with his nearest rival Jason Hope being a lap down on 11 to Jacks' 12. Third place went to Emrys Price on 10 laps. Twentyman now has moved back down south to Devon and is continuing to ride and support the WOR Events, true commitment to the cause and shows this mans determination in everything he does.

The conditions were very slippy at times and the better riders were doing laps in about 12-14 minutes. One of those better riders was CF Racing shop owner and WOR supporter Gareth Lloyd. Out on a new 200 2 stroke as opposed to the 250f he has recently been racing saw the 47 year old simply destroy his opposition over the fast Powys mountainside. As the race wore on Lloyd passed early race leader Raymond Whittal and pulled clear to take a near 2 minute advantage from Honda mounted Whittal. Colin Jones is always there or there abouts and kept up his trophy collection with a sold bronze finish.

The top Sportsman PM of the day was Ben Ball with the two Wrigerly brothers Tim and Neil finishing in second and third respectively. That was the top 3 for the longer race in the sportsman group over in the 2hr Sportsman category it was Chris Wagstaff, Kev Freeman and Chris Parkes in that order making up the podium places.

In the 2hr over 40 class it was John Littler that took the win from Kev Humphries (Owain and Gethins dad make it 2 trophies for that family!) in second and Allan Hopwood in third. Hopwood struggling with the bikes handling and grip on the day, A few adjustments will soon see Hopwood back on it!.

In the youth class Joe Wootton took his second trophy of the weekend with a fine win from second placed Huw Jones and 3rd placed rostrum visitor Josh Parry. All of these riders putting on a great show in the wet conditions.

Finally in the novice group it was Darren Evans from Carl Thomas and Elgan Roberts in that order that took the superb trophies home.

 

With the race and the presentation over by 1.30pm it was then that the sun decided to come out and play and as the car park emptied the hard working WOR team set about dismantling and leaving the venue clean and tidy to move across the mountains and over to the new venue for this weekends GBXC which is sure to be a real classic as the best in Britain descend on the Berwyn Mountain ranges to battle out on the telly for the GBXC title.

 

WOR's next event is on the 26/27 th July at a brand new venue that will be announced very shortly. WOR will be announcing several new and very exciting venues in the coming weeks keeping the their fingers on the pulse in this busy off road industry and offering the riding public some of the best circuits the UK has to offer.

RIP mate from all at WOR! x