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   GT Wall & Sons The Hafren Rally Hafren Dirtbike Club held their annual Hafren Rally at the Sweet Lamb Complex near Llangurig on Sunday 25th October. The weather forecast's prediction of sunshine proved to be totally accurate. Somewhere behind the clouds, the sun was shining. The Hafren Rally was the final round of the 2009 UK Rally Championship. The 45 mile lap had 3 special stages. The riders were flagged away in groups from 9.00 am. Stage 1 was a mile from the start. It kicked off with gravelly hill climb that zigzagged it's way up onto the open moorland. Between the showers, the biggest problem for the riders & the organisers was the wind. It buffeted the riders & bent the arrows. Halfway through the test, the course passed very close to the start which gave the riders a chance to fettle or pick up a fleece. On the first lap the tests were not timed. The 2nd Special was one of those forestry tracks that makes the Hafren such a great place to ride. Years of pummeling have sculpted the shale into a 3 foot wide channel that guides the wheels along a ribbon that seemingly winds for miles through the trees. There weren't many places to pass but only keen lads would want to. Between ST2 & ST3 there were some stretches of new hardcore that warned up the forearms - particularly if you needed to use your tyre levers. ST3 followed a cross over & it was a quicker version of ST2 that all the riders enjoyed with the possible exception of the rider who fell under Phil Wilkinson's wheels. The final liaison stage saved the best till last as the course emerged onto the highest part of the Hafren with some spectacular panoramic views of Wales in autumn before a winding descent to the finish. There were 2 laps for the Sportsmen & an extra half lap for the rest. Championship rider Chris Hockey was able to fit the Rally in with a teaching session at the Yamaha Offroad School. He was number 1 & the first on the timed ST1 course but he missed a marker & he had to start again. It meant he was in amongst the slower riders on the narrow ST2 & he lost time. Mark Vaughan is a natural Rally rider. Coming to the discipline late, he has won all 4 of the rounds he has ridden this year in the Sports class. With one more round under his belt, Jonathan Williams led the UK Rally Championship from Brian Eland. Provisionally Craig Bounds (above) won the Premier on his BMW & sponsor Mark Molinuex was 2nd in the Trail class. Mark Vaughan's new tyres paid dividends & he won the Sports class ahead of KBRacing's Lewis Belfield. Chris Hockey was 3rd. Back from the International Six Days Enduro in Portugal, Dylan Jones, Greg Evans, Tim Foreman & Andrew Edwards donned their marshal's bibs for the more mundane task of standing out in the bleak rain & hail where a good tan looks like rust. Hafren Dirt Bike Club have a great spirit which is partly why they put on such great events. Photos available from Mike Davies & Keith Bowen
Postscript: There were very few injuries amongst the competitors with one rider dislocating his arm. Unfortunately the Air Ambulance had to be called out when marshal Howell Evans crashed into a ravine. Howell was incredibly lucky not to have suffered more severe injuries or worst. The picture below was taken by photographer Mike Davies who discovered him & writes "It was toward the latter end of the second lap and I’d positioned myself on the exit hairpin from the test/mx course. The bike numbers were around the 300 mark, so the noise was beginning to die down by this time. The rain was coming down quite badly, when I heard what appeared. on first hearing a male voice shouting out very loud. My first impression was that it was a bit early in the day to be that drunk but a few seconds later the same shout again but this time I started to realize it was not a drunken voice. I was a member of the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team for over 12 years and the training just kicked in. I ran to the ravine behind me, only to see a rider about 60 feet down this very steep slope, hanging onto a section of pig-wire fencing he was laying next to. I shouted to him to let him know he’d been seen, then rushed to the track and stopped one of the competitors and explained there was a rider badly hurt and we needed a medical cover urgently. Well to cut a long story short, I then went down to assess the youngster who 'appeared' to have a compound fracture of his lower left leg and a 2 inch gash under his chin. It was difficult to tell the real injury to the leg as the blood was coming from inside his boot. Once the St, John’s Ambulance people arrived I handed over all the medical treatment to them. Then using my MR training, I organized the evac back to the car park above the crash site. He was unlucky in that he’d picked the steepest part of the course to take a detour and very lucky I was standing close enough to hear him. With an injury that bad and losing blood, I don’t know how long he’d have been able to remain conscious." NB the fence that Howell landed on surrounds a mine shaft. All the best for a swift recovery.
The GT Wall & Sons Tarrenig Rally took place on Sunday 10th of May. A impressive field of 245 competitors were entered - headed by some of the country's finest Rally riders. The Trail class was dominated by BMW. 2009 Dakar finisher Craig Bounds from South Wales (left Keith Bowen) was riding his XChallenge 650. Mark Molineux from Stourbridge "doubled up" on a mighty Mega Enduro 1205 while lean Lee Walters plumped for the mean 450. Big Brian Eland chugged all the way from Gorde-land in his Landie Fat Burner to ride his battered WRF 450 in the sports bike class along side Knighton CoC Mark Vaughan on his KTM 450. Jonathan Williams was riding Craig Bounds KTM 520 practice bike. Stan Watts was trying hard to pretend that he & Craig were still in the warmth of South America. The start was in a pretty field beside the river Wye, Unfortunately a "weather system" rolled over Wales on Saturday bringing rain & cold winds so the early arrivals didn't see it at it's best. There was no solace to be had at the Glan Severn pub which was closed but in the evening the atmosphere warmed up with local beer & a hog roast in the marquee. As the skies cleared, a full moon rose over the Cambrian mountains to light the revellers to their beds. Sunday morning dawned bright & clear. Scrutineering began at 7am & there was a strange mix of machines waiting to be examined. A very shiney Cheney Triumph, looking too clean, a bright yellow Suzuki PE 250, lots of examples of the BMW range and a flush of orange as almost every model of KTM lined up.
Fortunately the rain had stopped and even though the forest would still be very wet and muddy it was to prove a perfect day for riding. The format was similar to previous years with the riders crossing the Wye river on a trailer to start the 35 mile lap with 3 special stages, The construction of the wind farm has opened up the options for the organisers - Hafren DBC - & they have made the most of their opportunities to create a course with real character that combines a mix of fire road, forest tracks and open hill.
Craig Bounds won the Premier on the BMW Xchallenge 650 ahead of Frontrow GB's Stan Watts on the KTM 690. Mark Molineux guided the Mega into 3rd to win the Best Open. Mark Vaughan set the fastest times to take the Sports bike class from Jonathan Williams. Brian Eland was 3rd & picked up the Best Over 40 award. After more than six hours in the saddle it was a relief to most competitors to arrive back at the finish after an excellent event that had proved to be competitive for the experienced riders and challenging for everyone else. Videos Webcam West Glos riders Photos available from Keith Bowen The Hafren Rally will be on the 25th October. Enter early.
The event was run in the usual rally format, everything was pretty laid back. The course was like a marked long trial ride with 3 timed special stages scattered around the 44 mile lap. Everybody had to complete 3 laps, bar the beginners class who only had to do 2 and at a slower schedule. This years course was run in reverse to other years with a few new off road bits in just to spice things up. The premier award at this year's Yamaha Off Road Experience supported event was taken by the Merthyr mafias Craig Bounds on his 650 BMW, Boundsy has got the rally bug after his podium finish at this years Baja, winning in only his 2nd rally type event, although he is a veteran of the enduro world. BMW riders filled the podium in the trial bike class, Lee Walters was runner up on another 650, and biggest shout of all goes out to Mark Molineux who manhandled the massive 1200GS around to a creditable 3rd place, and best open. Best sports bike was 250 KTM mounted Ian Coburn, who was almost a minute clear of fellow KTM rider Barry Wilson, with Andrew Sankey rounding out the top 3. Best lady was Hafren club member Marianne Walford, obviously putting her local knowledge to good use. The beginners class was won by the MD of Putoline oils John Hayden, his 1st time out on a bike in years, aboard a Yamaha WR 250F, borrowed from the Yamaha Off Road Experience, the same bike he used for an hours intensive coaching the day before with Geraint Jones. Runner up in this class was Tom Luton, and best lady was Liz Otterson. Results
Tarrenig Rally – Sunday 6th May This is event is in it’s 2nd year and TBM have kindly stepped in as the sponsor for 07, Hafren Dirt Bike Club ran it for the 1st time last year at what was a totally new venue and course, although some may recognise a few sections that are passed through on the Welsh 2 day. Last years event was a little bit of a tester with a fairly small entry of approx 150, and the feedback was very positive. This years event will be very similar to last years with a few improvements to the 35 mile lap, and 3 special stages, and possibly a different start area. This course has real character, it will be a mix of fire road, forest tracks and open hill, with plenty of spectacular Mid Wales countryside. Entry fee is £55 and there will be separate classes for both trail and enduro bikes (no MX bikes) and a beginners for the new comers/less confident riders, following the huge success of the new beginners class at last years Hafren. The beginners class will do the same course, but will be expected to complete a lap less and will start at the back of the entry so they are not riding amongst the quicker riders. As this is a fun social event, there will be a social get together on the Saturday evening in Llanidloes (venue to be confirmed) where a buffet and quiz will be laid on and give everybody a chance to have a chat and a few beers, not too many mind! Hafren Dirt Bike club would like to thank TBM for kindly sponsoring this years event. Regs are available to download from the clubs website: www.hafrendbc.co.uk or send and SAE to Kate Jones, Cefn Gwilgy Fawr, Gorn Road, Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6LA, jones@cefngwilgy.wanadoo.co.uk 2007 Dates 6th May - Tarenig Rally 14th & 15th July - Hafren Enduro - Rd1 British Enduro Championship 7th October Hafren Rally Related articles:
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The first bike was away at 9.00am. In a rally. the fast men and
ladies (Patsy Quick: left) are away first but with a rider leaving every 20 seconds there
was soon a traffic jam at a steep shale hill just after the start of
the first special test. There were 3 laps for most classes with timed tests
on the 2nd & 3rd laps. The Beginners only had 2 laps with 3 tests
on the 2nd lap but all too soon the faster riders arrived at the
start of the test on their second lap to find the slower guys still
queuing. Plenty of marshalls were on hand to push and pull machines
up the hill and rumour has it that when Geraint Jones rode the PE 250
belonging to Bob Hamilton up the hill he was minded to make a
comeback! Derrick Edmondson is still recovering from his tumble
at the Red Marley Hillclimb but he was still able to help out on a
quad with some towing. Craig Bounds' 650 sounded like it was
misfiring but from his times it must have been the afterburners
kicking in.. 
The
riders were enjoying the forest trails even though some parts had
long deep ruts that resulted in lots of tired legs. When the air
scoops of Bob Rooms KTM got stuck on the sides of the ruts he decided
enough was enough and sucummbed to a cup of tea from Wendy and a
massage! There were lots of first time rally riders at this event,
some of them old enough to know better. Clive Dredge, Patsy's Hubbie,
George Elland (Brian's dad) and Jim Jones all enjoyed the event and
have decided that maybe the more relaxed time schedule at rallies is
more suitable for the mature rider.
Pit
crews were glad the rain kept off and one team even had the sun shade
out just in case! 
Competitors turned up at this years Hafren Rally and though they were
in the wrong place, they were welcomed by clear skies and sunshine, which
is not normal for this part of Wales at this time of year. It was
certainly a contrast to last years event held in monsoon like conditions
in December, although I didn't hear anybody complaining.
Putoline
Oil Hafren Enduro Round 1 of the Metzeler British Enduro Championship -
14/15 July 2007 
2005 UEM round