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Rhayader Elite Sprint Enduro |
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Daryl Bolter wins Putoline Oils Elite Sprint Enduro 23rd August - Cwmythig hill, Rhayader Report by Bob Mullins Photos by Martin Harding
Rhayader Mcc's Cwmythig Hill complex was the venue for an exciting new format this weekend - the Sprint Enduro. Sanctioned by the ACU, the 4 mile course would be very familiar to many riders as it followed the layout of this year's Welsh 2 Day test. There were some variations designed to test the elite entry including an 8 foot shale step that was approached on a camber & launched the riders onto a loamy slope. Even for Uk's top riders there was a slower alternative route.
At 9.30am the riders began their sighting lap. 17 year old Frazer Norrie traveled all the way from the north of Scotland to get a good look at a gate post on the first corner. The organisers obligingly widened the approach. The field then went out on a prologue lap to determine the starting order. Greg Evans set the fastest time.
The weather was overcast but dry. The racing was very close between KTM UK team mates Greg Evans & Daryll Bolter on the first 2 laps but on the 3rd & 4th Greg dropped his bike & lost valuable seconds. Two reluctant spectators were Jamie Paget & Charlie Evans. Jamie had entered but crashed the day before at Welsh team training day at Hundred House & Charlie was still recovering from the arm injury he incurred at the Dyfi. Welsh TV channel S4C's Ralïo were covering the Welsh team training & the Sprint Enduro was real bonus. Alex Rankin & Billy Jackson were also filming the event. At 11am a light drizzle settled in for the day. It misted up the rider's goggles & dampened the ground. Gareth Davies overshot the flat top near the start & crashed heavily. An ambulance was on hand but after a check up he could walk back to his van unaided. After 6 rounds the event was halted for a 30 minute lunch break. Daryl Bolter had clocked 52 min & 40 seconds of race time & led Greg Evans by 26 seconds from Lee Edmondson. Lee & his brother Paul are regular visitors to Cwmythig Hill & he looked very much at home.
The day ended with an Elimination event. The riders were drawn up in groups of 4 & competed against each other over a shortened lap that did not include the MX course. The start was clutch hand on the head. The whole circuit could be seen by the spectators watching from the start. Matt Ridgway was unlucky in his semifinal to drop his bike on the way to the line. The finalists were Greg Evans, Daryl Bolter, Lee Edmondson & Ashley Wood. Once again Greg was the quickest in the early stages but a moment in a rut gave Daryl an opportunity & he took it. The Elite Sprint Enduro at Rhayader was put together in under a fortnight but looked like the product of months of preparation. It also proved that this new format has a lot of potential to maximise land use & raise the profile of the sport.
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The riders were started in reverse order at 30 second intervals.
With the quicker riders catching the slower ones, the laps were compressed
into shortest possible time & it also added to the excitement. The transponder timing was supplied by Harry & Jessica
Hockly & they kept the riders & spectators updates with printed
result sheets posted after each round. The event encouraged Chris Bird back to competition after a lay
off of 4 years. Chris said he was only there to make up the numbers but he
qualified in the top 10.
After lunch there were 4 more laps.
Daryl won 3 of them & Greg won the last. With an hour & a half's racing
behind him, Daryl was the winner by 46 seconds
from Greg. Phil McLaughlin was 3rd. With Edward Jones in 4th, 3 out of the
top 4 were sponsored by KTM Uk. Lee Edmondson on his Par Home Honda was 5th & Matt Ridgway in
6th was the highest placed
expert & he won the TBM under 21 prize. 
