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© Bob Mullins   

THEBIG ONE

19/20 AUGUST 2006 Race report by: Gwynne Turner Photos by Tim Tighe

"It was the first premier class rider to complete 5 laps of this full on welsh enduro circuit that would be crowned the BF Goodrich Tyres Big One winner. "Fast Eddy" Paul Edmondson was that rider and took the win with a superb performance of technical riding. Showing that he is still very much the man to beat in the Uk world of enduro and off road motorcycling, the 4 times world enduro champion stamped his authority on the race from the start with a le mans start and a quick dash into the woods, Edmondson lead the rest of the pro riders into the 20k lap. The riders came back into the spectators view roughly about half way round the circuit and that was were the commentating and focal point of the event was. The PAR Honda 250 of Edmondson was the first bike into sight and just behind him was last years Big One winner Wayne Braybrook(Sandiford Honda) followed by the really on form Tom Sagar(Cadwallader Honda). Edward Jones and Andrew Edwards on their KTM 125's were next through and then it was a gaggle of fast experts. At the end of that 1st lap and roughly on the 40 minute mark, again it was Edmondson through the scoring area first and Braybrook not far behind. For a short while into the next 2 laps Braybrook took the lead swapping now and again with Paul as the race hotted up. Behind the top two, Ed Jones had moved up to a steady 3rd place but had the really fast looking Sagar all over him. These two riders again had a race long battle and were never far from one another. The event gave all riders hope with special awards for the fastest last lap times so as rider if you were not leading or in a prominent position you could still push hard and try and do the fastest last lap. Mid race Edmondson stepped up the pace and even allowing for fuelling every lap he pulled away from the hard charging Braybrook and took the event title with a 2min and 20 second advantage. Paul also set the fastest last lap with Braybrook second…the former multi world champion putting in a time 30 seconds quicker than trials and enduro ace Braybrook. Edmondson took the full £800 prize fund home and fully deserved his winnings. 

"For me the race went very well and receiving a chq from Steve is always a pleasure. The event was good and was going back to an old school hard, and tough race. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the course was very well laid out with fast, slow and technical sections only moment for me was during the last lap where I literally had a (BIG ONE) myself and ended up seeing stars after I hit a tree root and crashed, other than that great event and looking forward to next years BIG ONE!" Paul Edmondson

Ed Jones ran out of fuel on the last lap after ripping his fuel pipe and that allowed Tom Sagar to take 3rd and Andrew Edwards 4th although Sagar had nearly an 8 minute advantage over Edwards. The track was superb with a lap time taking round 35-40 mins for the pro's and then anything up to 1 and a half hours for sportsman. The organising team did a great job in plotting an interesting yet challenging course that had everything a welsh forest event should have. The infamous 2006 WOR rainstorms that have haunted the Wor team this year followed to the forest for 3 full days prior to the event and conditions were very wet and technical although all abilities of riders commented on how the track stayed ride able throughout. Rain stayed away for the duration of the race and left the track "dusty" in some places, quite amazing really. The race duration ended up being 4.5 hrs. Nick Life on a Yamaha 250 had travelled all the way from the south west and put in a great ride in the expert class leading more or less from start to finish and taking the £300 spoils ahead of John Shirt (gas gas 250) in second place by nearly 3 minutes. Shirt did however put in the expert class's fastest last lap, beating Life by 17 seconds and winning himself £150 and a set of BFG cross country tyres. 3rd place expert went to the smooth riding Rob Reese on his Yamaha 250 finishing nearly 6 minutes behind Shirt. Former Irish Enduro champion Stanley Callaghan took the over 40 class after an early 2 lap battle with Paul Sagar and Ian Barnett. Sagar did have quite a commanding lead but Callaghan kept pushing and with the aid of Paul getting stuck eventually pulled off the fastest last lap and took the win in class. Stanley beat Barnett into second by 1 and a half minutes and the last lap by 15 seconds. Sagar eventually being a couple of minutes down on Barnett in third place. The clubman riders were the biggest class in this special event WOR have in their packed calendar. Nearly 50 years old was the clubman leader for most of the race, south Wales rider and old school enduro enthusiast Wayne Golding was that rider and showed the "youngsters" a thing or two. The top three in the clubman were never far apart and a real spirited ride from the ever improving Stu Hughes saw him take a late lead and fastest last lap from Sam Taylor (mid race leader). Golding never backed off and at the end finished 3rd on his Tm just 3 seconds down on Taylor whom was 50 seconds down on Hughes.

The brave sportsman that took on this event saw young Suzuki mounted Jamie Robinson take third place with a gruelling 4 laps to his credit behind second placed usual sportsman winner, Carl Critchlow whom in turn was 2 and a half minutes behind class winner and fastest lap in class victor Alun Jones.

The event was kindly sponsored by BF Goodrich tyres and WOR Events wish to thank them immensely for the tyres and the special one off prize that was put up. The lucky rider that had his name drawn by the st johns ambulance team was #5 Tom Sagar who rounded off his great ride with the knowledge he's won a trip for 2 to a 5 star Cardiff hotel, a helicopter ride into the WRC and they day with the Ford Rally team including a gala dinner and champagne lunch on ½ December this year.. Well done Tom.

This was certainly another great event to add to the WOR events C.V. and keeps them innovative and setting the standards for new ideas in our sport.

Results Fastest Lap in Class Pro Paul Edmondson 33:39, 40+ Stanley Callaghan 40:44, Clubman Stu Hughes 44:48, Expert John Shirt 39:05, Sportsman Carl Critchlow 55:46

On the Saturday a smaller 2hr enduro took place for beginners/sportsman/ladies and youth riders. In pouring rain and very slippery conditions nearly 70 riders took on the forest and to be fair every one of the finishers deserved a pat on the back. The circuit held up for the entire duration and most people finished an event that had a great friendly atmosphere and feel to it. The sportsman class had Chris Berry in 3rd place, Dylan Taylor in 2nd and young Barnaby Moore out infront. Barnaby led from start to finish and won the event overall on his Yamaha 125 showing how he is improving with every enduro he does along with his regular moto cross events. The ladies class spoils went to Leah Jones on her ttr125, Kate Lloyd in 2nd and Sandra Heming in 3rd. The youth class had Gethin Humpreys as the winner with Gareth jones in second and Gethin's brother Owain in 3rd place. Special mention must go to Owain who was leading and going really well until he got lost and completed nearly a full lap without going through lap scoring. He still finished 3rd. The beginners had a great time with Tony Shaw in 3rd place, Kim Sutch in 2nd place and Paul Bright taking the class win. Finally the novice riders saw Matt Gill in 3rd place with Martin Wells in 2nd and Peter Barlow taking the win.

Results

Footnote: WOR/Steve Ireland announced at the weekend that the very near future will see them running a number of traditional time card enduro's with an intro level one planned to help introduce current hare and hounds riders into that side of enduro's and also a full on championship level event with road work and several tests. More details will be announced soon. Watch this space. Anyone with a background in organising time card enduro's and that may have some spare time on their hands can contact Steve as a role within WOR will exist for the right person to help the team do it right.

Braybrook wins BALA - THE BIG ONE

When WOR supreme Steve Ireland secured almost 3,000 acres of prime Welsh forestry and mountain land he decided against running a time-card enduro or a traditional hare and hounds event and The Bala Big One was born. Steve's idea was to run a multi-lap event - with laps of approximately one hour each with everything from fast forest tracks to fire breaks, stump strewn clearings to bracken filled banks along with some interesting boggy areas and stream crossing - and of course some traditional dark and murky tree work that all good Welsh forests are famed and loved for.

The other thing that Welsh forests are famed and loved for - rain - intervened slightly and the lap had to be reduced from 40k to 27k, but the wet underfoot conditions ensured that despite the reduced mileage, the difficulty ensured lap times were close to and well over the hour for most riders.

The expert class led the field away on the stroke of 11am and Sandiford Hondas Wayne Braybrook (pictured above with organiser Steve Ireland & left) took the lead he was to hold for the entire event with a consistent display of smooth, controlled riding. Clubman riders were left dazzled as they relayed their stories at the end of how they were stuck and Braybrook came flying past them with style and ease. Wayne completed the 4 laps in an incredible 2 hrs and 40 mins and was actually taking the chequered flag as two other riders were completing their first lap!

Winning £250 in 2nd place was Ed Jones on his KTM 125. Just back from the ISDE and riding really well in his favourite conditions - Ed had some early problems with his radiator cap on the first lap but still stayed strong and pushed through to the podium.

Wyn Hughes the Husky Sport off road coach was revelling in the mud. The man is a machine in the swampy stuff and despite retiring from the top level several years ago, Wyn pushed on showing his class and came through the pack overtaking several placed riders in the last lap to finish 3rd and pick up a nice big trophy for his efforts.

Andy Cripps had held the final podium place going into the final lap, but having lost his front mudguard his radiator ingested vast quantities of mud and after struggling free from one of the many boggy areas he was forced to retire with an overheating bike.

All the top riders were on 4laps - Betas Paul Bolton was 1st four stroke to finish in 4th place and the ever smiling superstar Carl Tiley was out of retirement and after leading for a bit and then holding 2nd, then 3rd he eventually finished 5th and really enjoyed himself - flying in that unmistakable style of his.

In the clubman class Husaberg mounted Adam Smith won the £500 after battling hard and keeping on with it in the deteriorating conditions - he fully deserved his prize and silverware for completing a creditable 3 laps. 2nd in clubman, almost 12 minutes behind Smith was the ever consistent Steve Martin while 3rd by only one minute was local lad and WOR/GBHS Clubman champ Euro Jones.

The vets class was won by happy man Ian Barnett - who claimed afterwards it was the best event he had ever ridden - on 3 laps taking the £250 prize money that Colin Jones Roofing had kindly put up for that class. Colin himself was an early leader but had to pull out with a suspected broken ankle. 2nd place in the competitive vets class went to Carl Tiley's partner in crime Wayne Golding - he really enjoyed himself and said the Merthyr mafia will be back! 3rd went to John Lofthouse who loves the snotty conditions and got on with the job in hand, finishing almost two minutes behind Golding.

Speaking at the finish Steve Ireland said "I have to say a big congratulations to everyone who completed a lap and finished this event. It was always meant to be a real test of riding ability and a true challenge to riders. I also have to thank the army of marshals without whom an event of this nature would not be possible. The 30 guys out there have run the laps with military precision despite the rain and the high attrition rate.

Beta importer and event sponsor John Lampkin said how impressed he was with the whole set up and that he looked forward to many new ideas and events from the country's leading off road hare scramble promoter.

Over the weekend 340 riders enjoyed another fantastic venue from WOR and full praise must be heaped on Steve Ireland and the team for pulling off the biggest hare scramble lap yet!

With next years' event planned for early summer and with this years lap having barely scratched the surface of this superb venue - the next Bala Big One will be even bigger!!

Results The Big One Bala 2hr Photos available from Sportpixs

Honda Racing Team Sandiford press release 

Wayne wins the event – the first to cross the line after 4 hard laps.

With “All rounds to count at the Fast Eddy series” and having missed the re-arranged Donington event due to a holiday, it was decided that Wirral’s event on the same day would be Wayne’s priority.

Always fantastically well organized, Steve Ireland and his Wirral Offroad Team must once again be congratulated. The Prize money the club puts up (for each class) does generate interest and entries, on that there is no doubt.

Promoted as a tough event (no-one ever said it was going to be easy) with a lap of around 40 minutes, Wayne looked forward to the same with great anticipation. “Tough events aren’t for all, but for me it’s a chance to dig deep and come up with the goods. The harder it is the harder I try, I love them”.

Attracting some other “Traditional Enduro riders” in the likes of Ed Jones, Carl Tiley and Husky Team boss Wyn Hughes (who also all like it tough), it promised to be a great event.

The Sandiford Honda Racing 250/2t didn’t go first kick and at the initial turn onto the Fire Road, Wayne was 11th. A 25 minute wait until word came back from the Marshall's on the course when Steve was then able to confirm that Wayne had taken the lead.

Lapping on his first circuit in just under 36 minutes, he was waved through the pits with no fuel as it was clear 2 laps before a fuel stop were possible as Wayne was running with an oversize fuel tank.

A worrying moment when the track marshals radioed through to say Ed Jones was leading, stopped a few hearts for a moment, but they’d missed Wayne going through and soon he came into view. At his first fuel pit stop at the end of the 2nd lap he was then 4 minutes in the lead. Requesting only a “splash and dash” at the end of lap 3, Wayne received the chequered flag at the end of lap 4 with a lead of nearly 7 minutes. 2nd place was Edward Jones, 3rd Wyn Hughes, 4th Paul Bolton with 5th going to Carl Tiley. 6th was great mate Justin Wilson.

Said Wayne at the finish, “I’m chuffed to bits, I’ve really, really enjoyed today, I have to say well done to Ed and that it’s been great to see Wyn and Carl back riding and enjoying themselves !! – Thanks Steve, great event”

Next Event : Moto 1 – Mallory Park, 15th- 16th October 2005.

Honda Racing Team Sandiford - Supported by : Honda UK , XC-Ting Clothing, Silkolene Oils , Dunlop Tyres , REP Products, Smith Goggles, Akrapovic Pipes, RCD Motorsport, Renthal Bars, Chainwheels and Grips, Alpinestar Boots, Iris Chains and Arai Helmets.