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© Bob Mullins   

Brinks

Despite the poor weather of recent weeks, well months really, the land at Brink Farm was in perfect condition for racing. Clerk of the Course Geraint Rogers had laid out a more technical course than last year, and with the help of the most of the Manchester 17 club members and several volunteers (many thanks) ran what can only be described as a first rate event. With a course length of seven miles there was a mixture of everything to test the riders. With the riders setting off just after 11am they had a full three hours of riding ahead of them. The first section is set out to flow smoothly and spread the riders out a bit. With a couple of boggy sections, a jump and gully to ride this warms the riders up nicely. After this we have the rocky section with large boulders to negotiate whilst running up and down the banking which borders Lyme Park. After a small clear run the riders had some steep gulleys to run through followed by a new tricky off camber section where the best lines were the sheep tracks. The course then ran over the track which splits the land into two halves and onto the back side of the course. This section is always popular, very flowing with dips, gulleys, boggy bits and smooth hills the riders always enjoy it. After this the course had a long off camber run up and down the hillside which would have proved very interesting had it been wet, but as it was no-one had any trouble. The final couple of miles runs down into the last valley through some boggy bits and up out the other side with a couple of interesting climbs. The final bit right by the pits and lap scoring is always fun. With the track snaking up and down in a natural bowl you can see the enjoyment in the way the riders ride it. With the top riders circulating in just over twenty minutes the top riders completed nine laps over the three hours. Craig Chadwick was the top expert followed by Stanley Callaghan and third was Colin McNee. Top clubman was Adam Simcock (whose Grandfather owns the land) and O/40 winner was Kev Hipwell. The large sportsman class has yet to be sorted, the top rider after the race was just too fast to be a sportsman so I understand he's getting moved up. Many thanks to all the riders who came and made the event a success and the marshals who helped run it.

Results are on the club website now at www.manchester17.org

Brinks 2003 Round 4 British Championship Hare and Hounds Report by Craig Beattie, Manchester 17 MCC

The fourth round of this years' British Hare and Hounds championship was held at Brink farm near Disley by the Manchester 17 club on Sunday 7th September. After a misty start and a forecast of rain, the skies cleared to reveal perfect racing conditions in time for the 100 competitors to set off round the 9 miles of spectacular Cheshire countryside.

This year the clerk-of-the-course Geraint Rogers put together a classic hare and hounds course with the usual ingredients of open moorland going and bogs but also including some tricky drop offs to catch out any over-eager riders, and two 'special test' like sections on either side of the start area. This was where the top boys could show off their technique on the deceptively slippery flat corners in full view of the spectators, before heading out to the distant hillsides.

In the expert class Andy Cripps took the lead from the first lap and didn't let it go, completing 13 laps after the three hours to take the win ahead of a fiercely battling Daryl Bolter (right) 2 minutes 39 behind. Andrew Edwards put in a top-shelf performance to round off the top three on his KTM250 four-stroke with 12 laps, fighting off Conan Mayman on another 250 thumper just 25 seconds back.

Robert Lynn's trip over from Ireland was made worthwhile with 11 laps and a win in the clubman class, and Chris Haigh took the top-spot in the four-stoke class with 10 laps.

Photos available from Sportpixs