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Walters Arena, Seven Sisters Near Glynneath, South Wales

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Steve Ireland wins D2D Marathon - Daryl Bolter & Wyn Hughes win Team award Report by Neil Jones.

A very special event that is the only way to describe the UK's ultimate off road motorcycle enduro. The 4000 acre opencast coalmine near Glynneath in south Wales is just perfect for this event. 12 hrs of endurance, reliability, strength or lack of it in some cases coupled with heroic tales and heart braking failures, all of this on a fantastic 18.5 mile lap that had just about everything that an "enduro" circuit should have, from steep rock splattered climbs to wet rocky river beds through to fast flowing fire roads and boggy grasslands, this demanding track had the lot. The event organiser, Nick Plumb has excelled himself this year with a track that was better for all of the riders than previous years, flowing and with a great team of marshals out there that kept the hard bits going and left the riders feeling safe that they were never far from help should there have been call for it.

With people arriving from Friday afternoon onwards the atmosphere at the D2D is a real family one, with caravans, tents and motor homes all setting up next to one another in the huge hard standing paddock, ready to take on the gruelling time ahead. This year in it's fifth running saw Mr Plumb organise great healthy food options for the riders, not just your burgers and chips but real salads and jacket spuds etc as alternatives, music in the massive marquee over the weekend, guest speakers and much more…all this and he still had the longest enduro in Britain to run. Scoring the event was handled by the WOR Events team this year and proved to be accurate and 100% reliable with the final results being handed to Nick Plumb as the last rider crossed the finishing line on Sunday night in the dusk. You had to be there to see what kind of logistics have gone into running an event of this stature and I for one enjoyed my whole weekend there as a spectator and fan of off road.

The racing started on the Saturday with a 2 hr junior enduro for riders in group's senior/intermediate and junior. The weather was not the kindest to the youth riders and the previous night's torrential rain had left the 6 mile youth track rather wet. This did not bother the enthusiastic young boys and girls that took to the circuit and really enjoyed the event. Leading from start to finish was senior rider Matt Holcombe (left) on his KTM 125, Matt won by a clear seven minutes and has a style very smooth and mature. His name will be around in results for a long time to come. Behind Matt was a strong ride by Frazer Norrie, same laps as Holcombe and very consistent throughout the 2 hrs. Third place went to Kingsley Bower also on the same 9 laps as the top two but 5 minutes down on Norrie. The next group was the inter's and little Joe Jones stamped his authority on the class with a commanding 9 laps and enough of a lead to place him 3rd overall in the event. Behind Joe in second place was another Holcombe, this time Matt's little Brother Steve. This energetic youngster was just short of 4 and a half minutes down on the leader in his class. A well deserved 3rd place went to Jake Mercy who completed 8 laps to the leaders 9. Finally in the youth enduro was the junior class and the boys and girls with little wheels. Leading from the start and right through to the finish was young Simon Jones. Simon completed 7 laps and finished 1 lap ahead of 2nd placed Greg Pilgrim and 2 laps ahead of 3rd man Tom Ingrim. A special mention must go to "girls" that rode from a youth project facility. Riding in there first competitive event and faced by the wet track they showed true metal to finish the 2hrs, well done.

Saturday afternoon then saw the final preparations taking place for the main event, the daunting 12 hrs that lay ahead the following day. Riders had options to enter in a 3 man team or a 2 man team or those insane enough to go it alone could ride the marathon class. Roughly 7am Sunday morning and bleary eyed bikers took their machines from the parc ferme and placed them on the start line. The day that lay ahead was a pleasant one weather wise and a slight blue sky hid under the early morning clouds, however rain from Saturday night had left the track wet and slippery for the first few laps. The pro and expert 2 man teams lined up along with the expert marathon riders to be the first ones away. A short run to their bikes after Nick Plumb had sounded the start siren and underway was the 2006 12hr enduro. Leading from start to finish in the 2man category was Husky Sport, these two riders being two of Britain's current and past great riders. WEC regular and current European junior enduro champion Daryl Bolter (left) was partnered with Wyn Hughes the mid Wales enduro legend and hard event specialist. These two set the pace from beginning to end, eventually winning the event by over 17 minutes. In second place was the valiant effort of 2 motocross riders "the Cornish kings" Pete Bulley and Bradley Williams these guys were never far off the pace and had a great battle to stay ahead of the 3rd placed team "Edmondson racing/PAR homes" which consisted of recent Baja GB winner Lee Edmondson and the Cotswold enduro clubs top man Darren Carter. At the end of 12 hours the top three teams in the pro's had done 18 laps, Edmondson and Carter were eventually nearly 11 minutes down on the "Cornish kings". The clubman 2 man teams top 3 were all on 15 laps and the Bodmin Bog hoppers took the win with a near 13 minute advantage over second placed Scott and Butler. In 3rd place and just 7 seconds down on 2nd place was "Dumb & Dumber" showing that after nearly 13 hrs of competition just seconds separated the podium places in the class. 2 man sportsman teams were led home by local riders "Cardiff Volkswagen" on 14 laps and 2nd placed "m&n racing" on 13 laps. Third went to "Frank & Elvis" 40 odd minutes behind. The 3 man teams would probably argue but they had the easier day with more riders to share the pain of the longevity that is the Dawn to Dusk. The victors in the clubman 3 man was number 307, "The good, The bad and The Jehovah" putting in a sterling 16 laps and finishing over 20 mins ahead of a Swedish team called "Speedman racing team". 3rd went to the "Not Quite Aussies" who in turn finished nearly 8 minutes down on the Swedes. The sportsman 3 man team saw "Mud Life Crisis" (great name) take the spoils with 13 laps ahead of "Team Teknic" by almost a clear lap and then propping up the podium was 3rd placed team "Bike Magazine" putting in a solid 12 laps.

It's very hard to put into a race report the drama and effort that all of these competitors had to endure in this premier off road event and none more so than the brave (or stupid!!) souls that entered the marathon iron man class. 12 hrs alone on a dirt bike on unforgiving rocky terrain in the same riding kit that eats at your body after 7hrs is no mean feat. The previous 4 years of D2D have seen the unbelievable Scot Richard Hay take the win in the marathon class with no rivals. This year Richard was not present at the event and so left the door open for a new marathon iron man champion. Gas Gas UK's Steve Ireland was that man. Riding a "factory" 450 four stroke, Steve blasted to 15 laps and an incredible win considering that the WOR events man at 34 years old does not get much chance to ride nowadays with his time tied up with organising his own events and bringing up his young family. Even more flabbergasting was the fact that after slowing up slightly around the midday point, Steve then stepped up the pace towards the end and his last 2 laps were as fast as his first two. Obviously still bike fit and determined to prove the new Gas Gas four stroke reliable, Steve fully deserved his title and you could see with the tears in his eyes at the end what it meant to him to have won. " I'm so delighted i cant explain.... the bike was awesome,the track was great, i've been riding dirt bikes for 28 years and never before have I ridden for over 7hours...I did'nt know if I had it in me to ride 12 hrs. I am so so proud of myself and would like to dedicate the win to my 3 girls ..katie,faith and little georgina. i've never had to battle cramp and thirst like it..but after 6 hours my body returned to normal which blew me away and made the last half really enjoyable. i've finished over 12hrs with hardly any marks or blisters on my hands, that is a testament to the Gas GAS 450 4T. Big thanks to shirty at Gas Gas uk and also to Sandie and Angie who looked after me in the pits... I'm proper hyped... I would also like to thank.. Richard Hay for not coming and Strongbow cider and Regal Kingsize cigarettes..ha ha. Bed for a week now!"  2nd place went to Husky mounted championship youngster Ricky Mair. Early on in the first 3 hours of the race Mair tried to push 3 laps out of his Husky fuel tank and unfortunately run out about 8 miles from the pits. Resulting in an illegal refuel and the penalty of a lap docked. 3rd place went to Honda mounted David Stokes with a spirited 13 lap ride and a well deserved trophy. To take on the 12 hours on your lonesome is no mean feat and the clubman marathon victor Chris Howman fully warranted his 14 lap ride with a result that would have placed him third in the expert marathon, well done Chris. 2nd place went to Rob Thorn on 13 laps and 3rd went to Paul Doughty on 12 laps. As I said before you can't put into words what these riders achieved and they all deserve a huge pat on the back. So that's it, the 2006 Dawn to Dusk was as big and as good as ever, well done to Nick Plumb and his superb team for putting on a class event….roll on august bank holiday 2007 I say…but then again I was only watching!!!!!!!"

Youngsters fly at the Dawn to Dusk 12 hour Enduro

Results Adults Juniors Video Photos from Carl Ryan

Once again the TBM Dawn to Dusk 12 Hour Enduro on Bank Holiday Sunday, set near Glyneath, South Wales, attracted a huge entry of Marathon/Solo riders, two man and three man teams plus a record entry of Junior riders for the smaller Saturday event.

The 16.5 mile,12 hr course threw up every type of terrain the Welsh hills could muster but for once the weather was kind. Sunshine and clouds kept temperatures just right for this gruelling event.

Nick Plumb and Si Pavey, with the help of their excellent support staff, put on a great event. As expected the beer tent was packed on both Saturday and Sunday evenings and the food available from the on site caterers was spot on.

The riders moved their bikes from the Parc Ferme to the start line at 6.30 Sunday morning and the first batch, all experts, set off at 7.15am followed by the Clubman class a minute later and then the Sportsman class a minute after that.

Richard Hay in the Marathon Experts looked favourite to maintain his string of wins at this event and he didn't disappoint, finishing some 18 laps later in a time of 12hrs 2 mins with yet another title to his credit. Russ Coleman took second, finishing just 16 minutes after Richard with Lawrence Catt only six minutes behind him. In the Clubman class Team Witley Seal Blower rider Simon Beken took the honours with 12 laps and a time of 12hrs 20mins and 50seconds. Stephen Malone followed him in 5 mins later to take second place with Marathon/Cole taking third. Sportsman was headed up by Alan Brindley on 8 laps plus a minute, followed by Adam Warner in second place, with Charles Mackenzie third

The two man Experts was where the real battle began. Team Gas Gas UK made up of Paul Whibly and Andy Cripps, led from the first lap and were never passed. Whibz led off and some 18 laps and 12 hrs later took the finishing flag. The Honda Racing/PAR Homes/Fast Eddy team of Jason Thomas and Si Wakely chased hard and the gap between the two yo-yoed back and forth but eventually second place was the best they could get. The Revvin Rodneys, Greg Evans and Keith Hornsnell, were a lap down on the first two but held on hard for their third place spot. The Yammie Dodgers took fourth some 16 minutes later, followed by Team Beta UK, consisting of Steve Ireland and Dan Hemingway, who were paired up at last minute and took a creditable fifth place

Blonde Moment Racing, Andrew Davies and Simon Hogg, led the Clubman class in the two man event. 13 laps plus 6 minutes saw them take the class win just a minute ahead of The Crown team of Neil Brown and Kevin Ashton in second. Worcester Wanderers Ian Jackson and Paul Dutton took third.

The Sportsman class belonged to Team OTT, Dan Withernshaw and Ben Metcalf with 9 laps under their belts. Seal Moto trailed them in by 4 minutes to take second with Mark Leonida and Kevin Blowers taking third.

In the three man event the Magic Muppetts were flying. Fifteen laps for Rowe, Turner and Dunn was quite and achievement. TSL Oban had come a long way to participate and it paid off with a solid second place for Chris Hamill, Rob Harper and Shaun Sinclair. Baldwin Chester and Walker of OFYC XXXX clocked up 14 laps and 21 minutes to take third. Wincanton Print team, Jeff Goss, Mike Stringer and Steve Taylor took fourth just 9 minutes behind with the TBM magazine, also on 14 laps, team grabbing fifth.

Saturday's Youth event saw Matt Holcombe take the Seniors class, Joe Jones won the Intermediates and Steve Holcombe the Juniors. The weather was foul, it poured on the start line and only eased up as the race finished some two hours later. Anyone who managed to finish deserved their medal, especially the riders on small wheelers, who must have found the going really tough in the mud and ruts.

Yet another great 12 hour event, although celebrations were somewhat muted after such a long ride, most were just thankful to finish in one piece.

GasGas press release

Team GAS GAS UK Rider PAUL WHIBLEY (EC250) teamed up with GAS GAS/KB racing supported rider ANDREW CRIPPS (EC300) for the TBM sponsored 12hour race in South Wales on Sunday and won, beating the Honda Racing/Fast Eddy team of Si Wakely and Jason Thomas.

Current FAST EDDY RACE SERIES (joint) leader, Paul Whibley excells at the 'hare n hound' kind of events where his overall speed and fitness really does impress, as does Crippsys, but with Andrew anything can happen !! We all know Andrews ability on a bike is indeed impressive but to ride in control and out of trouble for 6 hours is questionable! Nevertheless he did not disappoint and thoroughly deserved the win. Special thanks goes to Craig Chadwick from KB Racing for preparing Crippsys EC300.

Andrew can now add this fantastic win to his numerous W.O.R wins. We now need to see if Andrew can handle his new superstar status!!

Well done Lads !

Results  Photos available from foto-x