enduro news
© Bob Mullins   

Swindon MCC

12 miles of scenery from the land of make believe is what greeted the full entry of the annual very popular Foxwell Enduro set in Cirencester Park which is part of the Bathurst Estate in Cirencester and what makes this event so appealing is you have to be a Clubman/Sportsman or Novice rider only, massive thank you to the club/ Woosters and Glen Foxwell for inviting us and what a glorious day it was.

Clubman
The overall/Premier winner was Chris Morris (KTM)who not only excelled in the open going with his flamboyant riding style but both his special test times were best of the day.
E1 Clubman
Alex Taylor (Teamsnapper TM) put in a superb second test time to keep Ben Gwyther (KTM) in second place after being pretty much level after first test but also mistake from Ben on his second test gifted the win to a very happy Alex, 3rd went to Mr consistent Keith Workman (Teamsnapper KTM) who did nearly identical test times to secure that last podium, John McGowan (KTM) solid ride for 4th, Alex Gausden(Gas Gas) had great test times but late on check for 5th but if a bike was sold on noise alone than Gas Gas would out sell all others as the bark on this 250 was pornographic to say the least, Other Notables James French (Teamsnapper KTM) 6th good solid test times but the "Ol Boy" missed a couple of checks for penalty points, Paul Stevens (KTM) 8th, Darren Gwyther 2 good test times and riding as consistent as ever on his very beautifully presented KTM 6 days but posted a DNF ?
E2 Clubman
David Johnson (KTM) was consistent throughout the day on the going but really upped his game on the tests to take the win over Martin Jakeman (KTM)who had a super quick second test to snatch 2nd from Steve Bird (Teamsnapper KTM)who had a solid ride with two solid test times, 4th Dom Wilson (Teamsnapper Honda) great result from Dom who has really upped his game this year, Terry Beecham (KTM) if he could of matched his second time on first test it would have been a podium from the likeable Terry but still top 5, Other Notables, Joe Beard (Teamsnapper KTM) not sure if Joe fell asleep on the tests as should have been podium for the regular SEEC rider, 11th for Andy Noad (Yamaha) who had very quick first test, 12th young Felix Upton with two good test times, London Fire Brigade/Teamsnapper rider Iain(Judsy)Judkins was first time ever at Cirencester Park and only 2nd outing on the very beautiful Sherco 300 am very surprised there are not more out there in the UK Enduro world neverless Iain will be back for The Corinium next year, Duncan Shaw (TM) who had awesome number plate decals on his already beautiful TM had great first test but dropped a few valuable seconds on test two, Alan James (Husaberg) well what can i say about "The Relic" except "Stay in bed next time" , Stephen Head (Teamsnapper KTM) very consistent test times but stopping for cream tea and cake was the reason you dropped time on the going, Timmy Tubb (Teamsnapper KTM) Not riding as regular as he would like to and should have made the times...... or is time catching up with the lovable Tim, I have no idea what Martin Howitt (KTM)was playing at, super fast test times yet dropping time on the going like it was a fashion and can only presume it was down to problem rather than ability as good quick rider, Simon Wools (KTM) good consistent test times and finish posted so job done, Andy Brown (KTM) is alot better rider than his finish says so maybe problem for Andy whom i have also noticed is not riding as regular as he used to so maybe tad bike unfit ?, Paul Herbert (KTM) Consistent throughout the day and looked like he was enjoying as was Kerry Alford (KTM),
E3 Clubman
Kevin Barnes (KTM)was certainly on form today with two very fast test times and one of the entertainers for the spectators with his very animated style, 2nd on a 1980's Maico was Rob Carey who as always was consistent and fast, 3rd went to the man in black Dan Brundell (Teamsnapper KTM)who had a good solid ride throughout the event and made 3rd his own, 4th Andrew Dykes (KTM) had a superb second test time, 5th Richard Cox (KTM) rode a solid consistent race, James Watkins had superb test times but incurred penalty points that dropped him down to 6th, Other Notables Si Melber (Trail Bike Magazine TBM) was here along with Alex Gausden and Chris Moss testing the new Gas Gas bikes, having spoken to Si after is that they had a great day but kept quiet about the Gas Gas bikes and said wait till next issue of TBM..... Thanks SI... as if i would have told anyone!!! Si did post a top 10 finish, Just outside the top 10 was Dave Ford (Gas Gas) who really should concentrate more on riding than looking for stuntmen posing as photographers,
Sportsman
Things may have been different if Gary Lane had not messed his second test up as level with class winner Mark Saunders on test one and Mark also put in good second test which left Gary as runner up, 3rd went to Chris Watkins who really had to work hard to keep that podium place, Super result 4th for Rob Knight (KTM) who will be climbing up to Clubman status soon i am sure as very confident on the bike, 5th to Kevin Hayward Wright (KTM)who must so wish his first test was as quick as his 2nd but still top 5, Other Notables Andrew Donaldson (Husky) to make top 10 after helping another rider with injury is a great and much deserved result, completing the top 10 was Len Gray (KTM) who really was Mr Consistent as was Teamsnapper rider Tich Marshfield who still had a big grin when he rolled over finish line...which to me ..Means he did not try hard enough, following Tich was Jay Gardner (KTM) who had a great day with very consistent test times, Catherine Smith (Husaberg) and carer of rider "The Relic" Alan James posted a finish and two near identical test times which is great result considering how poorly she had been earlier in the week, Tom Fowler (KTM) not sure what happened to Tom on his first test but i know he is quicker/better than time shows, Rupert Upton (KTM) Had good solid day with consistent test times as did Andrew Wright whom i must say was one of the most prepared riders out there, Chris Moss from TBM magazine asked us before event "Could you get some ACTION shots please"... well Chris we are photographers not magicians and it is the rider that has to provide the action and we capture it, lots of photos for Chris but sadly no action ones (Only kidding Chris, great chatting to you but you must learn to pause between words :, Darren Downes (KTM) posted a finish and two consistent test times for Bronze award.
A superb event .... Thank you Swindon & District MCC.
Teamsnapper

Results - Photos

Wheeler runs riot in Ciren sunshine
Report by Bretton King

Cirencester Park has hosted a very diverse variety of events since it was purchased in 1695 by Sir Benjamin Bathurst and last Sunday saw one of the more recent additions to that long list, bathed in glorious Spring sunshine. The 2010 Corinium Enduro was staged in balmy conditions and the 156 entrants couldn't have wished for a better day, as the combination of open rides interspersed with undulating woodland that adorn this Alexander Pope-designed park gave a thorough test for all.

This time-card event attracts people from as far as London and Cornwall, but leading them all away at 10am sharp after club president Ken Hoult's loud whistle blast was Swindon ace Craig Beattie. The 22 mile circuit had a generous 70 minute allowance for the Expert's sighting lap and the 2 short-sharp special tests were given a great deal of attention as riders knew that there was no margin for a fall if victory was to be theirs.

Abingdon hot-shot, Darren Wheeler (left), rode last year for the first time and vowed then to return faster and wiser in 2010 - and he most certainly stuck to his promise. Having only ridden once this year, Darren showed that his natural speed remained undiminished, but it certainly wasn't plain sailing as Rich Warner was right on his tail and after the first special test a meagre 0.15 of a second separated the leading pair. Dan Lawry was also flying aboard his 300 KTM and was just 4.85 seconds adrift of the leader with Dan Bishop a further 1.43 behind Lawry, so going into the slightly shorter second test there was still everything to ride for. Wheeler was first into the second test and really let fly at this point, setting a scintillating pace and putting down a marker for the rest of the field, which ultimately none were able to better. Warner was second fastest again, but this time he was 4.59 seconds behind and the win was in the bag for Darren. Lawry came in third again but this time he was followed by Wadworthshire-man Alastair Bramwell by a narrow 1.37 second margin. Dan Bishop was fourth in this test and that gave him fourth overall on the combined times. However, at this point the good times ended for Dan as compression problems plagued him and led to his retirement. Things weren't a lot better for brother Ben either as he had a monumental impact on lap one and split his front tyre wide open, which ultimately led him to lose 8 minutes and drop him from what had been a potential 8th position to last - that's enduro though!

The Clubman / Clubman Over 40 class provides the lion's share of entrants and is always a competitive affair - 2010 stuck to that form. A 4.00am start for the quartet of "Cornish Pirates" clubmen didn't harm their chances of succeeding, and Martin Cheeseman (right) and Shaun Bunney in particular were on great form in the special tests, although Bunney had to effect major repairs on lap 3 which cost him eleven minutes and demoted him from second place to 32nd by the close. Martin was fastest on the first test by more than 10 seconds and looked set for a comfortable win in the second test too but an untimely demount handed that honour to team-mate Bunney. The main beneficiary from Bunney's demise was former Wessex-centre trials rider Ian Shuttleworth, whose impressive test times kept him in contention and resulted in 2nd place overall as he was only 0.94 seconds behind him. The RAF always support the organising club handsomely, so it was rewarding for them to see teamster Dave Blackburn claim a Gold award in third place. His pace in the ST2 was great but his first test time cost him a higher position. A similar fate befell Glyn Thomas who set fastest time in ST2 but could never make up enough for a slow paced ST1.
In the Over 40 class, Terry Beacham was tearing up the track and he ran out a clear winner ahead of Paul Cottrell by over 15 seconds. In fact his pace in ST2 was faster than all the Clubmen and half the Expert class too, so the man from Stroud was exceptionally quick. Fellow Stroud-based rider Kevin Barnes was also on the pace in ST2, coming in second and this was enough to net him the third step of the podium.

Fifty five sportsmen entered the fray on Sunday and yet another Stroud man headed the field at the close, as Chris Stevens notched up victory by just over 13 seconds from Niki Richardson. Foxwell Fling class-victor, Felix Upton, was well in contention when holding second after ST1 but a lapse in concentration saw him on the wrong line in a turn and a web of roots dragged him to the floor, slowing his progress and dropping him to fourth at the close and elevating Sam Hoskins to third.

There is a saying that decrees "You only get out - what you put in" and to a large extent the hard graft all the officials put in during the days and weeks preceding, during and after the event made the day the success it was, and one has to also thank the weather for shining on the Club and creating such perfect riding conditions. However one of the other over-riding contributions was in fact instigated some 280 years ago when the vision of Allen Bathurst (the 1st Earl Bathurst) for Cirencester Park was started - without his ultimate realisation of such magnificent open parkland, there would be no Corinium Enduro… and hence we owe a debt of gratitude to him and his family throughout the generations for giving us all such a superb venue.

Results -  Photos