Specialized Enduro 6
29 April 2006 | Catton Park | Pictures Joolze Dymond
Post Race Rider Reaction >>>>
Those who laughed at the idea of racing for 6 hours around a 'flat field' were the only ones disappointed this weekend, as the newly designed course enthralled and delighted the riders. With its combinations of generous climbs, swoopy singletrack, tricky descents it kept everyone concentrating and grinning simultaneously all the way round.
Bluebells and Enduro 6 - it must be spring!
The weekend got under way with the Cross-Country event on Saturday, with bright sunshine and masses of bluebells to greet the riders. The Cross-Country race covered 3 laps of the Enduro course, the event enabling some of the younger riders to tackle the course, along with anyone who fancied a fast training ride. For the first time the organisers have also put together prizes for riders competing in all 3 of the races available on the weekend. First home in the Cross-Country was Jonathon Webb, a good 2 mins ahead of 2nd placed rider Christian Aucote, with 3rd placed rider James Lister a further 34 secs adrift. Kate Potter had no real competition as she stretched her legs in preparation for the Enduro itself, coming home to take first with Rebecca Webb taking 2nd.
As the day drew to an end the racing picked up again, with 55 competitors lining up to compete in the 1 lap night time trial. As the name suggests the riders were sent out to ride the course at night with 30 sec intervals between them. The fastest back won the event.
The women's race was pretty tight with Jen O'Connor narrowly taking the win from teammate Kate Potter, by just 11 secs. Rebecca Webb spoilt a possible Specialized Starlet 1, 2, 3 by edging into 3rd spot just ahead of Kate George.
The racing in the men's event was just as close, with last year's winner Ian Wilkinson, out to reclaim his title. However it wasn't to be as Dave Collins, stole his thunder, recording an awesome 20min 28secs over the 5.6 mile course to narrowly squeeze Wilkinson into 2nd spot, by 17secs.
As the day dawned for the Enduro, competitors heard the pitter-patter of rain: undeterred they turned up to tackle one of the country's best-loved Enduro events. Luckily the rain held off for the race itself and at the stroke of 10am, over 400 competitors took to the hills as fast as their legs could take them.
As is usual with a Pat Adams Enduro, the initial opening lap is a short circuit that competitors must run, before finding their bike and heading out onto the trails proper. To add to the excitement, as the competitors were running for their bikes, a small dog named Burt, decided to join them. Fortunately no one came to any harm and Burt spent the rest of the day in the 'dog house'.
The format for the race is basically to complete as many laps as you can in 6 hrs. This can be done solo or in pairs, male, female or mixed. You take all you need into a designated pit area, as once the race begins you're not allowed to venture out, unless you're on a bike and racing!
170 solo riders and 132 pairs made it the biggest turn out for the history in the event, not bad for Pat Adam's 'little' one. The course ran in reverse to usual years and the 5.6 miles of dry compact trails made the going fast, with the tops guys churning out consistent 22-23min laps.
In the elite men's solo event an early lead was opened up by Robin Seymour. Keen to build on his recent form, he kicked off with the fastest opening lap, and managed to pull away from a chasing group that contained National Marathon Champion Nick Craig, Ian Wilkinson and Paul Oldham. Oldham hit a rough patch on the 8th lap and called it a day, which left Craig and Wilkinson still chasing Seymour. 2 laps later and Seymour had blown, leaving Craig and Wilkinson to take the race on. By lap 13 Craig started to pick up the pace, leaving Wilkinson struggling to keep with him over the last remaining laps, Craig won comfortably with Wilkinson pleased that although he got 2nd again the margin was a bit closer, this time.
The women's elite race was a 2-horse affair with Enduro supreme Jenn O'Connor, riding a comfortable race recording 13 laps that would have placed her in the top 10 in the men's event. A reluctant Hannah Reynolds rode a strong race to take 2nd.
Matt Barrett led the fun men's solo race, riding from the front the entire race, racking up an impressive 15 laps. George Budd tried valiantly to keep on terms with the flying Barrett, but a severe dose of cramp put paid to his challenge, leaving him to pick up 2nd spot, with a 15sec advantage of 3rd placed rider Graeme Forbes.
The women's fun solo category saw a battle between Mel Alexander and Tracy Miles, with Alexander just having the edge over Miles to take first spot. Kate McCoy took 3rd. The first outing for teammates James Ouchterloiny and Sue Thomas, as an Enduro pair, in their new Massi strip, proved a fortuitous one, with 15 laps and a comfortable win over rivals Dale and Moseley in the mixed pairs. Thomas looked at ease as she cruised around the course; confident her injury worries are a thing of the past.
The women's pairs was dominated by the awesome duo of the Kates; Potter and George. Potter unaffected by the previous day's racing, rode consistent laps, along with her partner to open up a commanding lead early on to giving them the win a clear one lap ahead of Wendy Cashmore and Sarah Collins, whilst Clarke and Handley picked up 3rd.
Finally the men's pairs was a close run thing with 6 teams completing 16 laps in the given time. The strong pairing of Beetham and Sturgeon, resplendent in their new Magura team strips, gave them an edge as they blasted around the course, lap times being closely matched by Mardle/Jamieson and Dave Collins/Stuart Bowers. Beetham and Sturgeon squeezed through to first spot with just over a minute to spare over Mardle and Jamieson. Collins and Bowers cruised into 3rd, with Bowers taking it easy after a winter of injury.
With an excellent event sponsor, Specialized, the prize goodie bags were fantastic. Mind you not only did the winners get handsomely rewarded, but each competitor had their own goodie bag to take home containing goods far exceeding their race fee.
A positive glow, descended on the arena as weary but happy riders gathered their belongings to pack them up and make the trip home to beguile their friends about the excellent event they'd just attended, tales of bluebells and bumpy fields, leaving Pat Adams and his hard working team, happy in the knowledge that once more Enduro 6 hit the spot.
Post Race Rider Reaction >>>>
Brief Results:
(for full results and analysis visit Singletrack website >>>>)
XC - 3 laps
Women
1. Kate Potter 1:18:06
2. Rebecca Webb 1:23:54
3. Mel Alexander 1:30:12
4. Jayne Molnar 1:48:17
Men
1. Jon Webb 1:11:47
2. Christian Aucote 1:13:58
3. James Lister 1:14:32
4. Jack Peterson 1:15:46
5. Anthony White 1:16:21
6. Rob Twigg 1:17:39
7. Jamie Harris 1:18:02
8. Mark Spratt 1:18:14
9. Steven Bloor 1:18:28
10. Matt Greensill 1:18:57
Night Time Trial - 1 lap
Women
1. Jenn O'Connor 25:12
2. Kate Potter 25:23
3. Rebecca Webb 25:57
Men
1. Dave Collins 20:38
2. Ian Wilkinson 20:55
3. Ryan Henry 21:43
Enduro 6
Elite Men
1 Craig Nick 15 laps 06:02:00
2 Wilkinson Ian 15 laps 06:03:31
3 Pugh Jonathan 15 laps 06:16:40
4 Montgomerie Gareth 15 laps 06:29:39
5 Wardell Robert 15 laps 06:29:40
Elite Women
1 O'Connor Jen 13 laps 06:17:39
2 Reynolds Hannah 10 laps 06:09:58
Fun Men
1 Barrett Matt 14 06:04:30
2 Budd George 14 06:14:54
3 Forbes Graeme 14 06:15:09
4 Lister James 14 06:25:16
5 Norry Mark 13 06:00:28
Fun Women
1 Alexander Melanie 11 06:09:00
2 Miles Tracy 11 06:14:12
3 McCoy Kate 10 06:25:25
4 Lafferty Sarah 9 06:02:11
5 Allan Christine 9 06:03:18
Pairs Men
1 Sturgeon Beetham 16 06:00:21
2 Mardle Jamieson 16 06:01:46
3 Collins Bowers 16 06:04:02
4 Collins Hambling 16 06:13:07
5 Henry Bravin 16 06:19:05
Pairs Mixed
1 Thomas Ouchterloiny 15 06:06:18
2 Moseley Dale 15 06:12:54
3 Cox Toone 14 06:06:55
4 Webb Webb 14 06:11:33
5 Simcock Simcock 13 06:01:13
Pairs Women
1 Potter George 13 06:10:36
2 Collins Cashmore 12 06:16:47
3 Clarke Handley 12 06:24:19
4 Wheeler Moore 11 06:06:01
5 Kennedy Shaw 11 06:20:24