Tuesday September 20, 2011 at 2:47pm
When the European Enduro Championship visited Riomes Montagnes in Central France in 2009, it encountered two days of torrential rain. Returning for the 3 day European Enduro Final and Trophy for Nations and Clubs on the weekend of Sept 16-18th this year, those who made the trip arrived to be greeted with scorching sunshine for the first few days and only a few scattered showers on weekend.
The ACU U23 Enduro squad who had gained such success at the ISDE, travelled to France with the aim of laying claim to the National Junior Team Trophy, and several of the riders were also in contention for individual honours.
The U23 squad consisted of Danny McCanney (Gas Gas), Jonny Walker (KORR KTM) and Jack Rowland (MPS Husqvarna) and Lewis Belfield (KTM) who had also been drafted in to replace the injured Alex Rockwell. Senior riders Greg Evans (KORR KTM) and Jordon Rose (MPS Husqvarna) also made the trip contested the Senior E2 and Senior E3 Championship. The Motor Cycle Club of Wales team of Alun Jones, Rheinalt Davies and Tim Foreman would be contesting the Club Team Trophy.
The course would be 4 laps each day for the first two days, with a MX, Enduro and Extreme Special test on each lap. The Extreme test in particular lived up to its name, with quite severe climbs over natural rocky outcrops and steep banks. The final day would be MX races similar to the ISDE.
Day1 saw the Brits riding well, but Jack Rowland hit trouble in the Extreme and bent his front disc almost to destruction, causing him to lose a minute at next check. Danny McCanney set the pace in Junior E2/3 and took the days win, closely followed by Jonny Walker as runner up. Lewis Belfield was a steady 12th. Greg Evans won the SE2 class and Jordon Rose came home in 4th in SE3. The MCC of Wales was in 2nd place in the team competition.
Day 2 and they set out to do it all once more. Jack Rowland moved up to 4th in Junior E1, Danny McCanney and Jonny Walker retained 1st and 2nd respectively in JE2/3. Lewis improved to 10th spot and in SE2 Greg was the man to beat with another victory. Jordon Rose decided to up his pace and won the SE3 class.
The Brits were on a roll! As the Jury confirmed the results on Saturday night, the British Junior team were holding the top spot from Italy. In the Overall ranking of the day, there were ACU riders in 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th places – morale was high going into Day 3.
Day 3 consisted of a short 10km lap and then to the final MX track where each class would race over 6 laps. Not a format ACU man John Collins is normally over fond of, but the British riders decided to change his mind.
First up was Senior E3 , and Jordon Rose just blitzed the opposition , although gave a few of the older support crews some nervous moments with the machine sideways in the air over the jump style that the modern MX riders are so fond of!
Next race was SE2, and Greg Evans took the hole shot. Recently recovered from a collar bone break, it was thought Greg may tire, and the 2nd place man, was closing rapidly, but in a heart stopping moment Greg closed the door on a dramatic corner and then pulled away for another British win.
The Junior E2/3 race was one that could decide the National Team competition and what a race it was! Two Italians took the lead, but Jonny Walker was not to be deterred, and just hunted them down, making a dramatic pass on a tight uphill bend and then just running away to victory. Danny McCanney moved up to 4th place, and the Nations result was looking good.
In the final race, Junior E1, Jack Rowland moved through the field to 3rd place, and was closing rapidly on 2nd spot, when a spill spoilt the effort, but he was able to remount to take 7th.
A brilliant weekend with Danny McCanney winning JuniorE1/2 and with Jonny Walker 2nd. Greg Evans winning the Senior E3 class and Jordon Rose took 2nd place in the Senior E3. MCC of Wales came home in 2nd place in the Team Trophy and Great Britain won the National Junior Trophy.
The Overall 2011 European Championship event was a great success and it was confirmed that the British team had two European Champions in Danny McCanney in the Junior E2/3 and Greg Evans in Senior E2. Jonny Walker took 2nd place in Junior E2/3. At the presentation, both for the weekends result and the overall European Championship, the Union Jack was the flag in most evidence on the podium, and our National Anthem the one most played.
The ACU Trials and Enduro Committee and the riders would like to give particular thanks to all the support crews who have been magnificent, and a Championship which has seen us visit Poland, Romania and finally France. The Championship has proved to all that the future in International Enduro the UK is looking very good and our young ACU U23 Enduro Squad riders have had a year to remember.