Supported by Ellan Vannin Fuels / Minimix Concrete the inaugral SMCC Manxduro began on Friday 1st August at Carnagrie.
Acting as 2 rounds of both the NEEC North of England Enduro and SMCC / Isle of Man ACU Centre championships many of the NEEC regulars had made the trip over. With a very respectable 124 entries many travelling from England and Wales even as far as Italy.
Tom Sagar headed the Championship class entry with Brad Freeman and Lee Sealey. David Knight had been a late entry but decided last minute to fly to the Italian EWC round where he scored a brilliant podium on day 2.
Competitors were required to sign on and scrutineer with bikes stored in Parc Ferme overnight. Waiting on their start time for the next day riders were allowed 10mins prior to enter parc ferme and prepare machines for their allocated start time only then were they allowed to fire their bikes into life.
Day 1
Early on saturday morning a heavy rain and low cloud covered most of the Island breaking the dry spell of recent weeks and dampening proceedings. The field left on time and after a sighting lap on the Carnagrie test proceeded to Archallagan via Slieau Whallian and the Dowse greenways to Archallagan. The test was to be timed by T Timing’s Harry Hockly and his daughter Jess was incharge of Carnegrie but manx weather was not playing ball and the test was dropped in favour of a sighting lap while a bug was found and quickly fixed in the timing system.
The full field just made it round the now soaked Archallagan including the Vinduro class featuring several Kawasaki KDX a Suzuki DR 200 and a Husqvarna WR300 twinshock. Late entry 18 year old Kate Smith a NEEC regular had a torrid time, damaging her ankle in Carnegrie test, a stuck float dropped fuel on the rear tyre causing her to have another off on the ‘going’. She battled on and completed a run through Archallagan but was not able to continue any further.
Next riders headed to South Barrule Quarry ‘tight-check’ and pushed on through the slippy climbs and loose rocks of the quarry before running though Corlea and Cringle plantations the weather played a part here and the times set to complete the route and stay clean were proving hard to match for all but the top few in each class. Time penaltys started to acrew as the laps ticked on as is often the case when the weather turns bad.
By the end of day 1 Championship, Expert, Clubman and Veteran +40 had all completed over 6hrs of riding and 3 laps of the course. Sportsman, Veteran +50 and Vinduro had completed 2 laps. There was a great deal of time penaltys and lateness and many riders were technically houred out but were allowed to continue.
At the end it was Multiple British Enduro Champion and former WEC rider Tom Sagar who took the victory overall on day 1 from Brad Freeman and Lee Sealey. Local riders dominated the Expert class with Chris Madigan taking his 2nd victory of the year from teenager Mark Turner fresh from dominating the clubman championship looks set to be a force to be reckoned with in Expert. Third was last years overall winner Nigel Crellin extending his lead over Ollie Megson.
Clubman was won by last years champion Alan Heath from visitors Joel Sadler and James Nichol, UK based riders had a great battles all they way down the field with locals. Veteran +40 victory was taken by Paul Sagar, Tom’s father with a time good enough for victory in Clubman. Club supporter Mike Alty and Cefin Evans rounded out the top 3. Sportsman was class taken by Alistair McCraith from Nigel Humphreys and Ian Bailey. Super Veteran +50 was won by BA pilot Dave Maddrell from Chuck Bregazzi and Robert Quayle. Vinduros all DNF’d perhaps a review of their route is required for next year!
Day 2
The weather was much improved and a few less riders were visible. The route took the field around the Carnegrie Test down Arrasey up the pipe line track to Cringle Great Park and on to a short test at Earystane. Then from there to Corlea via Whiskey run and accross to South Barrule Quarry where tired muscles were awoken by slippy climbs and loose rock. Marshals assisted half the field at one point or other. Points for style went to both Vinduro riders Nigel Heath and Robert Poulton who made the slippy stuff look easy and also Dennis Fath who’s no-throttle style put most of the revvy clubman class to shame!
After a workout in South Barrule Quarry a new special test again on grass at Eairy Kelly provided by Pentti Christian and set out by former ISDE rider Andy Walton. Next up was the timed test at Carnegrie meaning 3 tests in total. Times were slacker than on day 1 and only 1 lap for the lower classes and 2 for the Championship, Clubman and Expert schedule so everyone had a more enjoyable day.
Brad Freeman got the better of Tom Sagar by 2 secs a spill on the slippy Eairy Kelly track possibly denied Sagar the double victory. Experts was a another win for Chris Madigan with Mark Turner only 13secs off on total test times. Nigel Crellin ended the day in 3rd place with championship rival Ollie Megson failing to score the Expert championship goes to Crellin with Madigan rueing his mechanical failures of earlier in the year.
Clubman was a double victory for local man Alan Heath from Joel Sadler again and RAF rider Adam Senior taking a podium position. Veterans +50 was comfortably won by Robert Quayle with a 5min lead over David Maddrell and Charles Bregazzi. Nigel Humphreys took victory in the Sportsman class from Alistair Mccraith and Ian Bailey.
Emyr Penlan of Welsh TV show Ralio (complete with film crew) completed the day in 15th place to make up for his and Howard Davies DNFs on the first day. Considering Howard’s choice of machine a 450 BMW that wasn’t a surprise!
Five minor injuries on Saturday dealt with by the Hogg Team and thanks to them for their continued support of all SMCC events.
Clerk of the Course Nigel Beaumont would like to thank every person who put an arrow on a tree, a stob in the ground, timekeepers, marshalls and everyone involved no matter how small it really was a cracking event.
Special thanks go to the catering staff at Carnagrie who did an excellent job of cooking for all competitors all weekend and also sign on team Jackie Hewson and Brenda Crellin.
Also Sam Curphey, Suzy Clague, Dave and Mrs Leach and Mark Wilson and Mrs Franklin for all standing in the rain. Landowners Paul Costain, Pentti Christian and DEFA. Jess and Harry Hockley from T Timing for the transponder based results. The committee also thanks Liz Childerley for her contribution to raising the profile of the event and making it a success.
Manxduro Results – Final