The field got away at 10am on Saturday morning lead by the Championship class of #1 plated Lee Sealey along with MPS Sherco riders Luke Flack and local star Jake Subachus. These guys were the stars of the event providing some great spectator action on all the tests firing machines off the rock step at Carnagrie every lap making the grass test look like a MX test. The Archallagan forest test featured a great deal of fresh tracks and that will have put the first few through at a disadvantage, local Expert rider Chris Madigan capitalised on this with local knowledge and a slightly higher starting number meant he lead the field at the opening test.
Championship and Experts were given 24mins to ride from South Barrule quarry over the large boulders and slabs in the miniture Ertzberg ‘Bob’s Diner’ section. Through some quite steep climbs in South Barrule and Corlea before a quick blast up the Whiskey run and into Cringle plantation. Most experts and some clubman made it through on time but this tight-check designed to make the field sweat was the real challenge of the day. Time penalties soon start accumulating as the laps ticked over with few ‘on time’.
The Carnagrie test ran at the end of the lap timed by Jess Hockley and displaying a lap time to the riders as they exited the test on a large LED display. Once through the test the field could queue up inside the work area taking on fuel for both rider and machine before checking in to the start of the next lap
Chris Madigan held his advantage over Lee Sealey but the gap was reducing, by test 5 at Archallagan Sealey grabbed a 10 second chunk off Madigan to take the lead with local man Jake Subachus on the charge. By the days end it was Sealey from Madigan and Subachus followed by fellow team mate Luke Flack with local expert Mark Turner only a few seconds off Flack.
In the lower classes Veteran +40 and former Centre Champion Russell Milward was trading times with fastest guys out there but a slack schedule meant he had time to wait for friend and sparring partner Karl Greenall.
Clubman visitor Russell Waller took the spoils on day 1 from local man Mark Lund and regular visitor Jonny White doing the RAF proud.
Sportsman was won by UK event organiser John Kerwin staying clean on time got him home in the top spot ahead of David Trenholme and Andy Jones for an all UK visitor podium. Leading local sportsman Phill Gunnell dropped 5mins on the check but it will be his start penalty that cost him a top 3 position as those around him lost a similar amount of time.
Day 2 was a softer day with higher miles taking a trip to Tholt y Will plantation via St. Lukes. Jack Collins had set out a special test at Tholt Y Will but ground conditions were slippy to say the least with overnight rain filling up puddles on tracks and softening the ground everywhere.
Sealey and Subachus traded times thoughout the day but it was Day 1 victor Sealey that came out on top Jake giving him a run for his money on each of the days tests. Luke Flack upped his performance to get the better of Madigan with Mark Turner trading test times with Chris.
Day 2 in the clubman saw the roles reversed and Mark Lund took overall victory from Jonny White and Russell Waller dropping to third on the day and overall in the event.
Sportsman was won by local rider Rob Wilson recovering from his day 1 penalties he was able to beat John Kerwin on test times alone with David Trenholme DNFing and Andy Jones scoring another 3rd spot, Kerwin takes the overall honours with a consistent display across the 2 days.
Away from the sharp end one of the stories of the weekend was 19 year old Kate Smith, daughter of NEEC organiser Andy Smith, after a very early bath last year dragged herself around the whole of the clubman schedule. Her specially lowered KTM 125 had been adapted by KTM UK but still gave her trouble on the tougher going. Despite feeling unwell on the Saturday night she perservered and even set her fastest test time on her last run through Carnagrie.
On the local front another dominant display by Chris Madigan puts him in the gives him the IOM ACU Centre Championship and SMCC Club Championship. Mark Lund is confirmed as Clubman champion and Phillip Gunnell gets the Sportsman championship after DNF on day 2 both days but he has such a lead that noone was able to capitalise on his misfortune.
As each competitor crossed the finish line they were presented with a finishers award by sponsors Andy and Kelly Sweetman from Ellan Vannin Fuels joint sponsor with Mini Mix Concrete.
SMCC organisors extend a huge thanks to all landowners and helpers