South Yorkshire lad Jack Rowland doesn’t always make an appearance at Lincolnshire Enduro Club. However, when he does, it seems to lead to the youngster taking glory.
This time out, it was no different. Repeating his victory in the Experts class from way back in March at Ashby Puerorum, the winning margin this time out was a little more comfortable perhaps for the ET James sponsored GasGas rider. Jacks winning margin in March was down to just a handful of seconds over the three hours. This time out, it was nearer three minutes. On the same amount of laps but in second place was class leader Dan Johnson. (20 laps) As Jack does not feature right at the top of the yearly table, this second place for Dan sees him stretch out his slender lead at the top of the class for 2023; with 59 points. It is very tight though. Elliot Milburn keeps the pressure up on Dan with his 3rd place at the weekend and now totals 50 points. Elliot had 19 laps at the end of play on Sunday. Looking at the timing screens, there was only rider throughout the whole race who dipped under 9 minutes for a lap…and Jack did that 6 times ! With his 4th placing, Mark Lonsdale slots into 3rd overall.
Taking place at Ropsley just East of Grantham, hundreds of man hours went into track set up in the days preceding this, the 4th round of the Back Office Pro 2023 series. Certainly a mixed bag of weather played a part in that track construction but on race day itself, the weathermen got the forecast wrong. This time however, it was in the clubs favour. The predicted heavy rain didn’t materialise and conditions could not have been better. Taking place over super sticky (and fast) field sections with a few dykes and small woody areas to negotiate, the 5 mile course ran perfectly.
In the Sportsman classes, the 4T group had the closest finish. The top 3 lads had 17 laps under the belts at the end but Archie Juszczac had the edge over his rivals, by some 2 minutes. Simon Owen was second home with Luke Howson just under a minute behind that. This result must see Archie a good bet for the title. The 2T division had a much clearer winner in Darren Wells. With 18 circuits, he was a full lap ahead of his 3 nearest rivals. Dan smith, with his runner up place sees him head the yearly standings by 11 points going into round 5. Matthew Valentine slotted into 3rd spot at 50 seconds..
The Clubman class produced another clear victory in the shape of Wesley Bell, this time by a full lap (19 in total). The remainder of the chasing pack were headed by Thomas Hodgkinson, with Callum Woodland some 5 minutes behind that in 3rd place. Class leader George Pearce didn’t feature too heavily in the race, but still leads the title chase. However, its squeaky bum time in the class as just 3 points separate the first 4 racers. Three rounds left lads!
The biggest class of the day (and some would say, the most competitive!) was once again the Over 50’s group. It also provided the closest finish of the day too. 19 jockeys set out, with club stalwart Neil Tapper heading the field. Whilst the first 5 riders had obtained 18 laps when the chequered flag came down, Neil’s winning margin was only 8 seconds over the 3 hours. Lee smith was 2nd which added good points to his other runner up spot last time out at Willingham. Andy Jackson was a further minute adrift and took the bronze medal place. Staying with the “Older/Wiser/Should know better” classes, the Over 40’s had a clear winner in Paul Hanks. He was the only lad to have 20 laps on the score board when the 180 minutes were up. Second and third places were a lot closer though. Whilst both Alan Vissian and Lee Hattersley were a lap down on Paul, Alan beat Lee to the line by just 40 seconds. Does this see one hand on the title for Lee this year? Time will tell. Mark Peckitt stretches further away in his bid for group glory in the Over 60’s, with 17 laps. Ever present Kevin Bartle Sr was runner up on the day, one lap adrift. Shaun Avison now has 3 out of 4 wins for the year in the Trail/Classic series, with another victory on Sunday. Steve Kemp lies second overall in the year with his runner up spot. Two Beginners, Hadleigh Blackburn and Matt Thorley completed the full race distance.
Event number 5 is in September at a new venue, Lusby (10/9/23). However, riders are reminded that before that, the club has a special “one off” race. Taking place on the other side of the A52 at Dembleby Heath on 13th of August, the club is running a “Solo” or “Two man team” Hare and Hounds over 6 hours. (“Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Run”) At this event, trophies for solos will be down to 5th place, with trophies for teams down to 3rd place. Fastest lap of the day wins £100 thanks to Properly Protected Ltd. Random Prizes can be won throughout the weekend for race entrants only. (Details will go up before the event). Also, Wayne Braybrook from RAW is running training classes on the day before the event…Saturday 12th August 2023.
Full details for those events and the club are here for members >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/LincolnshireEnduroClub
And here for non members >> https://lincolnshireenduro.wixsite.com/lec2016
Race Report by Martin Southwick – Images courtesy of Graeme Taylor