The 2014 ACU Edmondson Racing British Enduro Championship got underway in fine style and superb weather last weekend, March 8-9th, at Chavenage Farm near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. Saturday began in heavy mist, which soon burned off to allow warm Spring sunshine to bathe the venue throughout the duration of the event.
With new title and series sponsors there was certainly a fresh feel to proceedings that extended across the whole venue with impressive new signage while every one of the 170 entrants sported new number backgrounds, courtesy of the new sponsors.
The Midwest MCC set out a 20-mile lap, in a figure-of-eight, that included two Special Tests, the first of which gave Championship class riders times of around six-minutes while the second was significantly longer, giving times around ten-minutes.
Championship class riders had nine scheduled runs at the Special Tests, Expert riders had eight with every other class having six runs.
Surprisingly, the Championship class saw two single entrants in two of the subclasses. Colwyn Bay KTM’s Brad Freeman had a clear shot at the E1/2 stoke win while Beta Boano Racing’s Danny McCanney stood alone in the E3 class. McCanney topped the Championship class on the opening day. He posted the fastest time in eight out of the nine tests, ending the day with a 40-second buffer from current BEC Champion Tom Sagar. Sagar, aboard his Colwyn Bay KTM, won the E2 class and took second place overall. MPS Racing’s Husqvarna mounted Jamie Lewis completed the top three with Freeman finishing in a very respectable fourth followed by top E1/4 rider Steve Holcombe (Crescent KTM UK) in fifth.
Freestyle Husqvarna’s Joe Wooton (E3) lead the Expert class from Midwest Husqvarna’s Lee Sealey (E1/2) with Fraser Flockhart completing the top three on his Bikesport KTM (E1/4).
In the Clubman ranks Harvey Dark (E2) had just 10-seconds lead over Jon Hunt (E1/4) with Lee Green (E2) just 30 seconds adrift in third place.
Jane Daniels, (Belray Factory Racing Team, Husqvarna) proved her world-class credentials by winning the Ladies class with nearly three minutes to spare over Katie Walker as Rhian George grabbed third position.
Andrew Reeves showed no signs of being Over 40 on his way to winning his class as Derek Little chased hard but could only attain second. Paul Davies secured third.
Paul Armstrong put in an excellent performance to win the Over 50’s class ahead of David Johnson and Robert Murfin.
Winners by class:
Day 1 Championship Class Overall. 1. Danny McCanney. (Beta Buano Racing) 2. Tom Sagar. (Colwyn Bay KTM) 3. Jamie Lewis. (MPS Racing Husqvarna) 4. Brad Freeman. (Colwyn Bay KTM) 5. Steve Holcombe. (Crescent KTM UK)
Championship E1/2: Brad Freeman. (Colwyn Bay KTM)
Championship E1/4: Steve Holcombe. (Crescent KTM UK)
Championship E2: Tom Sagar. (Colwyn Bay KTM)
Championship E3: Danny McCanney. (Beta Boano Racing)
Expert E1/2: Lee Sealey. (Midwest Husqvarna)
Expert E1/4: Fraser Flockhart. (Bikesport KTM)
Expert E2: Scott Austin. (Honda)
Expert E3: Joe Wootton. (Freestyle Husqvarna)
Clubman E1/2: Adam James. (ET James)
Clubman E1/4: Jon Hunt. (MRS Sherco)
Clubman E2: Harvey Dark. (GMB Racing)
Clubman E3: Mark Hillier-Rees (C+S Tec/Steve Plain)
Ladies: Jane Daniels. (Belray Factory Racing Team. Husqvarna)
Over 40s: Andrew Reeves. (Sandiford Offroad)
Over 50’s: Paul Armstrong. (Team Snapper/Enduro Tyres)
Round two of the ACU Edmondson Racing British Enduro Championship also benefited from excellent weather conditions and the well-established lines around the fast-drying Special Tests saw significant improvements in times for many Championship and Expert class riders. Winners in each class mainly remained the same as the previous day, with one or two exceptions.
BEC newbie Expert E2 rider Antoine Criq, (Edmondson Racing Beta) enjoyed only his second outing in a BEC event. He topped his class to provide Title Sponsor Derrick Edmondson with a reason to celebrate.
Brad Freeman placed third overall in the Championship class. This was a very impressive performance over the weekend for 17 year-old Freeman’s first ride in the premiere class. MPS
Racing’s Jamie Lewis had a disappointing day following his third place in round 1. Freeman and
Holcombe moved up and were joined in the top five by the very experienced BEC competitor Daryl Bolter (Crescent KTM UK).
Derek Little improved on his first round result and won the Over 40’s class, demoting the opening round winner, Andrew Reeves, to second place.
The ACU Edmondson Racing British Enduro Championship season could not have asked for better weather or a better venue. The Midwest MCC’s days of effort in preparing a superb venue paid dividends and provided competitors with two days of excellent racing.
Title sponsor Derrick Edmondson: ‘I am extremely pleased with the way in which the series has started. Midwest did a fantastic job with the tests and the course, the weather was terrific and the level of competition across all classes was truly impressive, as was the full entry. The event differed slightly from what we have experienced in previous years but I feel that this was a great start to what is shaping up to be one of the best British Enduro Championships for many years’.
Andrew Martin, ACU T&E committee member: ‘I would like to say a huge thank you to both the sponsors and organisers of last weekend’s events. This seasons Championship has made a great start and I would encourage riders to enter the next rounds sooner rather than later due to the popularity of the series’.
Day 2 Championship Class Overall. 1. Danny McCanney. (Beta Buano Racing) 2. Tom Sagar. (Colwyn Bay KTM) 3. Brad Freeman. (Colwyn Bay KTM) 4. Steve Holcombe. (Crescent KTM UK) 5. Daryl Bolter. (Crescent KTM UK)
Championship E1/2: Brad Freeman. (Colwyn Bay KTM) Championship E1/4: Steve Holcombe. (Crescent KTM UK) Championship E2: Tom Sagar. (Colwyn Bay KTM) Championship E3: Danny McCanney. (Beta Boano Racing) Expert E1/2: Lee Sealey. (Midwest Husqvarna) Expert E1/4: Fraser Flockhart. (Bikesport KTM) Expert E2: Antoine Criq. (Edmondson Racing Beta) Expert E3: Joe Wootton. (Freestyle Husqvarna) Clubman E1/2: Adam James. (ET James) Clubman E1/4: Jon Hunt. (MRS Sherco) Clubman E2: Harvey Dark. (GMB Racing) Clubman E3: Jamie Jenkins (Paul Green Tyres) Ladies: Jane Daniels. (Belray Factory Racing Team. Husqvarna) Over 40s: Derek Little. (Craigshannoch Consulting) Over 50’s: Paul Armstrong. (Team Snapper/Enduro Tyres)