photo credit enduronews.com
Many times over the years organisers of events have come in for some stick from participants and followers when an event is not too their liking. It is easy to blame the organisers.
Modern technology makes those complaints and comments instantaneous and far reaching. Whether that is a good or bad thing is another issue however we publish here a note from EUAN MC CONNELL following the BEC last weekend. Euan is Scottish , admittedly reared on “ hard” events where the MEVILLE in particular was a ball breaker ; even the best had to get off and push . His comments are apt to many scenarios, here, in UK and Europe. You may or may not agree but both land and organisers are in short supply and we need both.
Euan McConnell was one voice of reason:
“I’m all for things getting better and im sure if there is any appetite left with John Kerwin and dirt bike action to run the next round that it will get better, but I read with dismay all this whingeing and negativity in social media. I would like to offer some perspective. The event had cleans in all classes. The fastest guys and their bikes in all classes were challenged by the course and the special stages and the fastest, most able guys won. Yes, the paddock was a quagmire but there was a tar road all the way in. I have seen people getting towed into paddocks in July. Not much more that can be done with the paddock unless anybody wants to pay for a ring road? The extreme test could have been a bit more open and had a few fewer logs in the interest of the lesser able riders getting round. The other test could have done with some less temporary corner markings but ultimately the riders were knocking the tapes down as quick as the few marshals could put them up. Minor points that could have been addressed had the clerk of the course been left to attend without coercion. The going, as a few people have pointed out, was challenging, but it was all rideable. I personally wasn’t off pushing or lifting. The terrain was remarkably grippy. I thought that the marshals were managing it well, cutting out some snotty bits as the weekend progressed. There was a good mix of obstacles and no stoppers, or at least what used to be classed as stoppers. I can see how it has been frustrating for some riders to lose time due to queues but I learned that lesson early on in my bec career. Many moons ago at a snotty bit in a welsh forest marshals were getting champ class riders to queue on an off camber single track to take turns to have a go at an obstacle. A young david knight pushed and heaved passed us all through tree stumps and roots to make his way to the front. His desire and ability to tackle the course before him and get to the check first was greater than all of us as sheep. Don’t wait, you each have a minute to try something. If the rider in front of you is not able then make sure you are. The marshal is there to keep the course flowing and getting you to queue is one way for them to do that. You are there to compete. If conditions are bad, and they certainly were at the weekend, set out on the check like you are competing, not trail riding. Catch the guy in front of you and pass them on an easy bit. Let them wait in the queue. While you, if you are able, take further minutes pushing on in front. I too fear for future of bec. We already have sprint and extreme spinoff s from what used to simply be ‘enduro’. If you don’t like racing bikes in mud in march then stay away, but please be assured that you never will like or be able without giving it a go. Give the organiser some slack and work with him or there will be nobody left to run British Enduro Championships. Venues are getting harder and harder to find, with more and more onerous hoops to jump through. I think right now the bec needs john and his team or the likes of them more than they need the bec”. – See more at: http://www.enduronews.com/archive/1978.htm#sthash.Rvw2vlsY.dpuf
Enduro.ie