The final round of the Irish Enduro championship fell nicely on the last Irish bank holiday weekend of the year, so when the TORC club took the decision to run a two day instead of the usual one day event and lay on a Hog roast from the Pub the event started from on the Saturday night, it suddenly had the makings of a great end of season party, errr, I mean race.
To be very honest it was both and both were very good. The race format was quite simple, 12pm until about 3pm on Saturday with the Experts and Seniors completing 2 laps, then the bikes were checked into Parc ferme and the evenings entertainment commenced. The Sunday started at 10am, which was hard work for a few riders and went until about 4ish this time with 3 laps.
The course was a classic Enduro with 2 loops, both meeting back at the start area so riders could refuel. The first loop had a spectacular climb for Experts and Seniors that went up the side of the mountain through the recently felled forest and could be seen from the start area, it then went off into a tricky, slippy and very twisty course before a short road section and the special test.
The test was very good and had a bit of everything in it. It started with a surprise puddle that caught a few out and then went into a fast uphill track, a quick blast along a gravel road into some open moorland and back down a very slippy muddy downhill through some gorse bushes that hid a few holes. It then went back into the forest onto a very tight single line that weaved in and out of the trees and finally onto fast downhill that called for some bravery and emergency braking at the bottom so as not to crash into Dereks van, positioned just after the timing lights to prevent people going straight on!
The sparsely populated Expert class set off first as usual and the 4 riders went into the first loop in the sunshine and headed off for 2 laps, the check times were adequate enough so it was all down to the test, Paul Mcloughlin set the pace on the first test, but a mistake on the 2nd lap let Andrew Reeves take the advantage for a win. Former MX rider and Mr KTM Ireland, Graeme Vigors had a rare enduro outing and was 3rd and won Pub bragging rights for the fastest test of the day(only by 1.9 seconds I must add!). Mick O’Leary was 4th.
Saturday’s Senior class was won by Paul McCarthy, who had managed to stop drooling over his new bike just long enough to concentrate on what he was doing. He won from Stewart Dicker with John Lynch in 3rd after the Jamie Popham DNF’d with front brake issues on his 250F.
The Clubman class riders were led home by Jason Jackson, who claimed his first well deserved class win by a close 1.5 seconds from Chad Hamilton. Richie Leonard was 3rd on his new steed despite an issue with right hand turns…
The Sportsman class was yet again won by Richard ‘I’m moving up a class’ Murphy. He won from Gary Yeats and David Farrell as they completed their 1 lap, which certainly tested some of the class towards the end of the 2nd loop.
Next it was 15 minutes work time, bikes into Parc Ferme, quick change out of muddy riding gear and for most a seat by the fire in the pub, and a few pints of Porter and the eagerly awaited Hog Roast and of course tall tales of Enduro exploits.
Sunday started bright and early, for most. Some, however were suffering from the morning after the night before syndrome.
A 10am start and wet conditions after some overnight rain greeted the Experts and the numbers had suddenly increased as 9 set off into the hills for 3 laps. Paul Mcloughlin took the win from Andrew Reeves with Mick O’Leary in 3rd spot.
In the Senior class Paul McCarthy dug deep into his purse and did the double with a day 2 win, this time from Jamie Popham who relegated Stewart Dicker to 3rd. One entry of note was that of road racing legend Ryan Farqhar, who swapped slicks for knobblies and would have been 5th behind his mate Gary Johnson had he not lost some time on the checks.
In the Clubman class Richie Leonard took his TM, which had mysteriously changed colour overnight to a more familiar Orange, to the win from Chad Hamilton. Vincent Price was third. Unfortunately Jason Jackson couldn’t ride as he was unable to hold on due to a hand injury from the day before.
Richard Murphy won the Sportsman class again even despite loosing a minute as the times had been tightened for the Sportsman class which led to almost every one loosing time. Gary Yeates was again 2nd and JP Ryan rode on Sunday and got 3rd place.
Running alongside the event was the Trail Bike and Big Trail Bike classes for non competitive riders who just want a ride round, these two separate classes attracted good entries and good fun was had by all. These classes look set to be included in the races for next year and hopefully will attract riders into the sport.
Tinahely was the last race in the 2010 Irish championship season and congratulations to all the riders that won and placed well, all the riders that support the championship and all the organizers and volunteers that work hard to produce Enduro competitions on behalf of the TORC club.
Roll on 2011!