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2007 Hewitt National Cross Country Championship Round 8
Midwest MCC produced a brilliant offering for penultimate round of the Hewitt National XC Championship at a superb new venue in Somerset. Overlooking the site of the world famous Glastonbury music festival a full line up of over 200 competitors faced an exciting new venue consisting of steep woodland and undulating grass farmland. The experts were first away and with current championship leader Jason Fraser leading the way until he fell on some slippery rocks leaving him to battle his way back to the front. Fraser eventually went on to win by one clear lap from a consistent Darren Wheeler who rode well to also finish a clear lap ahead of third placed rider Gary Baker who narrowly beat Jeremy Box by just 3 seconds. Gary Wright came home in fifth place with 22 laps to his credit and Dave Nuttall had his best ride of the year so far to finish in sixth position. The win for Fraser left him as the Expert champion for 2007 with one round remaining.
Richard Maisey and Terry Beecham battle hard for the lead in the Clubman two stroke class until Maisey took the advantage on lap 14 going on to win by a lap over Beecham. There was also a close race for third and fourth positions between Paul Davies and Steve Biddle with Davies getting third place by just 4 seconds. Geraint Coombes finished in fifth place completing 20 laps with Christopher Pritchett rounding out the top six finishers a lap down.
Tyson Maytom-Jones had his first win in the Clubman fourstroke class achieving 21 laps a full lap ahead of second placed Matthew Bath who had a battle with Malcolm Lean beating him by just 53 seconds after 3 hours riding. Current championship leader David Wathen secured fourth place with consistent Stuart Keedwell following home in fifth place all on 20 laps with Richard Edwards completing the top 6 a lap down.
Dane Palmer proved to be top dog in the Sportsman two stroke class, beating all his rivals by one lap achieving 19 laps at the finish. Positions seemed to be further spread apart with several minutes separating Jeff Cripps and Jez dance in second and third positions. Dale Hall obtained a personal best finish this year in fourth on 17 laps, 5 minutes ahead of Freddie Davies and Daniel Hosznyak in fifth and sixth places.
In the Sportsman fourstroke class Phil Gilder and Adrian Francis fought hard all race with never more than a couple of minutes separating them during the whole race. Gilder eventually got the better of Francis with both riders on 18 laps. Mark Wilson had a comfortable third place ahead of Jason Dreyer in fourth, both a lap down on the leaders. Graham Pitts was all on his own in fifth a lap ahead of sixth placed Donovan Pearce who was the first of only three riders to complete 15 laps.
With the absence of Veteran champion Gerald Poole, this left the door open for a new winner for the first time this year. Consistent finisher all year, Andrew Collins took up the challenge of the technical course and finished a lap ahead of Mark Tucker. A good battle for third between Martin Coleman, Michael Brooks, Paul Kingston and Rob Shore saw them separated by only 2 minutes at the flag.
A special thanks to Nic Plank who stopped to help injured rider Glenn Woodland who was unconscious at the time and therefore missed some laps out.
Results:
Experts
Sportsman 2 stroke
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1st Dane Palmer 19 laps
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2nd Jeff Cripps 18 laps
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3rd Jez Dance 18 laps
Clubman 2 stroke
Sportsman 4 stroke
Clubman 4 stroke
Veteran
Midwest Motorcycle Club Ltd Unit 9 Enterprise Centre, Lysander Rd, Bowerhill Ind. Est. Melksham, Wilts SN12 6QP
www.mwmcc.co.uk Tel: 01225 791179 www.midwestracing.co.uk
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