(Daryl Cuts through the Sh1T on route to his close fought victory)

Sunday saw the fourth round of the 5-race Husqvarna sponsored Winter Series, with 340 adult grabbing a rare window of brilliant and welcome sunshine between a week of monsoon like down- pours and the onset of what was being describe as the worst storm to hit the south in 100 years - it was no wonder most eyes were fixed skyward.

(TracknTrail would like to thank both Mrs Bolter and Mrs Wakely for washing their sons race gear in Ariel proving it is the best no biological powder for getting your whites whiter don’t they gleam!!!)

This eleven mile marathon track ran in the opposite direction, though all the usual suspects were on visual display, the 4x4 circuit still featured with its deep mud filled bomb holes, and its un-comprising jump landing run offs, that make this section such a great and exciting challenge. And for those that dared cross in the wrong place, well they certainly huffed and they puffed until they pulled their bikes out of deep dark bilge that can engulf whole bikes.

(Paddle Paddle not a deck chair in site just another rut!!)

The wooden terrain sections that make up so much of this Dorset track resembled a wet and slippery green and yellow clay blanket that lay silent and still almost lazy on the ground, as the riders entered deeper and deeper into the dark knotted woodland at every tight tree stumps turn, riders had to pay full attention or fall foul to its uncompromising terrain. Lines rutted and deepened again, and again with every passing bike, ensuring there was more paddling on lines through here, than a family of four’s annual holiday in Blackpool.

No one said anything about needing a back wheel

At 10.28 the engines roared into life as they were allowed to warm up for the main event. The front row of Daryl Bolter British Enduro Champion and Senior E1 European Enduro Championship winner, sat alongside fellow Husky teammate Si Wakley Junior E2/3 European Enduro Champion, with Jon Hinman, completing the all star cast and Enduro A-list.

That’s almost there only 2 and half hours to go!!!

As the Flag, at 10.30am on the dot, dropped it was Go Go Go with Kevin Murray the first away and well into the first corner as the hunting pack came closing in slowly but surely. It was Daryl just yards ahead of his team mate and still recovering from injury Si Wakley that entered the first wooded section in the lead.

Mike doing his best to look like Daryl or Si, really Mike Hero worship at your age!!!

The Husky ridering duo clocked up lap after lap of blistering and consistent times with Jon Hinman now up into third, and keeping a respectful and watchful eye on the pair. It was no surprise that Daryl took the overall win and fastest lap also with Si hot on his heels in both departments with Jon Hinman in third place all on 8-laps.

Greg Pascoe over 4x4 Section with a clutch

In the expert class it was the every consistent Greg Pascoe taking the top honours proving consistency is the name of game as Daz Hughes and Brad Armstrong clocked up the first and second best lap times respectively with Brad also laying claim to the group hole shot. Greg, despite having no clutch on the last lap, imagine that in those woods, nursed it home to finish first on 7-laps with Paul Cowshall in second Tim Ponting third and Daz Hughes fourth all on 6-laps.

The Expert Over 40’s were next in line for the off with Pete Archer taking up his usual place at the head of the pack after three hours and the fastest lap in his group, with Gary McCovy and Dennis Harrison in second and third place all on 7-laps.

Matt Pemble in Bubba Scrub(TM) Esq. move!!!

Next the Clubman 2-Stroke riders sat as all heads turned right in the late winter low sun as they waited for the flag .Go, and it was Chris Blackmore, who lead after the first lap, though was closely followed by Kevin Rummings and Tony Primmer in second and third place all on 6-laps.

In the Clubman 4-Banger it was Daniel Beaven who pipped Martin Brown to second place with just over a seven and a half minute lead with Chris Tite in third with all of the top three in this class on 6-laps.

At last a chance to open it up

The Sportsman Over 40’s saw no less than 10-riders all completed 5-laps each, with Gerhard Wallis claiming top honours with Andrew Slocombe claiming his second Castle Park 2^nd place, with Lee Welch in 3^rd.

Andrew Slocombe

In the Sportsman 2-Stroke Michal Bisaga claimed both the fastest lap and the number one spot with Simon Coventry and Mike Ridgeway in second and third. The second fastest lap went to Mark Damon who finished 6^th.

In the Sportsman 4-Banger group five riders all finished on 5-laps but it was Noel James who took both the fastest lap and all 30-points, with Tristan Fisher and Louis Rudd in second and third place.

Championship Rider Derry Milling on a charge

Last but by no means least the Trail group, with no fewer than 7-riders all finishing on 4-laps, with Nathan Dixon taking the chequered flag with Gary Hutchins in second claiming the fastest lap, with Martin Percy in third place.

To all of you that finished well done, it was a great days racing; a truly tough and enjoyable event and we hope to see you all at our next event on 13^th April.

Remember Enduro Die-Hards where there Cows there’s...

...Cow shit so keep your hands on the bars and your mouth closed on the way through

And the weather continued to hold for the afternoons youth race. Again there was an excellent turn out of young riders to take on the challenges of Castle Park. The course was shortened to 5 miles but this still gave them plenty of challenges, and it was always going to go the way of those who liked it that bit tougher!

The 65cc class had the greatest challenge having to negotiate the heavily rutted course on their small wheels. However they all put in a tremendous effort with everyone of them finishing . Dylan Baynton having already competed in a motor cross event during the morning, rode in his unique way and took first place on 5 laps. Luke Rudd visiting the club for only his second time put in an excellent performance to take 2^nd on 4 laps. Also on 4 laps were 3^rd/4^th and 5^th place riders, and this was a close competition in itself, with only 1 minute 20 seconds separating them. Oliver Evans put in his fastest lap at the end to ensure he took 3rd. Joe Newman got his best result of the series, just beating Owen Woodley into 4th.

(Second Place Ryan Stonier wonders who’s the giant behind and how did he get in my group)

Calum Voisey made it 3 out of 4 in the 85cc small wheel class, by putting in a fantastic ride and being the only rider in his class to finish on 6 laps. Again it was 2^nd and 3^rd where there was a real battle going on. Ryan Stonier led Lewis Dowle on the first lap by 25 seconds, and increased this lead in the second but whilst Ryan slowed on lap 3 and 4 Lewis got faster and put in his fastest lap on the 4^th so it was all to be decided on the final lap, it went Ryan’s way by just 10 seconds.

The 85 Big Wheel class also had a clear winner. Riding with confidence and style George Baylis put in the second fastest lap of the competition and clocked up 7 laps to take the win and to put him third overall. Tommy Alba worked hard to gain his best result of the series, taking 2^nd. Tyler Proudfoot took third and is beginning to make his mark in this 85BW group.

The 125 cc series seemed to have begun to be a 2 man battle between Scott Clifford and Marcus Alba but today a third contender stepped up to the mark. Joe Dyke who has ridden consistently well all series really dug in and up to lap 3 was hot on the heels of the leader Scott Clifford, but whereas Scott, who likes the tough going, was able to maintain his lap times Joe began to tire on the next 3 laps , although he still managed to hold Marcus at bay. Both Scott and Joe made it back in plenty of time for a 7^th lap which Marcus missed by just under 2 minutes. A mention must also go to Marcus Clares who is improving all the time and took 4^th just under a minute later, for his best result of the series.

Scott Clifford watched by Sid Burgess through the Cow Sh1T