Welsh Enduro Round 1

Mike Marsden organised his first Enduro back in September 2013 (PMBA Enduro series) and since then it has gone from strength to strength, now being one of the most popular Enduro series in the country. Mike felt the next natural step for his events was to spread further and work with other local organisers. He then spoke with Bud at the Penmachno Enduro and he was all over the idea. They got a team together and that’s how the Welsh Enduro Series was born. 

Round 1 for this new series was set at one of the most well known trail centres in the UK…Coed-Y-Brenin. Coed-Y-Brenin has a vast 140km trail network including 3 black trails, 3 red trails, 1 blue trail and a family trail. The 10 mile loop took riders around the majority of the orange trail (Tarw) which included 3 timed stages. I have been to Coed-Y-Brenin before after racing at Dyfi last year but I didn't get a chance to explore the other side of the hill. The condition of the trails were prime, they were fast and flowy and for a trail centre some of the stages were very challenging. 

I arrived first thing in the morning on Sunday to be met by blue sky, which was a nice change than the usual rain that North Wales unleashes. Once I had signed on, I went for a ride around the loop to take a look at the trails and what Coed-Y-Brenin has to offer. From my practice loop it was apparent that it was going to be a test for the legs as there was so much pedalling! 

Stage 1 (R-74) - This was the first stage for a reason, easily the most demanding stage, it included numerous uphills which seemed to go on for an eternity. About 4-6 minutes long depending on how much training you have done. This stage started off really nice with fast flowy single track and a few small rocks which could easily throw you off the side of the trail. The trick for the rest of the trail was to try and get up to speed and maintain it but with some short technical uphills this was a hard job for even the best riders. 

Stage 2 (Heart of Darkness / Snap/Crackle/Pop) - Used for the 2012 UK Gravity Enduro, this was my favourite stage starting off with an open technical section with rocky hairpin turns which made it hard to carry your speed and keep your balance. The stage then went onto a short fire road sprint before dropping into a freshly cut section built by NRW. The stage then dropped into the second section (Snap/Crackle/Pop) which saw many people pushing their bikes down in the morning practice with a flat rear tyre, including myself. 

Stage 3 (Rocky Horror / Old School / Dual Descender) - The longest stage of the day lasting for about 7 minutes, the trail started at the highest point of the route. A flat out rocky single track with a few drops and one climb into a fire road which took you into the second section. The second section was more natural and technical compared to the rest of the stages….tight singletrack through the trees await, and then onto the old dual descender section and a bermfest to finish!

One thing that I really liked about this race was the timing used, it was much easier than having to wait for the beeps at other races, as it meant that you could go whenever you wanted at the top of the hill. One thing that caught many riders out was that you had to stop at the bottom to scan your chip, even though we were told many times by the marshals, riders still went past the finish and had to run back! At sign on you had to choose a time slot, this was nice because if you have friends in different age categories you could still ride with them. It also meant that you could socialise with people from other categories which was a nice change.

“We felt the day was a great success.  When a team works together for the first time it’s often difficult knowing who’s doing what and what’s expected of who and each other.” Mike Marsden (race organiser) 

The race went well for me, I felt that I could have pedalled a little harder on stage 1 but stage 2 and 3 were great and I got a good clean run down on each one. I came 2nd overall in the under 18’s narrowly missing out to Jim Topliss.

“I felt that I did better in race runs than I did in practice and felt quite confident after stage 1. Kept it smooth on the top of stage 2 ready for the fire road, dropped into the bottom section which was the best bit of the whole race just typical Welsh downhill track. Dropped into stage 3…nice tight techy single track, left a little bit of power in the legs ready for the last section. I think I am going to book onto the rest of the series now!” Jim Topliss (Santa Cruz Syndicate) 

Ed Roberts narrowly took the overall win by a close margin of 3 seconds followed by Hywel Silvester. It was also great to see a huge turn out of women racing, one of which was a familiar face in the mountain bike scene, Anna Walters, a key player in the success of Bike Park Wales. ‘I had a fab weekend, it was glorious weather and I got to ride with one of my best friends! The stages were hard, a mix of pedally and rocky, it certainly tested me for my fitness and technically.’ 

Another familiar face in the enduro scene is Joe Harrison, who has recently come back from fracturing his growth plate in his knee and tearing some ligaments. “I had a really good day, the stages were better to race than I thought! I thought I had a flat again on stage 2 but I think I was just paranoid from practice. All in all an awesome event and happy to be 10th in senior”
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With over 150 already booked onto the next round, you should not delay to get registered. The next round will be held at the Marin Trail on the 31st May. Bud is once again organising the stages and you can expect more gravity and epic stages with the stage 3 once again a 7 minute test of endurance!!!

Thanks to everyone who organised the race and helped out on the day, it was thoroughly enjoyable and I am looking forward to the next one! 


http://borderline-events.co.uk


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggBrvfmDUic&feature=youtu.be

Grand Veteran

1st - Dafydd Roberts (Old Skool MTB)
2nd - Tegid Humphreys (Beics Brenin/Summit Cycles)
3rd - Nick Wilkin (Twisted Automotive / Moonglu)

Under 18 

1st - Jim Topliss (Steve Peat Syndicate)
2nd - Ollie Hooper (Wideopenmag/Pedal Progession) 
3rd - Sam Hockenhull

Master

1st - Hywel Silvester
2nd - Simon Price
3rd - Mat Wright



Pro Men 

1st - Ed Roberts (Evolution Bikes Gravity Racing)
2nd - Chay Granby (Cotic)
3rd - James Metcalfe (Yorkshire Bike Guides/Muc-Off/Nuun Hydration)

Senior 

1st - Phil Roberts (1868 RACING/ANTUR STINIOG)
2nd - Matt Hockenhull
3rd - Ryan Dutton (oneplanet adventure Llandegla)

Veteran 

1st - Scott Stephenson 
2nd - Joe Hay

ward
3rd - Adrian Bradley

Women 

1st - Sian Roberts
2nd - Sarah Barnwell
3rd - Anna Walters (Bike Park Wales)

Mini Enduro Round 1 Bike Park Wales

The first race of the year is always a daunting one. Who’s done the most training? Have I done too much training and not enough riding? Have I sat around on my arse too much?!

Bike Park Wales gave me my first chance of the year to answer all of those and – of course – enjoy the first enduro race at Bike Park Wales. Yep, it was the One Industries Mini Enduro.

One thing that I like about the Mini Enduro series is that it has a really chilled vibe which makes for good racing. It always seems that the riders are there to have fun and that’s how racing should be! We started the day with a coffee at BPW’s Forest Cafe and got on with some practice.

The 10 mile route consisted of 3 stages and took in the best of the bike park – include technical rocky chutes, steep switch backs and some mean pedally sections. There wasn’t huge amounts of line choice and no off-piste sections … so it was all about getting the tracks dialed in and just going for it.

Dai Hard was used for Stage 1 and although it wasn’t my favourite stage I had a decent run and managed to get down the hill in one piece putting me into 5th place. It was the only black run used throughout the loop and kicked off with a fast pedally section before diving into the darkness of the trees.

Once you got into the trees the trail turned gnarlier with boulders and roots which you could easily catch your pedal on. The trail then went back out into the open and traversed down the hill onto a very boggy section which you had to nail to keep your momentum into the finish.

Stage 2 was easily the most physically demanding stage, starting with a sprint across the hill making it twice as much effort with the head wind that whipped up for race runs. Once you had the pedal out of the way the trail finally went into the trees and away from the freezing cold wind.

The top section was a mixture of tight single track weaving through the trees with polished roots that sat waiting to throw you off course. After getting out of the trees the trail went into the bottom section ‘Rim Dinger’ and it lived up to its name. Taking out some top Elite riders such as Vini Crighton-poli getting a puncture on this critical section putting him out of contention of a podium finish.

I felt really good on the top section of this one but just like Vini I got caught out by Rim Dinger – smashing my wheel on a rock, taking a trip OTB and into the medic’s tent. Bent bars, broken mud guard and a sick note from the docs telling me not to carry on.

Another victim of the rock garden was Mason Pritchard (Team Skene). Looking for the win, Mason was on a flyer. He took poll position on Stage 3 and second on Stage 1 but unfortunately puncturing on Stage 2. Even with a puncture Mason still managed to get a respectable 4th place in the Under 18 category. He told me:

“It was cold, windy and a bit of a wait to start the race after practice! But with three wicked stages marked, I had a great day having a laugh with all the boys! Yeah I’m happy to only be 17secs off the win after splitting my sidewall on the front tyre before even getting into Rim Dinger! Fair to say I felt every rock on that stage!“

Last but not least (for everyone that made it that far!) was Stage 3 and the longest of the trails. It started with flowy single track and some roots that could catch out riders of all abilities. Then a small up hill into a few rollers that you had to keep your speed over to transition to the second part of the stage. The second section was a great way to end the race consisting of steep switch backs and ending over a small drop and a sprint into the finish. It was great fun in practice … but thanks to my tumble I missed out on hitting it in race runs. Next time!

I got back down to the finish area to see everyone comparing times and seeing where they came with their fellow friends and racers. From the vibe around the finish area everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves having fun and racing with their buddies.

At the finish line I caught up with Team Keek rider Ruairi Phelan who took the win in the under 18 category.

“The tracks they put together where sweet, they had a good mix of pedally stuff and typical Welsh steep rocky stuff. The first stage went well for me and I was buzzing after … maybe a bit too much!

The 2nd stage did not go so well with a crash at the top, I had twisted bars for the rest of the stage to be met with a puncture at the bottom (the same fate as every other person to come down!). Stage Three I had to pedal my lungs out – breathing out of every orifice to make up for time lost from the second stage and in doing so got the fastest junior time but only by the skin of my teeth. I totally loved it, it was  such a sweet weekend!”

The overall win went to Sam Shucksmith who beat second place Leon Rosser’s local knowledge by 5 seconds. It was also great to see a strong 10 women deep field with Robyn Walton taking the win. An honorable mention goes to Anna Walters who scored 3rd place – as one of the key players at Bike Park Wales it was great to see her on the podium!

For me it was an annoying end to the day but you win some and you lose some. However I still thoroughly enjoyed myself, racing with all the lads and had a great time. Hopefully I will do a better job next weekend at the first round the of Welsh Enduro Series!

Big thanks to Chris Roberts, Bike Park Wales and the rest of the One Industries Mini Enduro team for a cracking race!