2005 Championship ENDURO
Round 8 - Scottish Borders MC -
Little Clyde Enduro
4th September 2005
Results for Little
Clyde
I never thought I would see the words sunny and Beattock in the same
sentence - but this is global warming and the SBEC event at Little Clyde was one of the
driest for several years. In fact the road sections were causing a problem with dust ...
However the course is not run on the road and as usual it lived up to it's
reputation as one of the real enduros of the year with several deep boggy rutted sections
and lots of rocks. Line choice paid a big part in the event with riders choosing the right
line getting by easily and those who missed the line having to haul their bikes out of
deep clinging mud. Duncan Braid and his team have put a mammoth amount of work into this
event and used a lot of new track rerouting riders away from the old ruts and hills
that have caused a problem in the past. There was a new test for this year - fairly simple
to look at but with lots of tricky bits and a few wee bogs. By the time the riders arrived
at the test they were generally fairly tired and in some case the test was the last straw
when the front wheel buried itself.
With two checks on a figure eight course riders were frequently back in
the pits - some deciding to stay there rather than face another lap. The first hill was an
Experts and Clubman only hill with Sportsmen directed along the road. There were several
places where Sportsmen had an "easier" choice - in an effort to ensure as many
finished as possible. This also meant cutting out the test for the Sortsmen - using their
course times with a tight lap to decide the places.
A big improvement on last year with 75 starters and only 33 retirals.
Duncan must be getting soft in his old age !
With all the riders coming in clean apart from Sportsmen the lap times
were about right leaving the test to sort out the winners.
Crawford Carrick Anderson continued to lead from the front with some fast
times - followed by Murray Thomson and Derek Little - who continue to keep up the pressure
at the top of the table. Mark Godfrey had a 4th after travelling up from England just
beating new Dad Grant Smith - sleepless nights not slowing him much.
Sean Wooley continues to keep up the pressure in the Over 40 class to win
from Andrew Flockhart. Dougal Walker has seen some top placings this season with the
tracks well suited to his riding style. Stewart Livingstone put in a rare appearance at
the top of the field - thes course must suit him ! Ian Paterson suffering start
penalties when his plug fouled on the start line - no luck this year.
In the Clubmen Alan Lauder continues to lead the class ahead of Richard
Neaves and Colin Bryan. Iain McMullen continues to improve and moved further up the field
to finish in 4th.
Tony Hume, Michael Rathbone, Allan Poynton ad David Fergus all managed to
stay clean on the tight lap and finished 1st equal. With only 60 seconds separating Garry
Scotland who enjoys his first year in the class.
A few boiled bikes and riders meant several retirals - but well done to
all those who finished a really tought event.
Thanks to The SBEC for all their effort and solving last minute problems
to put on another tough event.
Photos by Linda and Betty with a few
from Charlie - click to enlarge
![be0502.jpg (166116 bytes)](images%202005/be0502_small.jpg) Mark
Godfrey - long distance Expert |
![be0503.jpg (217030 bytes)](images%202005/be0503_small.jpg) Willie
Wilson finds the hardest part of the course is the Parc Ferme |
![be0519.jpg (129355 bytes)](images%202005/be0519_small.jpg) Mark
sets off |
![be0504.jpg (106962 bytes)](images%202005/be0504_small.jpg) Beattock
and dusty ...... |
![be0505.jpg (152513 bytes)](images%202005/be0505_small.jpg) Scott
Cameron Marshalls in the sun |
![be0506.jpg (134558 bytes)](images%202005/be0506_small.jpg) Derek
Little - intense competitor |
![be0507.jpg (153448 bytes)](images%202005/be0507_small.jpg) Murray
Thomson in a testing time |
![be0508.jpg (201829 bytes)](images%202005/be0508_small.jpg) Alastair
Lauder looking good |
![be0509.jpg (195404 bytes)](images%202005/be0509_small.jpg) Andrew
McConnel sits out the test |
![be0510.jpg (192930 bytes)](images%202005/be0510_small.jpg) Paul
Ferry charges |
![be0511.jpg (136136 bytes)](images%202005/be0511_small.jpg) Kenny
Donaldson in the long grass |
![be0512.jpg (176146 bytes)](images%202005/be0512_small.jpg) Geoff
Pennycook keeps up the speed |
![be0513.jpg (171320 bytes)](images%202005/be0513_small.jpg) The
test - dry and sunny ..... in bits ! |
![be0514.jpg (140784 bytes)](images%202005/be0514_small.jpg) Douglas
Page crests the hill in the test |
![be0515.jpg (220503 bytes)](images%202005/be0515_small.jpg) Alan
Lauder - No 1 again |
![be0501.jpg (37612 bytes)](images%202005/be0501_small.jpg) Iain
Mcmullen goes for it |
![be0516.jpg (199668 bytes)](images%202005/be0516_small.jpg) Robert
Harper gives it all in the test |
![be0517.jpg (142776 bytes)](images%202005/be0517_small.jpg) Thomas
Melrose concentrates on the end cards |
![be0518.jpg (199552 bytes)](images%202005/be0518_small.jpg) Ally
Gordon going for it |
![be0520.jpg (151686 bytes)](images%202005/be0520_small.jpg) Bill
Brown returns to the pits |
![be0521.jpg (132135 bytes)](images%202005/be0521_small.jpg) The
end of the lap for Mark Ewing |
![be0522.jpg (151616 bytes)](images%202005/be0522_small.jpg) Murray
lands hard |
![be0523.jpg (180241 bytes)](images%202005/be0523_small.jpg) Crawford
keeps it pinned |
![be0524.jpg (188903 bytes)](images%202005/be0524_small.jpg) ...
Grant gets airborne |
![be0525.jpg (186244 bytes)](images%202005/be0525_small.jpg) Malcolm
Bisset shows some style |
![be0526.jpg (203501 bytes)](images%202005/be0526_small.jpg) Graeme
Naismith saves wear on the front tire |
![be0527.jpg (170705 bytes)](images%202005/be0527_small.jpg) Ian
Paterson keeps upt the pressure |
![be0528.jpg (162566 bytes)](images%202005/be0528_small.jpg) Alex
Austin on the pace |
![be0529.jpg (181703 bytes)](images%202005/be0529_small.jpg) Colin
Macdonald fresh from 12 hrs at Dawn to Dusk ! |
![be0530.jpg (114585 bytes)](images%202005/be0530_small.jpg) Drew
eyes up the track |
![be0532.jpg (218790 bytes)](images%202005/be0532_small.jpg) Findlay
White shows some trials technique |
![be0531.jpg (140182 bytes)](images%202005/be0531_small.jpg) And
they are off again ! |