SACU 2003 Championship ENDURO
Round 3 - Melville MC Barrhill - Girvan
27th July 2003
A second visit to Dumfries in as many months brought the riders to a new
venue - this time for a Championship Enduro. Run by the Melville MC and laid by
Andrew McConnel and Brian McCleary it was a real test of man and machine stamina.
Run over an 18 mile course it was mostly soft going with some felled areas
and a lot of bogs and moss. The trick was to avoid getting stuck and keep moving. Andrew
had set the times out to be fairly easy bt a lot of riders still lost time after burying
their bikes. Fun was not a word heard a lot - but it was an event that had a lot of
satisfaction to getting round. Sportsman had been warned that it was going to be
tough and the few who came deserved their finishers awards. Alex Hood on his XR650 must
have wondered if he would ever see the finish but got back and seemed happy to complete
his one lap. The boys from the Lakes were keen and John Lupton pushed hard to win the
Sportsman class.
The test was a quick blast round a quarry - and then down into a track
that was probably harder than some of the course. Choice of line was crucial
in the test as there were some bogs that were really hard to get the bikes out of once
stuck - causing more than one person to lose critical time.
In the Experts the battle was again between Crawford Carrick -Andereson,
Murray Thomson and Grant Smith with only 30 seconds separating Murray and Crawford after
nearly 5 hours of racing. An important race to win for Championship points.
Derek Little was back racing again after his broken leg in round one. With
his bike playing up in the early laps and the course very physical the race took it's toll
as he was forced to retire just before the end. An amazing effort to be back and racing so
soon.
In the over 40's a tie for 1st place between Dougal Walker and Andrew
Flockhart - with both looking for a title this year. The final test proving the trial as
both riders lost time. Ian Paterson in 3rd keeps his title hopes alive as he put in
another consistent performance.
Duncan Jamieson looked very smooth on his way to the clubman win over
Chris Buchan with some very fast test times . The championship is wide open at this time
and every race is important.
To all who didn't complete the full course - well done for getting out
there - you will rarely find a harder event. And you know you have been in a race !
Report from the organisers
The weather the week prior to the event turned what would
have been a relatively straight forward enduro, into a test of man and machine as rider
ability came to the fore. The course was sell set out and marked by Andrew McConnell
and Jeff McLeary. The lap timing was spot on and all who finished should receive a
speical award - It was a true mud and guts enduro. If you didn't make it to the end
you were not alone. ( Kenny Donaldson)
Provisional Results
No Name ST1 ST2 ST3 ST4 Penalty Total Position
EXPERTS
4 Crawford C-Anderson 256 272 261 264 0 1053 1
5 Murray Thomson 263 278 284 265 0 1090 2
2 Grant Smith 264 290 300 308 0 1162 3
8 Julian Stevens 291 314 313 299 0 1217 4
1 Derek Little 373 353 396 Retired
3 Richard Neaves 281 296 454 Retired
6 Malcolm Bissett 319 337 Retired
9 Joe Gilroy 292 297 Retired
![g01.jpg (62255 bytes)](images2003/g01_small.jpg) Keith Reid
and his Tartan KTM |
![g02.jpg (64120 bytes)](images2003/g02_small.jpg) Jeff McCleary
- plus Otterburn Injury - Nasty Collarbone |
![g03.jpg (71489 bytes)](images2003/g03_small.jpg) Ready for the
off. |
![g04.jpg (106663 bytes)](images2003/g04_small.jpg) The Champ
and the challengers
Crawford - Derek - Grant |
![g05.jpg (52878 bytes)](images2003/g05_small.jpg) Campbell
Chatham - warming up for the over 40 class next year. |
![g06.jpg (122223 bytes)](images2003/g06_small.jpg) He's back
again - Alex Hood and his monster XR650. |
![g07.jpg (85535 bytes)](images2003/g07_small.jpg) Chris Stewart
from Ormiston
Focused. |
![g08.jpg (76426 bytes)](images2003/g08_small.jpg) The Boys from
the Lake District |
![g09.jpg (73744 bytes)](images2003/g09_small.jpg) A smiling Liz
Millet |
![g10.jpg (91531 bytes)](images2003/g10_small.jpg) True Blue
...... Honda CR450f
Martin Mcminn |
![g11.jpg (71615 bytes)](images2003/g11_small.jpg) Jim Wightman
dives into the test |
![g12.jpg (68137 bytes)](images2003/g12_small.jpg) Julian
Stevens exits the test |
![g13.jpg (71710 bytes)](images2003/g13_small.jpg) Joe Gilroy
flying before he lost his back tire |
![g14.jpg (86113 bytes)](images2003/g14_small.jpg) Ian Parker |
![g15.jpg (115805 bytes)](images2003/g15_small.jpg) Geoff
Pennycook roosting the brown line |
![g16.jpg (70888 bytes)](images2003/g16_small.jpg) John McGaff -
never without a smile |
![g17.jpg (86061 bytes)](images2003/g17_small.jpg) Duncan
Jamieson showing how to ride the bogs |
![g18.jpg (70450 bytes)](images2003/g18_small.jpg) Ian Rayton -
on his way to a finish |
![g19.jpg (48958 bytes)](images2003/g19_small.jpg) Derek Little
charging into the test |
![g20.jpg (135817 bytes)](images2003/g20_small.jpg) Ian Parker
in the test |
![g21.jpg (73649 bytes)](images2003/g21_small.jpg) Graham Smith
getting the power on in the test |
![g22.jpg (72130 bytes)](images2003/g22_small.jpg) Keith Reid
getting sideways in the test |
![g24.jpg (96604 bytes)](images2003/g24_small.jpg) Paul
Richardson - just like home! |
![g25.jpg (129340 bytes)](images2003/g25_small.jpg) Chris Buchan
going for it |
![g30.jpg (96562 bytes)](images2003/g30_small.jpg) Findlay White
with Rose Patrick - timekeeper and motivator ! |
![g27.jpg (92769 bytes)](images2003/g27_small.jpg) Crawford
Carrick-Anderson
Flying as usual |
![g28.jpg (94913 bytes)](images2003/g28_small.jpg) John Lupton -
still smiling ! |
![g29.jpg (109209 bytes)](images2003/g29_small.jpg) Brian
McCleary - chief marshall - seemed to be everywhere |
![g31.jpg (172031 bytes)](images2003/g31_small.jpg) The test -
looks simple - but it was the hardest this year. |