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Otterburn Experience 2 Day Enduro 10/11 July 2004

North East Enduro Club

Another fantastic course greeted the 183 riders who turned up for the third running of the Otterburn Experience. This year the weather was dry on the Saturday and a bit damp on the Sunday - after several weeks of torrential rain. The course was in excellent condition and very rarely cut. In fact the only bit that caused any problem was the last 100 yards as you came back in to the pits on the first day. You could see the end but you couldn't get there ! As always - GO WIDE !

The Saturday started at 1:00 pm and was a quick run round the hills to get riders warmed up. Only 18 or so miles ! and three laps of it. The bogs from the previous year were cut out as was the tricky first test in the river. This was still in as part of the course. Fast and fairly easy to follow - as usual you do not stray off the track. The bombholes are deep and sharp edged - and this year were all full of water. It is an Army bombing range - so you were warmed. They also take course cutting seriously here as I saw a camoflaged soldier with an SA80 keeping an eye on events !

The few boggy bits of the course were passable as long as you kept the throttle wide open and avoide the holes. Seemed easier than last year - but mabye thats because I knew what to expect. There were a few ruts and rivers - all designed to keep you awake.

The best part of the course was the Special Test. A real roller coaster of a ride in an old quarry with some steep drops and great jumps. One of the best tests in ages. There were a few slippy straights on the moors and a wee bog at the end . A real fun test.

Then it was a fast blast across the moors and through the trees back to the start - to do it all again.

This year the furthest entrants were from Holland where a group of Husky riders made the long trip. All smiles at the start they seemed to enjoy themselves - but the hills were most fun ( Hills ? we don't have these in Holland !!)

Day two dawned with a grey overcast and threatening rain. The ground never really got wet although there was some heavy mist about (not really rain). Lap one was dry with the rain starting on lap two . The test times were tighened up from 2003 as the Experts felt they were a bit slack last year. This resulted in all the experts losing time and the event was won on the going as well as the test. The organisers also felt the weather and course conditions were slowing riders and cut the laps for all the classes by one lap. This meant 3 laps for experts and 2 laps for everyone else.  With a lap of over 35 miles this was enough - although some riders would happily have gone out again.

Another tremendous loop with about a third of the course new . Just as soon as you thought you knew where you were the course changed and you were off up a new hill or across another valley. I have no idea where I was except for the start and finish. A lot of work had obviously gone into the course to find the new ground. Thanks to the NEEC riders and marshalls.

The test was similar to last year with a blast through a muddy forest and then the awesome moor crossing. You had to keep on the gas all the way and keep looking for the end cards. These eventually appeared over 10 minutes later after the longest test in the UK. A test with hills , moors , bogs and forests . What more can you ask for ?

The course is run on MOD ground and this was obvious as we were run past old tanks and personnel carriers. It felt like a set from Terminator. At least they weren't firing when we were there.

Overall the winner was Expert Paul Watson followed by Neil Boyd and Karl Dungait ( who must have thought they were on a motorway compared to the last event at Little Clyde in Scotland). All lost time on the course but Paul also had the fastest test times. Ricky Mair had an unlucky weekend with navigation problems on the Saturday and a big end on the Sunday. But he was always smiling

In the Clubman class Alan Lauder from Kelso led the pack closely followed by Paul Noble and Kevin Whitehead.  The top clubmen were all clean on time and the Alan was a clear winner - winning all the tests on Saturday and Sunday. Several other Scots riders made the trip over the border with Andrew McConnel next up in 10th and Alan Reid from Jedburgh in 11th.

Liz Millet put in a magnificent performance despite riding with injured ribs after a high speed get off on a trip to Romania where she was competing for Scotland against some tough Czechs and Germans. She finished both days and won the Ladies Award finishing ahead of several riders and lots who retired. Respect !

In the Sportsman class Christian Cheel emerged victorious from Owen Gourley from Jedburgh. Jimmy Patrick and James Anthony also upheld Scottish honour and finished on Gold. Ian Bell finished as the best over 70 on his KX/KDX 200. Stan Peterson was enjoying his ride until his big 450 Honda died on the going - luckily on a road so he could get a tow back. This is one course where it is a long way to walk.

Many thanks to all the organisers and Marshalls of the NEEC. And many thanks to the Army under the direction of Colonel Rennie - who also manned a forest checkpoint.. Looking forward to 2005 already - entry is in the post !

Thanks to Marnie Kendall for the photos in the pits - and to Nigel Griffin and Ed Collins for the ones on the course.

Click on the photos to enlarge

  Provisional Results

Click here for results.

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