2006 Championship ENDURO
Rounds 4 & 5 Melville MC Selkirk 2
Day Enduro
22nd 23rd July 2006
Results Sat Classes Sun Classes Report by Campbell
Chatham.
There was a record entry for both days of the Melville Motor Club
Scottish Championship in Yarrowford near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. The farmer, Alex
Telfer was delighted to welcome the event back again and arranged entertainment and food
in the village hall on Saturday night. The weather was dry and extremely hot and the going
was very dusty. The course consisted of open moorland with a couple of tight forest
sections to keep things interesting. The course had to be altered due to extensive
planting of new trees and metal bridges had to be built to ride over the surrounding
fences. Kenny Donaldson and his team were nervous about them holding up to the large
entry, but they worked well. One rider, William McGowan, had to be airlifted to hospital
after falling and cutting his leg out on the moor and the Melville Club wishes him well
and a speedy recovery. Graeme Naismith and Craig Scotland helped with the injured rider
and The Melville Motor Club would like to thank both of them for their assistance. Craig
and Graeme will be given a free entry to the next Melville event they enter.
Day One
Richard Hay, who continues to impress with his style on his
KTM125, dominated the expert class taking the overall win. Dougie Kerr was second, back
from retirement and now finding his outright speed once more as he ‘chimes in’
on his KTM 450 EXC. Eighteen year old Paul Chatham was third spitting the experienced
riders down the middle as his Honda CRF 250 thrived in the wide open conditions. Murray
Thomson finished fourth after running onto reserve during one of the special tests, Derek
Little finished fifth and Mark Godfrey sixth.
Graeme Naismith won the over forty class, Graeme has copied
Richard Hay and is currently campaigning a 125, and he is obviously enjoying the
experience. Ian Paterson finished second, Ian was missing his rival Andy Flockhart who was
having a one off ride in the Expert class, usually these pair are seen pushing each other
on the course and swapping times in the test. Campbell Chatham finished third in his only
outing so far in the Scottish Championship this year due to work commitments. Sean Wolley
dropped his bike in the first test, which resulted in fourth place. Jim Lauder finished 5th
with event organiser Kenny Donaldson finishing sixth.
Michael Lowrie again dominated the Clubman Class, Michael
achieved special test times that would have placed him on the podium in the Expert class.
The Clubman Class Championship must surely have Michael’s name pencilled on it. Paul
Scott charged to second place on his CRF450 with Keith Reid third. Neil Chatham continued
his current excellent form for a sixteen year old competing in only his third Enduro
finishing fourth. Alex Austin who is also
continuing to improve finished fifth and he was looking very fast out on the course.
Duncan McCormick finished sixth on his new KTM.
Stuart Donald won the Sportsman Class with Willie Dawson
second, Steven Gray third, Iain Bell fourth equal with Liz Millet and Ian Little sixth.
Day 2
The course was cut by a lap for each class as Saturday had been so
hot and the track was becoming more demanding. The temperature was slightly lower on
Sunday which made the day more enjoyable and the majority of riders made it round.
Dougie Kerr showed the Experts that he had not forgotten how to go fast with the
overall win on Sunday. Dougie was a dominant force in the British Championship in the
early eighties and is showing his form again now. Murray Thomson finished second, after
making a mistake on Saturday Murray put the record straight on Sunday. Richard Hay
finished third after loosing his front brake on his second lap costing him dearly in the
tests. Nicky Beavitt was fourth, Scott Maxwell fifth and Derek Little was sixth following
some technical difficulties. Paul Chatham was heading for a podium finish until he became
stuck in a bog in the final special test.
Sean Woolley avoided any problems and returned to form on
Sunday taking the win in the Over Forty Class. Jim Lauder finished a strong second place
with Graeme Naismith dropping to third. Ian Paterson finished fourth and was obviously
feeling the effects following his efforts as he was seen sleeping in a lay by on his way
home. Course builders and rivals Kenny Donaldson and Alex Kirk finished fifth and sixth
respectively.
Micheal Lowrie won the Clubman Class with Keith Reid moving up
to second on Sunday. Neil Chatham equalled his best result at the Otterburn Enduro
finshing in third place. Alex Austin finished fourth with Ryan Bruce fifth and Duncan
McCormick sixth.
Craig Hendrie won the Sportsman Class with Michael Harbour
second, Keith Learmonth third, Steven Gray fourth, Micheal Huston Snr fifth and William
Bonniwell sixth.
The event was dominated by the weather, which was at the
opposite end of the thermometer from previous Scottish Enduros. The ladies out at the
special tests were particularly brave and it was a long day for all involved. The Melville
Motor Club could not run an event like this without their assistance and would like to
extend a big thank you to all. The event proved more difficult than previous years due to
the high temperatures and a longer lap, this will be looked at for next year. Rosie
Patrick has received several complimentary messages from competitors for which we are very
grateful.
Congratulations to Michael Harbour who is our winner of the James Young Memorial Trophy with the fastest
special test time of 223 on the Sunday. This
was Michaels first enduro - a promising start - he comes from a trials background.
