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WTRA Snowrun Enduro Crychan Forest

1st February 2004

The first event of the year for many riders - it was also a wet start to the year. The W(E)TRA team had organised a great course of 3 laps each of around 30 miles with a few "Perrings" thrown in for good measure. A "Perring " is a snotty,muddy - near impassable part of the course that is set out by Bob Perring and is designed to encourage the next generation of hard riding Welsh enduro riders to either give up or learn to ride. This year it was the first 5 miles in the first check.

It was dry to start the day from the Top Quarry. But this soon developed into intermittent rain that hammered at you on the fast road sections. The course was fairly fast in parts with some great trails and fast uphill blasts. There were also a lot of single rut downhills- including a 300' drop down the aptly named Lower Cemetry Hill.The Welsh have great names for their courses and everyone seems to know exactly what you are talking about. Names like Swim Bath and Tussocks tell you exactly what is going on.

After a hard 1st check the special test was a relief after previous years. This time there was actually a course that was rideable and you could go fast on. A quick blast uphill on the forest road followed by a long tricky downhill and then a whooped hill to bring you back over up to the moors and  a very muddy and slippy track. No real stoppers in the course just lots of bumps and ruts to catch out the unwary.

Checks 2 and 3 were more open with lots of wee trails to blast along. The author did manage to lose it on a fast tight section and ended up with the bike climbing the wall there and finished upside down pointing back the way I had just come. As I said - plenty of grip in Wales. There were a few problems - generally down to the 6" of rain that had fallen and was still falling. Some long and very deep ruts developed but could generally be avoided. Unless you were going uphill and the guy in front got stuck.

There were plenty of marshalls around at most points who would point the "easy" way out. Thanks guys !!. But there are no marshalls and very few arrows when you come in over an hour late. Just as well the course was easy to see.  A couple of parts of the course cut up quite badly and were taken out for the second lap.

Team TANGO - the three KTM's of Dougal Walker, Jim Wightman and Murray Thomson all finished on time and well up the placings. Murray had been under the weather on the trip down but still managed to come back for 4th place in the experts. Dougal finished in 2nd and Jim in 3rd in the over 40 class. The Yamahas of Dave Ramsay and Charlie Mackenzie were well up to the course - but the riders were a bit slower. Both houring out - but having a good day anyway.

Welsh webmaster Bob Mullins had his usual comments to make when encountered on the course. Generally involving the weather and parentage of the course designer. Always a pleasure Bob !

Thanks to WTRA and all the marshalls for another memorable event. Look forward to 2004.

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