On a wet and windy day, the YMSA welcomed a healthy entry to the famous foxholes venue. Traditionally, used only once a year exclusively by the YMSA, the site offers it's infamous rocky stream and two disused quarries on the other side of the valley.
To give variety, Barry Burton sets half of the sections in the stream and the rest in and around the quarries. 10 sections and 4 laps was the task for the riders. To the surprise of many including most of the riders the sections in the strem eased progressively due to the rain, while the sections in the quarries became increasingly difficult as the mud tracked on to the rocks.
Due to a date clash with the EMACU adult championship down the road, there were only 4 adult expert riders and no "A" class youths. As usual for this year the "B" class was well supported and the new green route for adult and youth novices continues to attract good numbers, giving a sensible challenge without being too difficult.
The best battle of the day was between the M.R.S sherco team mates, Daniel Slack and Oliver Smith who were level on 42 marks each at the finish. Oliver was unfortunate to have a 5 on his last attempt on section "9", a tight up hill climb over boulders loosely embedded in the steep bank. Just prior to Oliver's visit Harry Coleman moved a large boulder on the line creating a crater which cost Oliver dear. Daniel managed to get his 4 attempts in before Harry wrecked the section and was best all day with 4 cleans.
Jack Dance on a borrowed Beta comfortably won the "C" class from Charlie Bawden. A problem for jacks dad, is what to replace jacks ageing gas gas with this year.
The "D" class saw another tight struggle of the rival electric bikes, with Lewis Hurdsman just beating rival Charlie crossland by 1 mark.
Making a welcome return after months with a serious leg injury, it was good to see Alice Minta all smiles after a steady ride into 2nd place on the green route behind local veteran Mark Hallows on his twinshock Majesty.
The adult experts was a sherco benefit with Ben Sprigg winning comfortably from Steve Harris and Eddy Dain.
The adult intermediate class rode the same route as the "B" class youths with Mark Shaw leading a gas gas from Darren Cox and chris tett.
Mark Shaw's score of 31 marks lost was bets all day on the yellow route.
The adult novices rode the white route and as usual one of the Burton clan came out on top, this time it was Dan winning from Mark Gregory and James Williams
Results
B class
1st Daniel Slack M.R.S sherco 42 marks (T.B)
2nd Oliver Smith M.R.S sherco 42 marks
3rd Aspen Hopkins sherco 78 marks
4th Harry Coleman sherco 90 marks
C class
1st Jack Dance beta 35 marks
2nd Charlie Bawden beta 92 marks
D class
1st Lewis Hurdsman oset 12 marks
2nd Charlie Crossland mecatechno 13 marks
3rd Alex Horne oset 23 marks
Adult expert
1st Ben Sprigg sherco 79 marks
2nd Steve Harris sherco 105 marks
3rd Eddy Dain sherco 114 marks
Adult intermediate
1st Mark Shaw gas gas 31 marks
2nd Darren Cox gas gas 45 marks
3rd Chris Tett beta 65 marks
Adult novice
1st Dan Burton gas gas 28 marks
2nd Mark Gregory beta 39 marks
3rd James Williams gas gas 48 marks
Green route
1st Mark Hallows majesty 10 marks
2nd Alice Minta beta 15 marks
3rd Matt Ramsay beta 47 marks