Once again the partnership of True Grit off Road and Dirtbike-Trax proved to be a successful one with them providing an excellent Bank holiday weekend of XC Racing at Butts Quarry MX/XC venue…

With perfect summer weather in the whole of Yorkshire these last few weeks, the Organisers were slightly worried with the rain forecast in Derbyshire. Despite this factor the team were determined to create an alternate fast flowing fun course for their 140 strong entry list!!!

Sunday 9am sharp the race hungry youngsters darted into the first corner with Dan Bewlay taking the Senior B holeshot, closely stalked by Billy Steinman, Dan Suddaby and Matt Clark. Archie Flack took the early lead in the Juniors Class while Ben Turner, Dan Clark and Sol Coburn battled for second position. The young guns weren’t phased by the ascends and descends despite the wet weather. Great determination was shown by Toby ‘No Fear’ Flack holding it open on his KTM 50cc Auto, Class Positions were exchanged throughout the 1.5hr Hare Scramble. Eventual overall winner was Dan ‘Scrub’ Bewlay with 2^nd merit going to Billy Steinman and Kwak rider Dan Suddaby in third, Junior Class proved to be a great Battle with Ben Turner taking the gold over Archie Flack in 2^nd and Sol Coburn in 3^rd. Well done to all of the Young competitors. Parents later commented on how at ease they felt having a Mobile Paramedic circling the course aboard his KTM exc,

11am on the dot -  Race Director Martyn Field set off the Iron men as they limped and dived and dashed doing what ever means necessary from the le mans style start into their 4 hour challenge around the testing Butts Course. At a minute interval the Iron teams’ first rider raced into battle, who would get the clean run up ‘The HILL’ ??

The First Hour into the event, if the rider didn’t enjoy themselves the spectators certainly did with the weather conditions creating major problems for some riders, 1.5hrs past and the waterfalls stopped, the riders were able to get into their rhythm , with racing, tactics and team work in all classes. Overall Iron Man winner was Expert Tom Braddock an impressive 3 laps in front of his closest rival Karl Waltho. 2^nd.  Expert Iron Man was Liam Eddlestone with James Goodall in 3^rd, Karl Waltho 1^st place clubman followed by Ian Coburn in 2nd and Luke Flack in 3^rd closely followed by Reece ‘Ginger Nut’ Morewood in 4^th place.

Sportsman Iron Man Winner from Start to finish was Darren Skilling, with Karl Chadwick 2^nd and Craig Hope 3^rd.

  Expert Teams proved to be the days entertainment after the slop had dried and all riders found their grip. A close battle between team Biff/ Brewster - Team Samson/Healy and Team Houson/Ward scoring laps within seconds of each other.

Expert Iron Team eventual winners were Lincoln Brewster and Biff Smith. 2^nd Place went to Tom Healy and Lee Samson, with Gav Houson and Liam Ward in 3^rd place.

Clubman Iron Team Trophy went to Rob Pearce and Neil Marshall. 2^nd place to Ed Field and J. Allen with Howard Blundell and Stuart Goodall in a very good   3^rd. Sportsman Iron Team was clearly won by Ian Hayworth and Joe wheeler 2 laps clear of 2^nd place Tom leoard and Craig Emmerson with Scott Thompson and Stuart Thompson in 3^rd.

Well done to all riders who showed an impressive ride with only a handful of DNF’s despite the morning showers, not a single reported injury which is great news.

Thank you very much for attending the IRON MAN   Challenge and a big thanks to all Marshalls, spectators and riders for making this a easy fun weekend.

Hope to See you all At DBT’s New Venue -  Manby Motoplex for round 9 of The National Putoline Hare scramble championship 18^th, 19^th September

Thanks from the TGOR Team.

News and Race reports 2010

True Grit off Road got the 2010 Putoline National Hare Scramble Championship at Driffield off to a flying start over the weekend of 13/14 February.

The TGOR team had been hard at work over the previous few weeks to give the riders another well organised event with a track layout that would suit all standards of riders.   The weather was always going to be a huge factor over the weekend with the forecast being very unsettled.

It was a cold, early start on the Saturday for the 10 fortunate riders who managed to secure a place on the training session run by former MX GP rider Ryan Voase.   The feedback on the training session was a resounding success, with everyone who attended finding Ryan’s expertise and knowledge a huge benefit.

Clerk of the Course Martyn Field got the afternoon race festivities underway with the kids and ladies classes.   Just as the clouds came over and delivered the first of many rain showers, Luke Flack got the hole shot and led the pack way into the distance with Spike pushing him hard. Luke maintained his lead all the way to the flag with Michael Gilby finishing 2^nd and Tim Gardham coming in 3^rd place.   With the rain coming in fits and starts throughout the afternoon the younger class of Juniors had to work extremely hard to battle the slippery conditions.   Ben Turner put in a fantastic performance to come in 1^st place, completing 5 laps of the course and 6 minutes ahead of 2^nd place rider Brandon Sharples with 4 laps and Archie Flack in 3^rd also completing 4 laps.   In the Ladies class Jade Gordon romped home completing an astounding 5 laps and a massive 16 minutes ahead of 2^nd place rider Gina Bewlay on 4 laps and 37 minutes ahead of 3^rd place rider Emily Schneider who completed 3 laps.

Next up it was the turn of the Quads to brave the now very wet and slippery riding conditions, especially in and around the wooded sections. With a health turnout from the Quad fraternity the sound of the starting horn at 15:00 was drowned out by the thunder of the expert class, followed by the Clubman and Sportsman classes.   The conditions proved to be extremely difficult for man and machine in all 3 classes, with a significant number of DNF’s  throughout the 1½ hour race with the weather alternating between heavy downpours and brilliant sunshine.   All top 3 riders in the Expert class completed a very respectable 7 laps, however it was David Baldwin who came out on top over 2½ minutes ahead of Andrew Vernon in 2^nd and Peter Heap only 24 seconds behind Andrew in 3^rd,.   All completed a remarkable 7 laps.   Steven Johnson came in 4 minutes ahead of Tim Cark to claim 1^st place in the Clubman class, with Mark Scott in 3^rd, all on 6 laps.   In the Sportsman class it was John Kerwin who led throughout and finished some 15 minutes, almost a full lap, (time for a move up in class one thinks!) ahead of 2^nd place Matthew Ambler, with Paul Robinson close behind in 3^rd place.

Alterations to the track on Saturday night were made ready for Sundays Adult solo race to include the famous quarry section. That night the TGOR team hoping for some brighter, drier weather.

Sunday morning and bright skies, had the crossing of fingers paid off it seemed so, but as the riders lined up the heavens decided to open up and continued with the same pattern of the previous day.   The egar 300+ riders were not going to let a little rain spoil their fun  including Graham Jarvis, looking fresh and raring to go after his monumental result at Hells Gate in Italy, Army BEC championship rider Kev Murray, mad for a bash at the National Putoline Championship between his operational commitments overseas. The Experts were set off first with Harry Hillas battling it out with Damian Butler for the hole-shot, it was Harry that came out of the first corner slightly ahead and increased his lead, clocking in a good 30 sec ahead of Josh Bendell, who fought hard for the second place spot after the first lap.   Harry Hillas was untouchable over the 3 hour race and maintained the 1^st place spot right to the end.   The battle for the 2^nd and 3^rd places was a different story with the Josh Bendell, Kev Murray, Graham Jarvis and Tom Healy all battling each other and the treacherous conditions.   Bike trouble with an engine misfire saw Graham retire after 3 laps, leaving the other three to try and eat into Harry Hillas’s lead.   Josh Bendell was the next to retire due to injury after clipping a tree in one of the tricky wood sections.   Tom Healy maintained the second spot for most of the race until a bad crash allowed the experienced Kev Murray in to claim 2^nd place some 5 minutes behind Harry Hillas, Tom Healy managed to hang on to 3^rd place, a mere 1½ seconds ahead of Craig Reynolds who early in the race recovered from a pretty spectacular off coming out of one of the many wood sections.   All three completed  9 laps of this demanding course.   The wood sections would prove to be the down fall for a many riders on Sunday, with the continuous rain making the tracks through them deeply rutted and extremely slippery.  

James Reeves led the Clubman E1 class into the first corner, but it was Jack Colley, back for his first race after breaking his collar bone mid way through last season, who was first through the gate after the first lap.   Jack’s lead didn’t last long as Ashley Crossley fought hard to take the 1^st place with 8 laps and 5 minutes ahead of Jams Reeve in 2^nd and Ian Harrison in third.   It was Andrew Hornshaw who led the Clubman Open class into the first corner and it was a very tight contest for the top three spots right to the end, with only 2 minutes separating them.    Andrew Hornshaw triumph into 1^st place with 8 laps, 1 minute ahead of Lee Smith in second and Steven Watson another minute behind also on 8 laps.

The Over 40s class showed many of the younger riders how to tackle these testing conditions being the only class to have all their riders finish the gruelling 3 hours.  Phil Smithson claiming 1^st   position with 8 laps local lad Rod Heald a true veteran of Driffield cruising in 1 minute later also on 8 laps.   Chris Bursell claimed 3^rd spot with 7 laps.

In the Sportsman E1 Class Mike Slater put in an impressive 7 laps to claim 1^st some 7 minutes ahead of 2^nd place rider Jack Midgley and closely followed by Chris Perry in 3^rd with 7 laps.   Sportsman Open had Lee Stansfield dominating the class in 1^st place with a massive 12 minutes ahead of William Charnook in 2^nd and George Stanley in 3^rd.   All three achieved a respectable 7 laps.

Coby Wright dominated the  Senior A class with 6 laps, 2 laps more than the 2^nd place rider Chris Wells and 3^rd place Ben Clark who also managed 4 laps.

Finally Darren Skillin, still buzzing from his Dirtbike Traxs Winter series overall win, in 1^st place in the Novice class with Justin Sizer hot on his heels in 2^nd, both managing 7 laps.   Maybe a move up to Sportsman for these two is now on the cards !   Jason McGarry fought hard for his 3^rd place and came off looking fresh and chuffed to bits with his 6 laps.

 Once again a fantastic weekends racing was had by all,  brave determined riding in all the classes both young and old in what was by far the hardest conditions seen at Driffield for many a year, a big thank you from the True Grit Off Road team to the local TRF group who   marshalled doing a great job also would like to thank all those that took part and hope to see you all at the next round of the championship at Butts Quarry over the weekend of 13/14 March.   If you can’t wait till then booking in for the Fun race at Ellington Banks, Ripon on the 28^th Feb.