|
I'm All
Wet Jack!
BEC Rnd6 - The Natterjack
Watter-proofs not essential,
but... may have been handy on day 2.
Report
& Photos by Debbie Tucker
Having got back from the Natterjack in one piece, Debbie Tucker our 'reporter on the spot', has sent back some superb photos from round 6 of the British Enduro Championships, the REME/BAFMA Natterjack Enduro, and writes...
The first day we had great weather, the motocross test was deep sand and
extremely draining. The second test was very technical with
more twists and turns than a curly wurly, the course rode really well and everyone who finished enjoyed the day.
Day 1 provided a great days
sport - which all enjoyed.
Paul Edmondson took the first day win from Jake Stapleton by a total of just over 4 seconds - spread across 6 special tests. Euan McConnell was also really on the pace and posted 3rd overall on day1.
Gareth Andrews and Wayne Davey wer on of only 2 chairs to finish day 1 and took both the Championship Sidecar class win - and in doing so became overall British Sidecar Champions for 2006.
The second day however started well enough - although the course was really rutted from the previous day - and then the heavens opened literally...
I love this photo, is he
racing on land or sea ?
I have seen lifeboats out in better condition than this !!!
I have never seen anything like it in my
life. Rain, hail, thunder, lightning which took out all the timing gear and a tornado to top it all. Where upon the whole event was cancelled, as it became completely
unridable in the space of about 5 minutes, - although some where unaware that the event
was finished and kept riding.
And it got worse...
However this gave a unique opportunity for some great pictures of the
torrential downpour and some very wet riders!
and worse...
Paul Edmondson again dominated and took the overall win. Jake Stapleton took a fine second spot, just ahead of Euan McConnell. Simon Wakely posted a fine 4th place ahead of Tom Sagar in 5th spot.
It eased for a few
moments, but then...
South West rider Nick Life posted some good test times, but obviously ran into trouble more than once, as on two he dropped more than a minute!
This guy found an
unexpected shallow bit on the MX test - it
must have been a table top!
Ashley Wood took a close Expert victory over Darren Carter - less than 1 second over two days riding, with a hard charging Steve Dustow right behind in third spot.
Sidecar duo Steve and Ian Barnett took the day 2 win and won their class overall.
Sidecar sub-mariners -
yup, the latest craze around here!
Race Snippets:
Every gazebo that was put up in the camping area was dumped in the skips provided I think every single one went into the air!!
Many of these photos are from the second day after about two hours on the motocross track. Not sue of the time exactly as the young Jamie Paget (an up and coming south west superstar) had borrowed my watch to put on his bike. It obviously paid off as he fought hard to a 6 place Expert finish.
Wish you were here... and
not me !
Ian Mundell hit a tree on first day and broke leg in seven places. He is in hospital in Guilford, where he has had a steel rod put into his leg, so hope he makes a good recovery
It is not surprising that there wasn't a large
amount of finishers in the sidecar classes. But, I think for once we can
forgive them... don't you?
All these stunning photos
were capture by Debbie Tucker, who sells photos from her online gallery
at http://www.photoboxgallery.com/enduro
Many many thanks Debbie,
your stalwart efforts at photography and on reporting are to be highly
commended. I would not have liked to have had a camera out in those
conditions - but we are all very glad you did.
Please support her photo
gallery - all profits go to Devon Air Ambulance.
Full
Natterjack
2006 Results
List:
Day1.
Day2. Combined.
© Article
& Photos - are Copyright
to Debbie Tucker.
|
