More excitement at a race I can not remember. For 3 hours Nick Life and Jason Fraser battled it out in the championship class neck and neck. These two ran barely 10 feet apart all day, with the lead changing throughout as the odd incident or pit stop occurred. As if that wasn't enough, the expert class battle between Steven Jewel and Jamie Paget was equally awesome. Spectators were on their toes literally, trying to get a peek wherever they could of who was now leading who.

Sunday 17^th September saw a very wet start to the day as an early morning downpour of rain greased up the track nicely for spectators, - but it was creating butterflies in many of the competitors stomachs!

Barry Voaden was thrilled he took the Sportsman class win.

The Wolbrough Barton track is a superb venue which consists of one large deciduous wood surrounded by a multitude of mixed agricultural fields. Three giant loops using various fields all fed back into the woods like a giant clover leaf. The main spectator area was on a high ridge near the start finish field, which overlooked the beautiful valleys within which we were privileged to race.

Some riders were a bit over enthusiastic at the first turn!

Nearly a hundred riders lined up for their grouped dead engined, hare & hound style starts. All no doubt pondering how their rear trials tyres would behave, whilst looking forward at the wet grass on the off-cambered first turn before them.

At 11am the start flag dropped and the championship class fired away without incident, up the first hill and disappeared into the woods. The same can not be said for the following multitude, of whom some keen racers with over exuberance and excitement, managed to deck it on the very first turn!

Nick Life shows just why he is so good, by keeping up 
this pace for three hours..

However all these were the lucky ones. What many did not know was that a fearsome bog was awaiting their arrival less than 5 minutes away. As the championship riders hit the woods on their second loop - slurp. Stuck fast, almost the whole championship entry were buried.

Quick thinking by the marshals saved the day, as they realised immediately if championship riders got stuck - some right down to seat level (poor Steve Dustow!), then what chance would everyone else have. So as Nick Life, Jason Fraser and the other fought to get their bikes free, the track had already been switched to an alternative easy route.

Clubman Chris Life flies over some tree roots.

In fact the rest of the entry were not even aware that this bog existed, but it had taken its toll. As anyone who has struggled to get a dirtbike out of the gloop will tell you, its energy draining and was this going to tell later in the day?

As the riders freed themselves and reached the half lap distance marker, it was Jason Fraser leading Nick Life by two metres as they threaded their powerful bikes neatly through the woods. In line astern and right behind was No5 Steve Dustow follwed by his brother Chris No4, No8 Carl Mcilroy was on his tail, then a small gap to Brad Williams No6, 20 seconds behind was Ian Putt No9 and No3 Mark Denslow was about 15 seconds in arrears.

Steve Dustow was unlucky to bury his bike deep in the bog.

On lap two the lead had swapped with Nick Life nudging in front of Fraser by 10 feet. Chris Dustow had now pushed up to 3^rd in front of 8 Mcilroy and his brother Steve was relegated down to 5^th.

By this time two experts had leapt what seemed like light years in front of the others, No17 Steven Jewel who was leading Jamie Paget No21 by inches. But in reality they only had a 10 seconds safety margin from the hard charging pack.

The excitement was breath taking as both these groups of riders were powering around at breakneck speeds lap after lap.

Jamie Paget glances back as he hears Steven Jewel 
shout for a pass on a trailing clubman.

By lap three Fraser had inched back in front of Life but the remaining championship class positions still had not changed. Expert class rider Paget had now inched in front of Jewel as their personal battle intensified. Charlie Richards No23 was still trailing them by only a few seconds, so neither could afford to make a slip. Kevin Edwards was right up Richards exhaust pipe and Gavin Hunt was trailing this leading group by around one minute.

At the 90 minute mark, the championship and expert class leads remained exactly the same, both first and second places within seconds of each other. Quick refuelling was going to be imperative.

Charlie Richards had Kevin Edwards this close 
behind him for most of the race.

As the top champ riders entered the first MX style field loop, it was apparent that Nick Life had pulled out around 100 feet from an unflustered Fraser who was still gunning hard but riding smooth and steady. Unknown to me at the time, Life had put in a big charge on his 250cc Yamaha two stroke and had pulled out quite a bit of time from Fraser, as he didn't know if Fraser would need to make a fuel stop on his Midwest sponsored Husaberg 4-stroke.

Life had apparently decked it hard in one of the fields, but had still managed to get back on, refuel and retain his lead - awesome!

Roger Marley stylin it through the woods.

Chris and Steve Dustow was still tailing but were a fair way behind. However Chris had obviously 'geared up' and was gaining fast on the leading two.

Fraser fuelled on his next lap but still had Life in his sights and was very determined to win. The course was a hard one and a heavy bike definitely a disadvantage in the woods, never the less Fraser man handled the big Berg like it was a toy and gradually reeled in Life until they were neck and neck, lap after lap as the hours ticked by.

At the two hour mark Jewel and Paget were still swapping the lead every other lap in a right ding dong battle. Steven Jewells father had just spoken to me saying I really don't want him to be chasing so hard, he only has to cross the finish line upright to take the expert class South West championship.

Gavin Hunt new to enduro had a good clubman ride to finish 5th .

Then suddenly Paget went flying by and there was no other bike in sight. What had happened to Steven? There was a long pause for what seemed like an eternity, then a very steady riding Steven Jewell came into view. Apparently he had gone down big time, one little slip - the front end had gone away leaving him sprawling across the ground. Fortunately though shook up, he was not injured, so remounted and rode on to a safe second place.

Jamie Paget had kept the pressure on, he had no choice. To get second place in the SW championship, he needed a 1^st place finish today - and he did it (well done Jamie).

8 minutes before the end Fraser had just managed to snatch back the championship class lead from Life as he came past the spectator area pulling a gigantic celebration wheelie to his family and friends, but would he be able to keep the lead for the last lap?

Chris Dustow looked like a contender to threaten the front runners at 
the two hour mark, but as the pace upped he settled for 3rd.

It was a tense time when the chequered flag was readied to salute the overall race winner, but who would it be. All eyes were on the corner of the start finish field as a lone yellow bike appeared. Fraser had done it, Nick Life had put in a valiant effort desperate to win the day. But he couldn't meet the late charge put on by Fraser in the last hour.

In Nick's own words after the race when he complimented Jason on his strong ride - especially at the end. He said "I am hanging, I tried hard but am exhausted, Jason picked up the pace in that last half hour, but I had no more energy left". With that Nick almost collapsed against his van. They had both put in a fantastic amount of effort and thrilled the spectators. It left me pondering - I wondered who had spent most energy freeing their bike from the bog earlier in the day?

Fraser was in front when it counted most of all - to take the win

Although most interest lay with the top riders, the other classes had a brilliant days ride also. Richard Jay took the clubman up to 225cc 2stroke class win aboard his 200 Gas Gas and Treveor Verco on his 250 Yamaha won the clubman 2stroke open class.

Kevin Woodley won the clubman 250cc 4stroke class and Chris Johnson the 4stroke open class.

Barry Voaden couldn't believe his ears when he was informed that he had won the sportsman and was to say the least overjoyed.

Chris Honeywell was gutted when his 250 Gasser siezed solid in the woods after half an hour. Apparently it had only had a new piston fitted a week earlier.

Rider No64??? Found out that reversing at speed back down a steep climb normally leads to disaster - luckily though shaken, he did not seem to badly injured.

No64 had just reversed down this hill at very high speed!
NOT RECOMMENDED

No8 Carl Mcilroy was a picture to watch in the open going. On the fast sweeping corners he looked simply untouchable as he drifted his RMS Yamaha speedway style on the flat turns.

Disturbance for the local population has always been an issue with this track, overlooking the nearby town of Newton Abbot. Therefore I was disappointed at a few of the four stroke riders who clearly hadn't bothered to maintain their silencers. To say that one or two were deafening is not an understatement. If these guys try to ride somewhere again soon, I hope the noise meter man manages to catch them. Or else no one will have anywhere to ride next year!

John Heal, Vic Ashford and the rest of the West of England team of helpers had done a brilliant job. The whole day ran smoothly and the track was ingenious. Each loop into the fields had either jumps, ramps, logs or ditches - all providing a great variety that suited all abilities of riders.

Thanks guys, I hope you get a chance to put this one on again next year. It was a very fitting SW round enjoyed by spectators and riders alike.