Fraser leads lap one from Chris Dustow.

Much work had been put into developing the track which incorporated deciduous woodland, various types of open fields and a mixture of cross country going. Although covering a limited amount of acreage, ingenious planning plus much sweat and toil had produced an incredibly exciting 6 mile circuit.

Some of the wood tracks were quite narrow!

At 10am sharp the small group of Championship class riders rocket off like a shot from a gun as the pack focused on their first right hander at the end of the start straight, then a long uphill drag and into the woods.

The Experts got away next shortly afterwards and all seemed well as each group of riders set off at 1 minute intervals. That is until clubman 2-stroke rider No69 Andrew Jerred hit the deck half way up the first field after turn one. His temporarily motionless body held up the proceedings until he recovered and the bike had been removed by a few on the spot volunteers.

Riders battling their way up root infested hiils.

At the end of lap one Jason Fraser No1 led Chris Dustow No7 as the championship boys circumnavigated the start filed back towards the pit area. Then No6 Steve Dustow came into view being chased hard by Brad Williams No3 and John Young No8.

Spectators had a great time viewing at this hilltop venue which provided easy access to the woods and fields, plus great views over the local countryside and nearby town.

Tom Lobb making a splash on his KTM.

For the first hour all seemed to be going well. The track was narrow in much of the woods and had many sharp turns, so although the going was great fun, riders had to keep their wits about them, make no mistake. Then 10 minutes of drizzle briefly broke the glorious day long sunshine and the woods took a turn for the worse for a while. A multitude of evil angled tree roots which had just begun to surface took on a most slippery nature, causing a few frightening moments for many of the racers.

Chris Dustow pressing hard chasing after Fraser. 

Shortly after this one or two riders called it a day. Some had taken a tumble and had various minor injuries – as you do. While others simply found it a bit too scary. Which was sad, as a little while later the grip returned and laterly the circuit was awesome. Just perfect for genuine woods racers who love to swerve duck and dive, while winding around old English oaks in dry brown powdery loam soil.

At the 2 hour mark Jason Fraser was holding a comfortable lead over 2^nd place man Chris Dustow in the champioship class, with his brother Steven and newcomer to the enduro scene - top trials rider Joe Baker in close pursuit.

There was plenty of tapped out action on the open going 
between the wooded sections.

In the Experts McKilroy was holding the number one spot from Pete Bulley and Mark Denslow who were at each other heals for many a lap.

Max Hembrooke was holding the lead in the Clubman Open class from David Crofts and Steven Jewell was leading the Clubman 225 class.

2 laps later and still only 10 feet separated Bulley an Denslow. This was a battle that looked like it was going down to the wire.

Matt Taylor heading back to the woods.

Early retirement Darren Row had fallen victim to an overdose of a potent pre-race drug. Trying to get an edge on the pack he had taken the unusual step of downing a can of Red Bull. Bad move, he should have stuck to water. He was seen hanging over his bars at the trackside looking rather green for quite a long time before finally limping back to the pits!

WOE had used every object and obstacle they could to make 
the track an exciting one to race on!

Expert rider No13 decked his bike really awkwardly in the woods on a semi hidden angled tree root, as he glanced at what he though was the cameraman. But alas I had already packed the camera away – Tch, Tch.

At the end of the very warm 3 hours it was Fraser who took the premier class – championship win, with 11 laps completed, from Chris Dustow who came in just a few minutes later on 11 with Joe Baker on his heels.

Vince Allen on his Gasser exiting from the trees.

Carl Mcilroy took the Expert win also with 11 laps.
Steve Jewel won the 2stroke clubman up to 225cc.
Max Henbrowe the 2stroke clubman over 225cc.
Ray Arnold won 4stroke 250 class.
Harry Thomas won 4stroke over 2500cc.
Sportsman winner was Martin Gilbert.

Prize Winners: As per results sheet page3.

Although Jason Fraser won by only a few minutes, it has to be said that when I saw him on his last lap in a big open field he was just pottering along as if on a Sunday jaunt. He must have known he had the race safely in the bag!

The nearby town of Newton Abbot made an unusual racetrack backdrop.

DODGY MOMENTS -
Noisy or what! The WOE club had taken great care to check bikes at this meeting, as the venue is overlooked by many of the ‘idle’ rich who live in the nearby town Newton Abbot. And whose main hobby seems to be objecting to anything that they don’t do!

So it was very distressing for the club to find that many riders bikes – which had ‘mysteriously’ passed the static sound check of 94db, suddenly reached deafening proportions when out on the track later.

Over a dozen bikes were regularly producing sound levels in the region of over a 100db, with four or five in the 106db region. – Every 3db means TWICE as loud. But the real killer was a little yellow Husky 2-stroke ridden by Steve Annear No40, whose exhaust noise averaged 109db in the open and an ear-splitting over 112db in the woods. Which is very sad as the WOE club would like to be able to race there again next year!

Well that’s one way of getting our sport stopped! These levels of noise are totally inexcusable with off-road bike sport under such threat – especially from people within the trade who should know better! 

I would also like to point out here that BLUE tape means WALKING SPEED. I won’t say who, but someone was very lucky not to be excluded today.

Sadly the wealthy types who live near to this track are quick to object, 
even though its only held once a year!

NEWS SNIPPET -
It was heard in the pit area that Joe Baker - a top UK Trials rider will be competing a full season of Enduro next year. So the championship boys had better get some serious practice in before next season, or most will be moving down one place!

Apparently Joe is the highest placed non-sponsored trials rider in the UK and his talent shows in his smooth riding style.

Mark Budge gives it some trying to make up a few places.

FINALLY –
Kevin, Andy and John did a brilliant job of laying out this exciting circuit and they asked me to thank all the helpers who worked so hard marking out, chopping down and clearing up. Plus those who marshalled during the day and kept the whole thing running so smoothly. And a special thanks to Vic Ashford who works so tirelessly to keep the West of England club working so well.