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Welsh 2004
 The
long range weather forecast for the 3rd week of July predicted an unseasonal
low developing in the Atlantic resulting in a deep depression over Mid Wales
& by Monday lunchtime the rain & gale force winds duly arrived along
with an uneasy sense of depression for the 400+ riders competing in the 2004
Welsh 2 Day Enduro. The start was at the lakeside in Llandrindod Wells as
usual & the format was very similar to last year with the 150 mile lap
being ridden clockwise on Day 1 & in reverse on Day 2. The rain did not
stop on Tuesday & the early arrivals went to bed with the sound of the
deluge drumming out a damp message of gloom. Wednesday was scrutineering &
the Parc Ferme filled in the gaps between the showers. Bob Room & his wife
Wendy braved the atrocious weather to raise funds to support British riders
competing in the 2004 ISDE. Disappointingly they were charge £50 for setting
up their stand (see Letters). It was very cold &
the pre-event barbeques were more a source of heating than cooking. On Day 1
the dawn broke behind heavy clouds but the rain held off. The first sidecars
were away at 8.01. 2 miles from the start was the Cross Country Test. In an
improvement over last year the organisers had added a short offroad section
before the test to give the bikes & riders a chance to warm up. Pushing up
a grassy climb the rider of a BMW was warming up nicely. The totally taped
Cross Country Test consisted of a grassy field with ditches & a wood with
roots. Following the test was a road section & an open moorland track with
rocks. Andrew Knapman's Husky didn't make it. Stage 2 - Irfon - was tight on
time & low on light under the trees. Bob Room retired when his KTM - in a
repeat of the Powys - began to blow gear box oil. The water level in Strata
Florida was low (knee deep). The Tarenig stage contained a uphill gully filled
with mud & logs to remind riders that Tarenig is the Welsh word for the
contents of a handkerchief. A limp arrow in the Hafren sent several riders on
a scenic loop around the mountain but the times were slack enough to make the
trip worthwhile. At the end of the stage, the check was manned by the
gentleman of WTRA amidst a cloud of cigar smoke, fine wine & bon ami. The
18 mile stage from Flying Gate to Cymbedw was the longest offroad section
& contained the MX Test. It also contained a few nasty surprises. The
presence of a blue Subaru on the forestry road predicted the first of these
& sure enough Frank Morgan had found a hill. At Abbeycwmhir the test had
dried out during the day but it still broke loose at the slightest
encouragement. After the test there was a final sting in the tail at the top
of the hill consisting of a boggy hole & a rocky climb. Thanks to the
marshals for their help. As the evening arrived so did the clouds but Day 2
dawned brightly with warm sunshine & a gentle breeze. The first few tracks
in Abbeycwmhir were still slick from the overnight rain but the general
feeling was that the course was drying quickly & finishing was a distinct
possibility barring incidents. Unfortunately for a few things have a habit of
happening. Carl Jennings broke his collar bone & West Glos rider Peter
Neale was airlifted with a back injury. Nigel & Richard Smith - who had
done some good times - lost their moose in the Hafren. While they were parked
up they could watch riders mistakenly following another limp arrow around one
of the nadgeriest loops of Day 1. A Gas Gas rider was unsure which was his
best side when he saw photographer Gary Jones so he hit him head on. At least
two experts - well on their way to top ten finishes - crashed heavily on the
final test. Andrew Edwards injured his left leg. He continued but was clearly
shaken. Andy Frost was taken away to the ambulance with a shoulder injury
& DNF'd within soght of the finish. Sportsman Arthur Walton riding his
first event on a Armstrong got plenty of encouragement on his tests from the
starters who were his mum & dad. The oldest competitor at 77 years was Ian
Bell. He finished Day 1 just outside his hour but retired on Day 2. Edward
'Buster' Griffin #157 at 68 & #102 Hubert Schek competed for a virtual
award of the oldest finisher. Apart from the sidecars there wasn't much
evidence of the old ironmongery that has enter the Welsh in the past. Tim
Davies went for gold on a 250 twin shock Maico (left: Cellopix).
61 year old George McGowan must have been keen on Meccano as a boy to have
shoehorned a KX frame into his Pampera. The presentation was held in the
Pavilion as usual on the Friday evening. As a prelude the riders were
entertained by a big screen showing of Frank Morgan's video "Welshs in
the 90s" (When Dayglo kit was big). Chairperson Sheila Powell opened the
evening by thanking everyone involved in putting on the Welsh which received a
huge round of applause. The Mayor then presented the prizes & assured the
riders of the importance that the people of Llandrindod Wells give to the
event. Best Expert Sidecar team was Matt Turner & Gavin Yelland ahead of
Geoff & Roger James. Martin Chapman & Cathy Elcocks won the Clubman
Sidecar class. Steve Plain & Adrian Jarvis were the runners up at their
first attempt on an ex-Ray Bartlett outfit although any machine built to carry
a man of Ray's heroic proportions is bound to go well. Kate Wakely won the
Best Sportsman & Steve Martin was the runner up. Breckland Clerk of the
Course - Andy Waters - was the Best Over 50 ahead of Peter Lawry. Andi Zimmer
won the Over 40 class & Adrian Dark was the runner up. Tom Pugh was the
Best Clubman ahead of James Yearley. Natterjack CoC Andrew "Dusty"
Martin won a Gold in the Clubman class as did Crychan assistant CoC Phil
Wilkinson in the Over 40 class. Daryl Bolter was the Premier (photo top left: Keith
Bowen) & Juan Knight was the runner up. The Hafren team won the Club
Award. Gwent Police was the Best Services Team. On a personal note, I had a
great time despite losing 10 minutes re-inacting the Steve McQueen scene from
the Great Escape involving a ditch & roll of barbed wire on Day 2 at Tom's
Farm. Thanks to my partner Gaynor for the wonderful rub down with wd40 &
lavender when I got home. Thanks to Matthew Reed & the members of
Caerphilly club for their support. Thanks to Gary
Jones for the picture (left). Results
Teams
Photos available from Keith
Bowen Cellopix Gary
Jones Video:Frank
Morgan, Malvern Lodge, Howey, LLANDRINDOD WELLS, Powys, LD1 5RE. Tel: 01597
822642.
Wayne Braybrook – Welsh 2 Day Enduro
In his first ride back for over 5 weeks, subsequent to his stay in
Hospital, Wayne was fit and ready for the Welsh. He did however struggle with
a few of his tests quite simply through not having been on a bike enough. With
3 weeks to go before the next British Championship Round (The Hafren) Wayne
now knows that his “Vasovagel” Dehydration problems are rectified and a
solid 3 weeks of “Test” practise is certainly the order of the day.
Finishing 3rd in the 250/4 Class with only 5.72 seconds separating the top 3
riders, Wayne is confident of maintaining his British Championship lead.
“Honda Racing Team Sandiford” Rider Justin Wilson, attained a creditable
Welsh 2 Day Gold Medal in this same class finishing in 12th place. Having
studied his own test times, he too is conscious of improvements he will make
in these same 3 weeks whilst training with Wayne for a “Hafren” onslaught
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