Report by Gwynne Turner.
Photos by Aspect Event Photography.

Paul “Bolts on” another win!

This was the 4th and penultimate round of the WOR Events MOTUL winter Hare Scrambles and the weather really played a part in the days proceedings as torrential overnight rain left some parts of the venue in a very slippery state indeed.

The decision was made by the switched on race staff to run the whole event for just 2 hours instead of the intended 3, This was a decision that was welcomed by all come the end of the race and ensured that all the planning and entry limits of the week before paid off.

With all the marshals placed in strategic points of the course to enable all levels of rider to get through the “harder” parts, the race flowed through the 2 hours with everyone having had a great winter blast on their motorbikes.

The course was superb with the fantastic quarry offering hard standing parking and a brilliant spectator arena for the pit crews and riders friends.
The sky cleared and no rain fell during the race which was just so freaky as literally right up to the start and then as soon as the race finished the sideways rain made its presence known.

Paul Bolton (pictured right) was in sparkling form and is a rider that really excels in these kinds of gloopy conditions.
The Sandiford Honda rider was out on a 2504t and looked the part from the very off, as he shadowed Jason Thomas into the quarry as they both completed their first lap.
By lap 2 it was Paul out in front of the rest and Jason Out of the race, as a high speed get off put paid to the flying Suzuki mounted Thomas’s day.
Taking up the runner up position from there on and having hole shot the event, was Rowland Morris (yam 250) with another fine ride that deserved the 2nd place trophy he secured.

Rob Reese was out on his 250 KTM and after a year of Time Card Enduro’s was back on the podium in a WOR event which was very nice to see.
Going back 7 years and Rob could be found on the podium at every welsh hare and hound event you could think of.

World level trials rider Lee Sampson was taking part in his first Hare Scramble and held with the top lads for a while before settling for a solid 9th place in a very large and quality expert class.

The Clubmen class was topped by Alun Jones from Aled Humphreys after a race long epic between the two riders that saw Jones take the lead and the win with a last lap pass on Humphreys. Third went to Rob Loney.

Colin Jones once again took all the glory in the Over 45’s with a powerful ride that saw him sneak one extra lap on Dave Smith in 2nd place and the consistent Dennis Harrison in 3rd.
The small but competitive over 40’s group had John Wadsworth in 3rd place just behind runner up Tom Humphreys who in turn trailed the class winner, Craig Parkes.

In the over 35’s the duel of Barnett and Twentyman was already hot after Barnett had took the class win the previous week at the 3rd round of the series.
Barnett this time past Twentyman on the last lap to take a great win and some valuable points in the champs. The 3rd place trophy went to Shrewsbury’s great all rounder, Gary Benniman.

The Humphreys family were having a brilliant “podium day” with several members of the big family taking home awards. No more so than in the very competitive Youth class.
Owain was a well deserved winner ahead of Gareth Davies (another up and coming rider from the 3 boys from the dyfi) in second position and the younger Humphreys, Gethin, who was out on his new 125 for the first time and loved it.

Top sportsman Rider was again Barnaby Moore with a comprehensive victory over Lee Cotterill and Edward Turner in second and 3rd place respectively.

Tom Beedles was the top runner in the Novice class, Kate Lloyd was the events best female competitor and One of WOR’s venue landowners, Eifion Davies took the hobby class with a tidy ride.

Paul Bolton gets the acclaim for the win with a “feet up” display of quality riding but the plaudits and praise must go to all the riders that took on the conditions and the terrain and battled around the mountainside like the true weekend warriors that WOR riders are renowned for.

Lots of Hype was surrounding the place on the day, with The forthcoming Tough One Extreme Sprint Scramble about to happen in January 2008, riders and spectators alike were all asking WOR race boss Steve questions about the event and what sections were going to be used in the showpiece event.

That’s the next time that the quarry will be brought into life and the plans for that spectacle are well and truly underway, believe me.

WOR’s next event is the weekend of December 15/16th with the final round of the series at the beautiful Oror Estate near Corwen.

POST SCRIPT: WOR Events would like to thank Paul Edmondson and his team Rider Jason Thomas for appearing as guest coaches on the Saturday’s Race Experience Day in which the guys were on hand to do some training and tips along with putting on some real showboat stuff for the lucky guys and girls on the practice day.

Having a 4 time World Champion on hand to help out really shows the level of commitment that the WOR set up is geared for and this is shown in the fact that over 140 riders were turned AWAY from the event at Nantmawr and will have to book in earlier next time.

Youth rider Greg Johnson