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RISULTATI DA ENDURONEWS.COM DAY 1RISULTATI DA ENDURONEWS.COM DAY 2Danny wins BEC opener
Tetbury near Gloucester. 8/9th March
Danny McCanney got the 2014 ACU British Enduro Championship off to a flying start by winning the opening round at Tetbury near Gloucester.
The sky was grey and drizzly on Saturday morning but there was a promise of finer weather to come. At 9.00 am the 2013 Champion Tom Sagar led off a full entry. There was one time schedule with 3 laps for Clubman and 4 laps the Championship and Experts. The 20 mile course was in the form of a figure of 8 with 2 woodland tests so - with the addition of a back to back test at the end - the Championship class had a total of 9 tests.
Danny McCanney (Beta) was looking fit after pre-season training in Spain with Paul Edmondson and a good ride the previous weekend in the first round of the Italian Championship. He opened his account by winning the first test ahead of Jamie Lewis (MPS Husvarna) and Tom Sagar (Colwyn Bay KTM). Test 2 was twice as long but the top 3 order remained the same although there was stiff competition from groups of small deer racing through the stubble and the last of the vinter greens.
The weather improved and skies cleared to revealed a sparkling Spring day. Tom Sagar won the 3rd test ahead of Brad Freeman but the 4th test went to McCanney, Sagar and Lewis, Jamie Lewis was keen to get at every test first and on the 5th his strategy paid off as he set the fastest time. The last four test went to McCanney, Sagar and Lewis. Brad Freeman was only rider in the E1/2T and finished 4th. Steve Holcombe was 5th, Daryl Bolter 6th, Jack Rowland 7th, Alex Rockwell in 8th made a welcome return to the BEC after a year off training to be fireman, Alongside Jack Rowlands and Lee Edmondson the whole "cat up a tree" scenario was covered.
Ryan McLean was 9th and Robert Johnson 10th. Carl Brogden was setting top ten times on the tests but he lost 4 minutes on the going.
Joe Wootton built up in impressive lead over Lee Sealey in the Experts class but he almost lost the lot on the last test. Joe held on to class from Lee. Fraser Flockhart was 3rd, Charles Evans 4th, Scott Austin 5th, Antoine Criq 6th, Bradley King 7th, Max Hembroke 8th, Kalem Hicks 9th and Lloyd Price 10th.
Harvey Dark was the best of the Clubmen. Jon Hunt was runner up and Lee Green was 3rd. David Mears - riding in his first BEC - had bad luck when his chain came off and got wedged in the sprocket.
A strong field of 7 riders contested the Ladies class and they all finished clean on time. Jane Daniels was the winner. Katie Walker was 2nd and Rhian George put an unhappy previous visit to Tetbury behind her to finish 3rd.
Despite setting the fastest times on the last 2 tests Derek Little couldn't close the gap that Andrew Reeves had opened up earlier in the day in the Over 40 class. Paul Davies (W Mounter KTM) was 3rd.
The new over 50s class was won by Paul Armstrong. David Johnson was the runner up and Robert Murfin was 3rd.
There was a "back to school" feeling about the first day although the way several riders sailed passed the marking on the first corner it should have been "back to Specsavers". At 1.30am the MPS pits had some late night visitors but the combination of the alarm and the prospect of an angry Mick Seward in his jimjams sent the scumbags scurrying off into the night empty handed.
On Sunday morning the sun rose as big as Saville orange into a clear blue sky. The schedule and the course were the same as day one. Tom Sagar set the fastest time on the first test ahead of Steve Holcombe and Daniel McCanney. Tom also won the second and third tests ahead of Danny McCanney. The roots and rocks were polishing up like porcelain. Aaron Smith caught a stump and wrecked his rear brake and a new boot. Danny McCanney won the 4th test but he was pipped to the post in the 5th test by Jamie Lewis. The competition and the early Spring sunshine were really warming up nicely when a groan swept through the crowd at the sight of Jamie Lewis walking back to the pits.
In a bid to save weight he had run out of petrol. Enduro can be cruel but it is also a test of character and Jamie picked up a can and carried on. Danny McCanney won the last 3 tests and the day, Tom Sagar - with little bike time over the winter - was happy to finish second. Brad Freeman - in his first championship ride - was 3rd. Steve Holcombe 4th, Daryl Bolter 5th, Jack Rowland 6th, Robert Johnson 7th, Mark Roberts 8th. Alex Rockwell 9th and Josh Gotts finished 10th.
