Mansfield lad George Birchall hasn’t graced Lincolnshire Enduro Club with his presence for a number of years. The last time he rode with the club was way back in 2017, when he was crowned Experts Champion. Quite right too, he won every race that he started in that year.
Race Report by Martin Southwick – Images courtesy of Graeme Taylor
Forward to 2023 and jockeying his Zero08 Engineering Ltd sponsored Beta 300, he once again showed his class by taking victory in the same group at the weekend. After a long layoff from the sport, and with what may have been a one-off appearance for the previous champ, the winning margin on the day was a little under 2 minutes over the 3 hour Hare and Hounds. George’s closest rival on the day was champion-elect Dan Johnson. That runner-up spot for Dan has now seen his lead for the Experts 2023 title improve a little over Elliot Milburn, who is in 2nd overall. Every second counts as the saying goes, and as George’s times were only marginally faster than Dan’s on most of the laps, those small increments paid dividends in the end for the Derbyshire rider. Even an extra fuel stop for George couldn’t keep him from the victory. Albeit a lap down, Elliot was 3rd on Sunday but keeps the pressure up on Dan, with just 9 points separating them. Third at the moment is the rider who was 4th on Sunday, Mark Lonsdale.
Taking place at Ashby Puerorum, this was the penultimate event of the year for the LEC/Back Office Pro Series. Plucked from the jaws of Storm Babet which swept the area in the days leading up to the race, many feared that the event would be cancelled. It is with some irony then that given the torrential rains and consequential flooding locally, the biggest “enemy” on the day may have been the blinding sun whilst heading up some of the hills en route. The mixed 5.5 mile course ran perfectly. It was only late on during track set up that the club made a risky decision and shoehorned in an extra mile of fast stubble-X style farm land. Taking into account the inclement weather in the previous days, It proved its worth in the end. Other parts of the track were seen by most riders as pretty brutal so a ‘rest’ would have been welcome !
The rider with the biggest winning margin in any class on the day was the guy who also has the biggest lead in any group for the year too. In theory, (and because the club operates a ‘drop round’ clause) Lee Hattersley doesn’t even have to race in the last event of the year. Unofficially, he has already the champions crown in the Over 40’s division. His margin of victory at Ashby was 8 minutes over the lad who is in 3rd overall now, Alan Vissian. Both riders were on 12 laps at the race end. A lap down was the guy in 2nd for 2023, Alex Shaw. Whilst Lee has pretty much sealed victory in the class, the race for the runner up spot is very tight. Alex has just a 5 point advantage over Alan.
Another guy who has one hand on the years crown is Ian Shepherd, in the Over 50’s class. His runner up spot on Sunday now means he only requires a single point from round 7 in November to be guaranteed overall victory. Winner on the day though was Lee Smith, once again a full lap ahead of Ian. Lee’s victory sees him sneak into 3rd place for this year. Sidney Richardson was in the Bronze medal position when the chequered flag dropped on Sunday but doesn’t feature on the leaders board for the title. With a 6th place at the weekend though, Neil Tapper retains his runner up spot overall in the class.
Staying with the “dated” classes, Mark Peckitt and Kevin Bartle Sr looked to have swapped paint once more in the Over 60’s group. Whilst both lads finished on 11 laps, Kevin had the upper hand early on in proceedings but was gradually reeled in by eventual victor Mark. With this, his 5th win of the year, Mark needs to finish in the top 6 next time round for the title to be his. Paul Oates was 3rd on Sunday, a lap behind the leaders.
To the Clubman class, Wesley Bell is another rider who doesn’t actually need to ride in the last event, the 2023 group victory is already his. With his runner up place on Sunday, he now has a 19 point lead over nearest rival. Given the clubs’ aforementioned ‘no dropped round’ clause, he could simply turn up to the event and watch his rivals battle out for the 2nd and 3rd place’s. No doubt, he will be on the start line though. Callum Woodland is in 2nd for the year, even though he ‘Dnf’d’ at Ashby. Nicholas King doesn’t feature near the top of the leader board, but came home in 3rd spot on race day. All 3 lads were on 12 laps at the days end. Callum and Thomas Hodgkinson lay on the same amount of points going to into round 7.
Its a similar story in the Sportsman 4T class, Archie Juszczac only needs to complete the next 3 hours of racing and he takes the spoils. Providing he does just that, his lead is unassailable and cannot be caught. He came home in the runner up spot at the weekend to a guy who doesn’t appear much at the club but usually takes big points from the others, Paige Philipes. Paige’s winning margin was a full lap. Luke Howson may have cemented 3rd overall for the year with his Bronze placing at Ashby. Its tight though; Alex Rothwell is just a couple of points adrift and may still sneak into the top 3. The 2T version of the class is the ‘squeaky bottom’ division as it still hasn’t got a clear favourite. One of 3 riders can still clinch the overall title as there are just 8 points splitting the guys at the top. Darren Wells did his title hopes a world of good with a victory over his closest rivals on the day. That takes him to 3rd overall. Kieron Moor’s 3rd place on the day sees him move into top spot for the year with Stuart Ellis now laying in 2nd (8th on the day). Finlay Harris took silver on the day, but isn’t troubling the leader board
The Trail/Classic class win isn’t nailed on this year either. As long as Shaun Avison scores at least 12 points in the last round, he takes top spot. (Courtesy of more wins this year). With another victory on Sunday though, Steve Kemp kept up the pressure and is in second place overall. Steve Langley came home 3rd on the day.
The last race at the club is on 19th of November.
Entries are here >> https://acu.sport80.com/v/948564/e/events/202120/overview
Club details here for members >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/LincolnshireEnduroClub
And for non members here >> https://www.lincolnshireenduro.wixsite.com/lec2016
Results
Round 6 Ashby Final Results
Championship Standings
LEC 2023 Championship table
