RAW Enduro created another top-notch Extreme race at a very unique venue last weekend, where The Summit Extreme Enduro ran like clockwork. A fantastic lineup of riders across all classes showed that the UK Extreme Enduro scene is well and truly alive at the right venues with good course designs.
Report by Raw Media – Images courtesy of CH-Images
Unlike most Extreme venues, this site can only be used once per year by RAW Enduro, who have exclusive use of the site. The limestone rocks offer a challenge like no other; the steep ravines and hill climbs temp riders as they try to reach the top, then The Summit….. Well that was the icing on the cake as the warriors pushed and lifted their bikes to stand on the top.
Wayne Braybrook knows his stuff when it comes to Extreme terrain, a winner of Hells Gate in Italy, and a 4th place at Erzberg means he has the experience when planning a testing but ride-able course.
Beta UK Championship riders Jack Spencer and Charlie Frost were fast out of the blocks, both riders trading places, as each of them got stuck and looked for different line choices. Spencer, in the end, had some really cool lines to sneak through traffic to take the win on a huge 6 lap tally. Frosty narrowly missed out on a 5 lap tally and had to settle for runner-up after a real tough day in the saddle. Ex Trials riders filled the top 3 Expert places with Erzberg competition winner Tom Minta taking a deserved win by just 12 minutes from Extreme Enduro newcomer Ross Danby. Lee Sampson placed his Team Steer Sherco on the final step of the Expert podium. Average Lap times for the expert riders were 38-44 minutes.
All Expert and Championship riders had to complete the Twister section of the course on every lap apart from Lap 1. This almost impossible climb up the fell saw many riders gain and lose time, the theme of risk and reward was evident as some riders gambled on which sheep track to follow before the super steep descent back into the dry riverbed. The largest class of the day was Clubman, Jed Balmer grafted for 3 laps to take the class win, Tommy Johnson was runner up chased home by Kyle Walton in third.
In the Elite Vets class Harry Lampkin returning to Enduro after almost 10 years away had a great result to take the win. Harry used his Scottish Six Days Experience to choose some canny lines, saving energy to thrash out 3 laps in just under 3 hours! Will Midgley placed second with the likeable Mark Houson getting two full laps in for his days’ work.
For the Sportsman, Vets and Novice riders a separate route was linked in for them to bypass the main Summit Ravine, this would not have been possible for those riders to negotiate. Ben Crowcroft topped the Sportsman class, with Liam McShane happy with runner up. Hayden Stansfield did his RAW Team proud by taking third at his first real Extreme race.
Impressive to say the least was Toby Shaw’s win in the Youth support class. 4 Laps completed Toby used his vast trials skills to ride up most waterfalls without real problems, Karl Hancock placed runner-up and got his all-important finish.
Chris Salt is a lover of Hard Enduro races, his win in the Vets support class was pretty cool on 3 laps. Now anyone who said the event was too hard please think again. Ian O’Brien completed 2 full laps at 71 years old!!!! So no moaning folks it’s time to step up as Ian always does. Tom Stephens checked out the track on Saturday and had his reservations, rolling his sleeves up Sunday he got his first Summit Extreme Finish to win the Novice class which was impressive.
As many clubs seem to be sinking with low attendance, RAW Enduro will be the club to trust, we will continue to promote and run events even on low numbers during these higher-than-usual cost times. We will always do whatever we can to keep the wheels turning for Enduro fans, whether it’s Pay and Play or competitions.
Huge thanks to the Extra marshals at the Summit, well done each and every rider, see you at the Third Edition of the Summit Extreme in July 2023.
NEXT EVENT July 30th / 31st Rock Oil Championship R4 Lee Dell Rochdale.
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Results
Summit 2022 CLASS
