The 95th Wild and Woolly has now happened! Taking place once again at the fabulous Long Buckby course, this year the weather was bright and sunny. With extra car parks laid on and plenty of assistance, the massive crowd of 5000 plus were able to enter the venue with little drama this year.
Race Report Fraser Law – Images courtesy motoxphotos.co.uk
That drama was saved for the race itself. The water holes looked innocent enough in practice and for the first few laps, but looks can be deceiving. As the race progressed they became a tough ordeal, a battle of man against the elements taken to epic proportions. But also a lesson in team work, the racers still able to slither around the track were helped enormously by a muddy team of enthusiastic helpers. Equipped with ropes and straps, these tug of war teams helped riders through the worst of the ditches. Their help cheered on by the loud and enthusiastic crowds of spectators, who often looked nearly as muddy as the competitors.
Just before 11am the start line fell eerily silent as it always does, for this race uniquely has a dead-engine start. On the top of the hour the starter’s flagged dropped and bikes roared into life. Paul Field jumped straight into the lead and was first around the top of the circuit, followed by most of the pre-race favourites. Setting the fastest lap of the race, Paul was able to stay near the front of the pack for most of the event. But as the second water hole began to get tougher, nobody was immune to its effects. Most riders took a lie down there at some point, or lost time there trying to restart. Previous winner Neville Bradshaw fought through to the lead early on, looking like he meant to take another victory. Despite riding hard his efforts ground to a halt at around one third distance, as the little 125 Yamaha had had enough.
Last year’s winner Michael McClurg challenged hard for the lead, but was slowed by at least one hard fall at the water. Through all this carnage some riders were able to be stay more consistent than others. At the half way point it looked as if the win could be going to Ashley Rilings, who had reached the front and was maintaining a gap. James Barnwell put on a fabulous performance to reach second place. Barring a disaster at the front, James looked the only person capable of catching Ashley as the race wound to a close. When Ashley’s bike stopped in the water this could so nearly have happened, however somehow it was coaxed back to life and he was not to be denied. Ashley was the 95th winner, with James finishing runner-up. Michael McClurg took third place, with the holeshot king Paul Field in fourth ahead of Callum Hughes and Charley Lee.
After the finish Ashley Rilings gave his thoughts- “What to say, ha! I have always wanted to win this race from the years I went as a little boy watching my Mum race. This year I trained like mad and made the dream come true. That race was very hard and I would like to thank every single person that helped pull me through those water holes.” Proud mother of the winner Hayley Rilings- “ I still can’t quite believe it. So pleased. As you know the race has been a massive part of my life since my first one in 1988, having competed 20 something times since. I think I felt worse watching Ash than I ever did riding it myself! For him to get the win, which he wanted so badly has really just put the icing on the cake.”
Second place finisher James Barnwell, who’s Dad won in ’75 and ’79 had this to say- “My start was OK, but I crashed a couple of times on the first few laps. Then I managed to get a good pace going for the next 40 minutes and pulled through. I had no idea where I was, but with three laps to go I got stuck really bad in the second water hole and lost loads of time. I was happy with the result. It was a tough Woolly and that second water hole was a nightmare at the end.”
Last year Michael McClurg took a fine victory, this year he had this to say- “Another good hard Woolly at long Buckby, great event. Conditions got harder as the race went on, the water holes went more like soup after every lap and just got deeper. Soon as I heard Bradshaw’s bike had packed up I knew we were all back in with a chance of the win, so I had to keep going! Even the normal parts of the race track got really tricky. I’m happy with my finish, well done to Ashley and James for their results.”
Results
1 Ashley Rilings- 18 laps
2 James Barnwell- 17 laps
3 Michael McClurg- 16 laps
4 Paul Field- 15 laps
5 Callum Hughes, 6 Charley Lee- 14 laps
7 John Barnes, 8 Matthew Smith- 13 laps
9 Tyler Etheridge, 10 Graham Howe, 11 Jamie Berry, 12 Brett Wykes, 13 Edward Elkin, 14 John Gill, 15 Ben Jones, 16 Corey Blackwell, 17 Nicholas Williams- 12 laps
18 Kelvin Hammer, 19 Chris Morrall, 20 Stanley Tucker, 21 Jamie Barnes- 11 laps
22 Eagan Bruley, 23 Daniel Broughton- 10 laps
24 Christian Livesey- 9 laps
25 Joshua Wootton, 26 Ben Giles- 7 laps
27 Jack Roberts, 28 Ian Tindle, 29 Thomas Elliott, 30 Nathan Goodman, 31 Lee Smith, 32 Bradley Thomas, 33 Sean Bird- 6 laps
34 James Higgins, 35 Jack Burton, 36 Joseph Ellis- 5 laps
37 Ashley Batten- 4 laps
