Splash happy at Drumclog! 2022 Northern Youth Enduro Championships Rounds 2 & 3 – Race Report & Results

The 2022 Northern Youth Enduro championship headed north of the border into Scotland’s finest, the Drumclog off-road centre with a challenging course to test the endurance of these young warriors around the clog, with over 93 youth riders and their families attending the weekend.

Report and Images by Gary Nicholson

Saturday had a one-race 3 track format but unfortunately, illness struck and the electronic timing personnel had to seek medical care leaving the organisers needing to swiftly act to a paper format of scoring laps resulting in 5 hours of sorting through part data/part paper to piece up the results.

First away were the Superteens with some blistering pace and talented displays of skills. Bobby Moyer from the Isle of Man didn’t take long to settle in on his 125 Beta showing that enduro is as much a rider talented sport as who has the fastest bike, by taking the win followed in 2nd place by Frank Skillen on his Sherco 4 stroke. By the videos and the track talk around the pits, the young lad was riding with a big smile on his face showing off his talents for the spectators on every occasion. Finishing off the podium was local Scottish rider Callum Davidson fresh back from injury enjoying his ride and his short trip back home for a change

Next out was the 125/150 class, with a strong lineup into double figures. North Yorkshire’s 13-year-old Riley Boyd took the win showing riding skills well above his age group on his 150 KTM with local lad Robbie Davidson showing no mercy on his bike after smashing the engine to a mush in his last outing a couple of weeks ago. The throttle was still working though and he wasn’t scared to use it to take 2nd place on the podium. 3rd place went to North East 13-year-old Harley Mudie who is starting to grow into his Beta 125 rr and it’s showing with him getting stronger in every outing

Next out was (21 ) 85 Big Wheels. Riding the full track this class has some real ambitious youngsters in it and the competition on display made for some great racing and none more than the winner on the day Rhys Whyment whose race started from the campsite a quarter of a mile away in his shorts and trainers as everyone lined up Reece and his dad had to rush back to the campsite get geared up fuel and get back to start the race which had gone giving him a huge task to fight through the pack to take the win.

Isle of Man’s Cayden Higgins rode a great race battling all the way to keep the strong pack behind him for 2nd place.

3rd place honours went to young Jack Leonard from Teeside, a relative newcomer to enduro who’s showing real potential in the sport with natural talent.

The 85 Small Wheel hit the track next with a shortened but by no means an easier route back to the pits.

Taking the top spot was Isle of Man’s young starlet Jacob Wilson who started the race battling with his sparring partner Jack Wall – great to see these two on battling each other. It’s going to be an interesting watch. Jack had bike troubles on the day and Jacob professionally brought it home for the win. 2nd place went to Reuben Trew with a fantastic ride, with 3rd going to Morgan McGowan bringing his 85 Small Wheel home safely ahead of a hunting pack.

Now comes the 65 class – a huge outing of young talent in conditions that were at the limit, for these size bikes. Yorkshire’s Dexter Hind took top spot showing that he has the minerals to grind out results even when things go wrong, snapping his chain, getting it repaired and still taking the win. 2nd spot went to the ever-improving Yorkshire lad Elliot Tennant who ground out the 1.5 hour race to cross the line for that second spot podium finish.

The final shelf on the podium went to Northeast lad Jack Wade; what he lacks in inside leg measurement he makes up for in determination. the pint-size Geordie battled the tough terrain with sheer determination.

Last but not least the Autos left the line for their own shortened lap but still a track that challenged these superheroes with water crossings small banks and testing terrain and wow these kids show no fear. And as we know if you can get an auto 50cc bike to the end it’s an achievement.

1st to the flag was local Scottish prospect Liam Hannah who showed absolutely no fear of anything on the track. 2nd place goes to Daniel Morrison with another fearless display of riding. 3rd place finisher on the podium was Adam Wark, another young Scottish rider finding his feet in enduro.

A big well done to every single rider who took on the clog it was a very challenging course and there were a lot of enduro virgins who attended. Hats off to you all!

“If you had fun you won” was the slogan on the trophies and the feedback is a lot of people had fun so there were alot of winners over the weekend.

Round 3 on Sunday morning race got underway with a 9 am start and a two race format for the Autos, 65’s and Small Wheel 85’s for a 1.5 hour duration.

First off the line where the Small Wheel 85’s with Theo Nicholson taking the holeshot, and then hitting the dirt straight after with a colllision with his pal Jack Wall who over the weekend had a real run of bad luck, in the first race taking to the water, and having a medical problem on Sunday. He will be back as contender though that’s for sure. Jacob Wilson was showing he hasn’t made the trip from the Isle of Man to make the numbers up with his consistent fast lap times taking him to an additional lap than his nearest rivals giving him two wins out of two over the weekend. 2nd place fell to Northeast rider William Atkinson. This ten-year-old has been showing promise on his 85 TC for a while and his strength is building to keep him on the bike a lot more with his pace coming through ,and gaining 2 more postions from day one. The final podium place goes to Theo Nicholson. After a dnf on Saturday due to bike issues, the only way was up for this 11 year old rider from the Northeast and he had a steady ride to nurse the bike to a podium finish.

Next off the line was the 65 class and with one-weekend win under his belt the young Yorkshire lad Dexter Hind didn’t hang about gaining an extra lap on 2nd, his riding buddy Elliot Tennant who had notched up two 2nd places over the weekend showing that his riding isn’t just improving in speed it’s also improving in consistency. 3rd place today was Leon Wright. After taking a bit of fall on the Saturday Leon pulled himself together to ride a very impressive race to grab the last podium finish.

The final lineup to brave another 1.5 hours in the first race were the Autos.

On their own smaller but challenging course, local lad Liam Hannah was again the boy to catch taking his win tally to both days with a well-deserved victory showing a real talent for enduro. Taking the 2nd spot was Daniel Morrison giving him a 2-2 on the weekend and keeping first place Liam on his toes. Third place on the podium and not letting the boys get away with it, was first-timer, April McIntyre, with an awesome display and consistent lap times to match the boys at times.

Race 2 at 11 o’clock was the big boys’ time to shine with 2 hours around a big flowing and technical track that give the Big Wheel 85’s a real test, and the 125/150 and open cc class a trail track that made them smile while they took in the variety of terrain.

First out where the Superteens open cc class

In fine form from the previous days win was Bobby Moyer with a blistering pace. Unfortunately, Bobby’s bike broke halfway through the race and was quite content to finish the race on a loan bike, leaving him with a DNF on the day and allowing the first place to go to the local Scotsman Callum Davidson who finished on the same 13 Laps, to secure the win. 2nd place went to fellow Scot Andrew Murdock making it a one-two for the Scots. Bike troubles fell on Frank Skillen for a did not finish.

The 125/150 class followed with Yorkshires Riley Boyd notching up a clean sweep of wins over the weekend to bring the 150 machine home. 2nd place went to Scot Robbie Davidson finishing on the same lap and going 2-2 on the weekend with the final podium shelf going to Durham youngster Harley Mudie for 3-3 over the weekend.

The Big Wheel 85’s were away last with local Scotsman Rhys Whyment starting from the line this day and taking a pair of victories over the two day. Hot on his heels was Teesides Jack Leonard with lap times being consistent to finish on the same lap. The third spot went to Robin Wood showing a real gutsy display.

A big thank you to everyone who attended the weekend and to everyone who made this weekend possible
👏Pinpoint Recruitment
👏Dirtbike action
👏Drumclog Off-Road Centre
👏Trail 2 Extreme
👏Snowden groundwork’s
👏Tom Leonard heating
👏CI Connect Installation
👏cramlington body repairs ltd
👏selly hill garage
👏 Minster Self-drive
👏Make it Bespoke

Results

Sunday

Super Teens

125/150

Big Wheel 85

Auto

Junior 65

Small Wheel 85