Kingston + District M.C.C. Summer Enduro
Venue:- Iron Hill, Forestry Commision Land near Liphook, Hants. Leave the A3 and go into Liphook and follow the signs to the Hollycombe Steam Collection and follow the orange arrows.

Class:- Sportsman

View the results
Click on an image for a larger version

All images courtesy of Andrew from http://www.endurouk.com

Awoke in the morning to bee greeted with grey, drizzling weather. Iron hill is known for it's tree roots and fallen/felled branches which all want to kick your front wheel sideways, add to this the damp weather and it was destine to be a tough day.

Passed through scrutineering OK, just a little comment about my tired looking crash helmet. That was deserved though, the hat is second hand and certainly getting on in years. Chatted to a few people who I know or know me and awaited the riders briefing.

There was one unusual and interesting (frightening?) comment during the briefing. Along with the usual "go careful on the first lap" type stuff we were informed that the track had been laid out assuming dry conditions. OK, it wasn't exactly flooded but the constant drizzle had made the going definitely NOT dry.

The turn out was due to be low to start with as there were less than 108 riders applying. The inevitable dropouts made for an interesting start line on occasion. At one point the next four riders were called up yet only 2 appeared, the third did appear at the 10 seconds to go mark. Out of the very next bunch of 4 riders to be called forward a grand total of 0, none, zilch showed much to the amusement of the spectators who watched the start marshal standing alone looking rather lost.

I started off at 10:30 (a good time as it made calculating time checks easier) and headed out into the drizzle. about 2 minutes into the track I realised that my goggles were 'parked' on the chin piece of my helmet still as is my norm while I'm waiting to start. I'd forgotten to put them on properly at the start line but not a problem. The first stretch was fairly flat and straight so I took one hand from the bars, repositioned the goggles in front of my eyes then the problems started. Yep the goggles were covered in the fine mist both inside and out meaning I could see absolutely nothing. Hold the bike in a straight line, brake as hard as I dare and hope! there was nothing else I could do, getting the goggles on had been difficult at speed but getting them off would have been impossible. Next time I got to the start/finish line the goggles were left there as they weren't going to do me any good today.

As predicted the going was tough, the roots and branches having a number of people off including myself. one or two of the upwards hills became muddy, root infested traps. One of these was eventual re-routed as it was catching too many people out, I didn't notice the new route until after I'd tried to navigate the old nearly impossible one and seen someone just appear at the top seemingly arriving from nowhere. As the marshal came to my assistance he informed me that I might like to try "that route over there next time".

At the top of one of the hills the forestry commission had been going to town with tree felling and leaving it laying around to catch us out. At this point there were two marshals posted all day picking up bikes and riders. I fell particularly awkwardly and had my leg trapped under the bike. Before I could really consider what to do about it the bike was lifted from me by the hard working marshal. He then went to point out the rather large dent in my now twisted exhaust system :o(. Not a show stopper but it was surely going to cause a pain in my wallet later.

Cass (my other half) was away most of the week leading up to this event meaning I had to feed myself, not a good plan. She normally feeds me loads of pasta, potatoes and meat before the event and forces glucose tablets and bananas down my through during the event in order to maximise my energy reserves. Due to her lack of support my energy failed about half way through the penultimate lap. I lost concentration and had genuine difficulty just riding in a straight line. Knowing that one of the hardest branch littered slopes was pending and fearing for my own safety I decided to call it a day. I think this proved that the feeding regime that Cass normally has me on does work. Next time I'll take a little more care in the run up to an event.