Dorset Rough Riders Wareham Race - 22nd May 2011

he day dawned sunny, cool but windy for this year’s edition of the local DRR Enduro Race in Wareham Forest.

A local race and local trails would hopefully give the home town riders an advantage. A couple of team riders were out for this one as Mark Chadbourne was racing at Motocross Enduro and Stu King was riding with a group up in Wales.

With the have a go race safely wrapped up, the main event a 2 hour Enduro, took to the start line. Enduro racing is different to traditional XC racing in as much as you have to cover as many laps as possible in the set time, as opposed to a set number of laps as fast as possible. It has a slightly more relaxed feel to it than the hotly contested XC races.

The grid saw 140ish riders take the start which was a long fast fire road start into a head wind. The whole group got away safely on the gun with the Ride team moving nicely towards the front, avoiding early race pile ups.

Half a lap in quite a divide was apparent as the fastest riders formed a group of 6-8, from which all the top placings would emerge.

As the race progressed riders found their own pace and settled in with similarly paced riders to crack out 5-6 laps in the sunshine on dusty trails.

It’s important to pace yourself in a race of this length as going out too hard will cost you towards the end. Hydration and nutrition are also vital... So as riders re-entered the pit area they would pick up fresh bottles from helpers as they came through.

So with 6 laps completed for the top competitors the final standings were

Mens

1st – Paul Hopkins - Merida

2^nd – Ro Tilley – Ride

3^rd – James Horton

4^th – Andy Parsons - Offcamber

5^th – DRR

6^th – Jon Hayes – Ride

Ladies

1^st – Liz Gilmour – Ride

2^nd – Ms Gould

3^rd – Carol Tilley – Ride

To sum up the day, it was a great grass roots event run by the local club just like the good old days, only now it attracts national level riders to the local woods.

Great work was done by all the volunteers and we can’t name everyone but big thanks to all the Rough Riders and especially Robin Danks (Chairman).

Next year get yourself down to Wareham Forest and give it a go, you might just find you like it.