Round 3 of the Polygon Grassroots Enduro Series, supported by BikingDirty.com, took place on Sunday 3rd of June at Sliabh Bhui, Askamore, Co. Wexford. The third of five rounds this year was organised by Ounavarra CC, who are new to all things mountain biking - some club members prefer the woods to the roads!
The weather was perfect for the event. The morning mist burned off to give us all a bone dry and warm race day. 190 riders from over 25 clubs made their way to Sliabh Bhui. This was a new venue for enduro racing, the new trails were freshly built by a small dedicated team hoping to grow in numbers. The crew build three superb trails with technical features and amazing descending – this is what enduro riders crave:
· Stage 1 The Fun trail 16oom
· Stage 2 The Alps trail 1000m
· Stage 3 The Get fit trail 1100m
The first riders attacked stages 1, 2 and 3 at 10am, just as the sun started peeking out of the mist at the top of Sliabh Bhui hill. The trails were in great condition and held up to multiple descents of 190 riders. Muck free, slightly dusty new trails with lots off technical descents all natural – it could have been anywhere, but it was Ireland. It was a strange sight to see bikers timing out at the bottom of each stage on clean bikes. There were so many of happy faces as everybody loved the trails – it was not easy, but it was most enjoyable. The social media comments at the end of the day summed up the experience of many:
“What a day!!! . Fantastic enduro trails, tecky and big fun and exhausting. Many thanks Ian, Luke, John and all the gang. Unforgettable.”
“Some of the toughest, trickiest, natural trails I've ever ridin and I absolutely loved it!! Well done to all involved, great event.”
“Great day on the bike some class trails. Looking like we have a great new venue with loads of potential”
“Absolutely wrecked here on the couch! Absolutely great trails folks - loved the all natural - hard on the body and the bike but absolutely super trails and super days biking ! Thanks for all the hard work that went into them!”
The results on the day were as follows:
ELITES
JONATHAN MAUNSELL 9.44 /// MICHAEL LEE 10.02 /// JAMES FLEMING 10.24 ///
FEMALE
RUTH DOORLEY 14.O2 /// ERICA GRANT 15.48 /// BERNIE COMMINES 16.32///
0VER 40
PAUL MCLOUGHLIN 9.36 /// JAMIE WHELAN 10.07 /// CRAIG GALLAWAY 10.55 ///
UNDER 40
KEITH BROCK 9.59 /// BARRY LANGRELL 10.20 /// BARRY TRAVERS 10.24 ///
UNDER 30
KYLE LAWSON 10.13 /// DARRAGH WALSH 10.48 /// DYLAN ROWLEY 10.56 ///
YOUTH
ROSS ENNIS 10.25 /// KAID ASKINS 10.31 /// SEAN PRICE 10.38 ///
The fantastic competitive day’s racing would not have been possible without all the hard work of the Sliubh Bhui crew and Ounavarra CC. Well done to a great club effort. We would like to thank Coillte for use of the woods. Thanks to Gareth of Cahir Media for his professional photographs (which are available to purchase on-line). And a big thanks to Lamberts Londis Camolin for water and food on the track for riders.
Finally on behalf of the Grassroots Enduro team, we would like to thank Brian Roban of BikingDirty.com and Polygon Bikes who are the overall series sponsor, for a second year running. Their help in being our series sponsors is much appreciated.
We look forward to another great day’s racing at Round 4 in Bree in Wexford on 1st July which will be organised by Bree racing.
Full race results, photos and race series information can be found on our website and Facebook page.
Photos - Cahir Media
Facebook @grassrootseries
The Polygon Grassroots Enduro Series supported by BikingDirty.com is different from other enduro race series in two ways. Firstly, the blind format - riders do not practice the stages before the event, so the first time each rider sees the trail is on their first timed attempt, the racing takes place over the course of one day. Riders may attempt each stage as often as they like in any order, provided they make it back to Race HQ by the cut-off time. Secondly, each event in the series is organized by local clubs. The club members design, build and maintain the trails that are used for the race. The club runs the race on the day and thus any profit from the race goes back into the host club and mountain biking in Ireland.