Barmouth - Ten out of Ten

Such is the overwhelming popularity gained from the previous nine years exploits on Barmouth Beach - this years Wilden MXC weekend thrash almost had the sold out stickers slapped on it weeks before the off. Early morning high tides encroaching on the course meant a delayed start on both Saturday and Sunday - but with over 250 riders slugging it out on both day nothing could ultimately spoil the overall fun and enjoyment.
With a £500 purse plus Rhino Goo products up for grabs there was no lack of quality in depth and commitment on show in the Adult Experts. PAR Honda star Luke Hawkins was without doubt the fastest rider out on course - and he duly cleaned up on day two bagging a glorious winning triple with an awesome show of skillful dominance. However a day one effort dogged by harsh luck and mechanical gremlins dropped him down to sixth overall. TM mounted Ashley Greedy took the Saturday action by the scruff of the neck and he won impressively twice with James Lassu picking up the other single victory. Matt Burrows and Ashley Wilde also caught the eye on day one as they wrapped up the second place finishes, 2 -1 in Wilde's favour. On day two behind Hawkins the Greedy and Wilde show took centre stage with Greedy eventually claiming the top weekend spoils collecting a brace of seconds to Wildes one. Lassu couldn't quite repeat his brilliant form of Saturday and he had to settle for third overall. The battle for fourth and fifth was a tight run affair as the 450cc Honda of Matt Burrows just edged out Joe Jones on his trusty smoker. In the end of the day dash for cash a Le Mans style start gave way to frenzied action where first Greedy battling with Jack kelly looked favourite to claim the booty but at the end of two laps Ashley Wilde thumped the air with delight as he crossed the line first.
With another £500 stash in the kitty for the Adult intermediates to fully focus on Paul Lloyd ended day one with a healthy points lead following a gritty and determined show. On day two Lloyd, Brody Knibbs and Dean Hakes all claimed a race win apiece - but Lloyd backed up with a solid 4-2 and that was good enough to claim the fattest pay packet of all. Liam Garbett nailed a hat trick of thirds in Sunday action thus retaining his overnight second overall position as Hakes finished in third. Knibbs with a 2-1-4 card climbed into fourth repairing some of the damage inflicted with his day one DNF.
In the Rookies Jack Kelly and Jay Thomas set a scintillating pace that pocketed all the heat victories. Kelly mixed it up on both two and four stroke machinery taking a total of four wins with a particularly inspired and unbeaten Sunday show. A single DNF knocked Kelly back to second overall as Thomas won carding two firsts and three seconds. Adam Wells and Tom Davies were always in the thick of the action at the pointy end and they were rewarded with third and fourth overall respectively.
David Keet for the third time this winter season experienced the heartbreak of a blown engine early on in proceedings. That conclusively wiped him out from 85cc heat one - however on a borrowed Rusty Peeble's machine he went someway to making amends taking the following five wins in some style. Keet saved his very best until last reeling in a flying Henry Williams on the final circuit of heat six. Morgan Thomas with a sparkling two day effort that included the other race win, three seconds and two thirds claimed the section win. Kieron Cooke toughed it out impressively to grab second overall as Keet weighed in with third.
In the small wheel half of the 85cc draw Henry Williams torched the opposition on day one with all three race wins before then fitting a set of big wheels for the day two skirmish. All totalled the S/W victory went the way of a jubilant Dee Jay Walker - he tamed the sand impressively with three cracking wins on day two. James McFayden in the runners up berth also impressed laying down four second place finishes as Ben Coleman took bronze with a pair of thirds as his highlight. Also included in the race were juniors Charlie Kent and Dane Reeves - they battled away valiantly with a creditable never say die attitude.
In the Saturday and Sunday club races there was a welcome return to action for Joe Thew. With a brace of gutsy section wins on both days Thew ran out as the day one runner up before then going one place better to win overall on the Sunday card. The other two race wins went the way of Neil Roberts (Sat) and James Davies (Sun) and a consistent show from Daniel Cole 2-6-2 nailed the overall Saturday win.
In the Quad races adult inter rider Liam Garbett doubled up with brilliant effect taking four of the race wins. Garbett unmatched on day one had to give sway twice on day two when Anthony Barrett proved best.