Wor Events Timecard Enduro was a fantastic event despite the sometimes scarily frozen tracks!

This was a short course enduro but the route had a bit of everything. Ruts, lots of hills, open tracks, soft loamy going and quite a few roots! In the trees the gound was dry and soft but as soon as you hit the tracks that had been compacted and forest roads they were like sheet ice. Only the tracks with larger stones or running water seemed to have thawed enough to brake hard without a look of fear in your eyes. Plenty of people came a cropper and a couple of sections had marshalls slowing you down it was so bad. But none of this detracted from the days riding as it's the same for everyone and the course was a cracker.

It was a two check lap. The first was the main bulk of riding and each lap a bit more time was taken off to make it interesting. At around 25 minutes at a good pace it was a interesting and entertaining loop. All of it was rideable with no nasty rutted bits or jams though picking a good line here and there certainly helped. You could really get into it and just enjoy the ride even though you knew you had to push a bit, the sign of a good course in my opinion.

The second check was basically the test and the fuel stop straight after it. The test was a bit on the scary side in places. The first downhill got a bit better as the race went on but earlier it had been pretty slick/frozen and caution was needed. Then we headed further downhill on a wide slate track which was fine. A stream crossing brought you to a frozen track heading up onto a frozen fire road, both slippery as hell. Next you dived into the trees which was soft and rutted, a bit more legwork each lap was needed here. Finally there was a sprint down the fire road with a few chicanes thrown in to slow you down. This was frozen too and you really had to be carefull not to end up on your arse or in the gulley at the side. Mind you, it was the test and no-one's making you go fast.

In the later stages of the event it was getting very quiet at the checks. I stayed clean on time and of the riders who'd been around earlier only one other, just behind me, was still there. no sign of the others at all. So I've no idea how I did. I know my test times will be fairly average as I was being a bit cautious, but I never fell or stopped which is always a good thing.  

In all I had a really good days riding. Good check times, interesting course (a bit more bite than a H+H) and sunny weather all helped make this event a success in my eyes. With a bit of luck it won't be a couple of years before Steve decides to run another timecard event. And I for one will be going.

Geraint.