Latest News

2011 Great 8

Over the August bank Holiday weekend Endaf attended the running of the annual Great8 Endurance event. A team or ironman event held over an 8 mile track covering 8 hrs.

Youths race over the same track but over a 4hr event and Endaf competed with his friend and fellow 250 rider Kieron Clarke. This event is a national event with some of the country's best riders from both enduro and quadcross disciplines taking part. Endaf 14 and Kieron 12 were one of the youngest teams taking part with some riders racing in the event at 17.

Endaf competed in the 2010 event with rider Stevie Emberton finishing 12th. This gave Endaf a top 10 ranking for 2011 and started the race with the No6 plate.

Kieron started the race runnning to his bike in a LeMans style start. He had quoted before the race that he would take the first lap steady to study the track and finished the 1st lap in 10th place. As the first hour passed Kieron continued to push and made his way up to 4th and battling with 3rd. A small mistake dropped him to 6th at the end of the first session and with a smooth pitstop passed over to Endaf.

Endaf rode a steady 2nd hr without incident and handed back over to keiron in the same 6th place. Kieron took over for the 3rd hr in no mans land, safe in 6th but with no sight of the riders in front of him. It was a hard 3rd hr for Kieron trying to make up time with no sight of anyone to chase. He handed over to Endaf having made up time. During this last pitstop the riders in front all pitted at the same time just in front of Endaf so Endaf could see them exiting the pits as he was leaving. This gave him the incentive to push knowing they were just in front of him. Endaf came round having closed the gap then the next lap he was right behind 5th. Next lap and he had overtaken 5th and caught 4th. Next lap he had made another place and caught 3rd and the following lap another pass and the team were in a podium position. As parents our nerves were on edge. Endaf continued to pull away and was making time on 2nd. With an average 9min lap and nine mins left on the clock we all ran to the finish praying to see Endaf come round. Over the hill came 2nd place and 10 seconds behind Endaf, 2nd went through and the clock ticked down with the flag dropping right in front of Endaf. The boys had won 3rd place. This is an unbelievable result for these two young lads. Secretly I wished Endaf had made it through before the flag just to see if he could of caught 2nd but we are all so thrilled with the result.

Congratulations to Endaf and Keiron and a big thanks to Martin Linda and Sally-Ann for helping with the race.

Click here to return to the Latest News page