Virgin Swamps Vinduro 2018
Four fine VSEs in a row was simply too much and two weeks out from the 2018 VSE the skies over Riverhead held only rain. Though the day of the event proved fine, the forest was sodden. Taking conditions into consideration the Waitemata MCC shortened the course from the usual 80 km to 50 km and cut out what hills they could.
Unsurprisingly the turnout of riders was the lowest in the five years of the event, just 21 riders fronting for what they knew would be a challenging day and a far cry from the 50 riders in 2017.
The single Special Test near the start camp was completed twice but for many it was time lost on sections that would be the big score taker.
As usual the riders who love mud had a chance to show their skills and seemed to ignore the slippery mud and tree roots , coming into the checks with time to spare. In the Gold grade Craig Brown coming back from a long back injury layoff was the stand out rider while Bevan Holmes, Stephen Groves Craig Stevens and Sam Helmore also stayed ahead of the clock. In the Silver grade (which owing to last minute track changes rode the same course) Tup Moyes, David Vass and Kerry Jones also stayed on time.
Every tough enduro is sticks in the minds of those who take part and is remembered long after the memories of easy days have faded. Tough events are also marked by notable efforts of sheer dogged determination. Ross Large's effort will go down as one of those. Ross tanked 47 minutes on the first loop but could not be deterred from continuing, despite virtually destroying both foot pegs on his 1973 Suzuki TS 400. Finishing with just a few of his allotted 60 minutes to spare Ross simply thanked the check crew who stayed to the last to score him through!
Unsurprisingly the turnout of riders was the lowest in the five years of the event, just 21 riders fronting for what they knew would be a challenging day and a far cry from the 50 riders in 2017.
The single Special Test near the start camp was completed twice but for many it was time lost on sections that would be the big score taker.
As usual the riders who love mud had a chance to show their skills and seemed to ignore the slippery mud and tree roots , coming into the checks with time to spare. In the Gold grade Craig Brown coming back from a long back injury layoff was the stand out rider while Bevan Holmes, Stephen Groves Craig Stevens and Sam Helmore also stayed ahead of the clock. In the Silver grade (which owing to last minute track changes rode the same course) Tup Moyes, David Vass and Kerry Jones also stayed on time.
Every tough enduro is sticks in the minds of those who take part and is remembered long after the memories of easy days have faded. Tough events are also marked by notable efforts of sheer dogged determination. Ross Large's effort will go down as one of those. Ross tanked 47 minutes on the first loop but could not be deterred from continuing, despite virtually destroying both foot pegs on his 1973 Suzuki TS 400. Finishing with just a few of his allotted 60 minutes to spare Ross simply thanked the check crew who stayed to the last to score him through!
A monoshock PE250?
RESULTS VSE 2018
SILVER GRADE - overall
1. Tup Moyes 1551
2. David Vass 1678
3. Kerry Jones 1708
4. Neil Armstrong 2224
5. Ross Large 2586
SILVER CLASSES
Classic. 1. David Vass 2. Ross Large
EVO 1. 1. Tup Moyes 2. Kerry Jones 3. Neil Armstrong 4. Darryl Woodhouse
Evo 2. No finishers
Evo 3. No finishers
Modern. No finishers
GOLD GRADE - overall
1. Criag Brown 1462
2. Bevan Holmes 1519
3. Stephen Groves 1541
4. Craig Stevens 1571
5. Sam Helmore 1693
6. Dave Dempster 2069
7. Adam Pogson 2096
8. Peter Lambert 2715
GOLD CLASSES
Classic. No finishers
Evo 1. 1. Craig Brown 2. Bevan Holmes 3. Steve Groves 4. Steve Cardno
Evo 2. 1. Craig Stevens 2. Peter Lambert
Evo 3. 1. Dave Dempster 2. Adam Pogson
Modern 1. Sam Helmore
1. Tup Moyes 1551
2. David Vass 1678
3. Kerry Jones 1708
4. Neil Armstrong 2224
5. Ross Large 2586
SILVER CLASSES
Classic. 1. David Vass 2. Ross Large
EVO 1. 1. Tup Moyes 2. Kerry Jones 3. Neil Armstrong 4. Darryl Woodhouse
Evo 2. No finishers
Evo 3. No finishers
Modern. No finishers
GOLD GRADE - overall
1. Criag Brown 1462
2. Bevan Holmes 1519
3. Stephen Groves 1541
4. Craig Stevens 1571
5. Sam Helmore 1693
6. Dave Dempster 2069
7. Adam Pogson 2096
8. Peter Lambert 2715
GOLD CLASSES
Classic. No finishers
Evo 1. 1. Craig Brown 2. Bevan Holmes 3. Steve Groves 4. Steve Cardno
Evo 2. 1. Craig Stevens 2. Peter Lambert
Evo 3. 1. Dave Dempster 2. Adam Pogson
Modern 1. Sam Helmore