What a superb event!

Got there at about 1.15, as the "Speed trial" was running. Some of the obstacles looked daunting on a trials iron (some of them looked impossible on foot) so how on earth they expected enduro bikes to manage is beyond me.
Saw Malc (Zapada) and Tim, then a couple who I race with. There were three GS's parked near the rockery, but didn't see their owners. Andy and I parked near a red 1200 from Essex, Eddy I think his name was.
Wandered round more of the course in the interval, some of it looked quite rideable. Some of it didn't
At 4.00 the main event started, and the riders had to run up a 150m muddy hill, in MX boots, to get to the bikes. That would have seen me off before even starting the bike! They rode off around the top of the quarry before dropping in down what seemed like a cliff face, to the technical sections which had been marked out. "The root of all evil" was the name painted at the start of one short climb, and wheras some made it look easy, some made it look very hard indeed! The floodlights came on at about 4.30, just after a hailstorm, and these were more for the benefit of spectators I think, than riders. Most competitors had some extra lights fitted, but not all of them were working after a couple of laps. Crash damage I suspect.
The day was well worth the trip out, some of the skills on display were mind-blowing
I think the quote that summed it up for me was as we stood near the logs at the finish, which had been re-instated for the last lap. An unknown rider, but obviously a good one, as he was still riding after 1hr 50mins of hell on wheels, stopped next to Steve Ireland (course designer and organiser) and said "I don't think I like you any more." With that, he launched himself at the logs and the willing helpers there to drag them over.
Top days sport.
Mark