Team Wideopenmag’s Christo Gallagher made it yet another podium in the wet and wild conditions at the third round of the Scottish Enduro Series.
Round three of the 2018 Scottish Enduro Series headed to Ae Forest in Dumfries and Galloway for a change to the sun and dust of the previous few weeks.
Photos by Trev Worsey.
After so many dry races it was initially looking like the third round of the Scottish Enduro Series might continue the amazing run of luck, but as it got closer to practice day the weather looked more bleak every day.
Arriving on Saturday to some nice heavy rain was a real treat. We tried to wait out the weather as it was supposed to improve in the afternoon, but it just didn’t shift, so on the jackets went and out to practice we go.
The No Fuss team had put on yet another amazing selection of stages and the wet weather really added a lot of fun to the days practice. It was one of those days where you can’t see anything and are completely soaked through, but it’s the perfect temperature to still have a good time without being freezing cold.
The five stages comprised of everything from bits of the downhill tracks, trail centre trails and some natural goodness. It definitely wasn’t an easy race that’s for sure.
Come race day the weather was much improved and the forecast had no rain until about 4pm, so we were looking forward to what should be a dry day racing. With a sketchy course, it was definitely key to minimise mistakes and keep it rolling all day because if you stopped it wasn’t always easy to get back up to speed in the slop.
It seemed like everyone was having a few falls in the mud, so handing the dibbers at the end of day was an exciting moment to see how everyone got on.
Fastest rider of the day went to Lewis Buchanan, who will have a healthy lead on the series now with a second and two first place results. I managed to sneak into second place after a pretty cautious day (a strategy which paid off not too badly) and Ronan Taylor, who I suspected given the weather would sneak up a few places, rounded off the podium in third.
In the women’s overall, junior rider Polly Henderson took the win in the juniors and the fastest overall ladies time, with Roslynn Newman winning the masters and second overall; and Fiona Beattie in 2nd master ladies and third overall.
So, once again the No Fuss team put on another amazing round of the Scottish Enduro Series. Next up for me, I’m off on a month long trip starting at Afan UKGE before heading off to Europe for some EWS and Megavalanche action!