Tilhill Forestry hosts Mountain Bike Challenge in Wales

Tilhill Forestry recently hosted the sixth Forest Industry Mountain Bike Challenge in Coed Llandegla, North Wales, as an array of competitors from the forest industry travelled to take part.

The Enduro-style event was run over six timed stages amounting to between 32 minutes to 1 hour depending on entrants’ speed and stamina. The total stage times were comparable with the World Enduro series and double that of the UK Enduro series, so a test of concentration and stamina was required.

As in previous years, the event was professionally run with NEWSAR providing the excellent marshalling and medical cover. Chip timing was provided by Durty Events for accurate stage times.

The individual stages were sponsored by members of the industry which assisted with making sure the event could be run at a professional level. The sponsors were: Stage 1 A W Jenkinson; Stage 2 Clifford Jones; Stage 3 Plevin & Sons; Stage 4 Veolia; Stage 5 Tilhill Forestry and Stage 6 BSW.

Co-organiser Steve Bradley, Fibre Supply Business Manager for Tilhill Forestry, said: “With the usual fast suspects away on other duties the door was open for some different podium positions in both the individuals and teams. Gareth Jones was on a mission and flying down the stages closely followed by his team mate Cefin Evans who in turn was being chased down by Pete Watts, just over 2 mins separated the podium after 6 hard stages.

“The Team prize was also hard fought but saw the ‘flying’ Mount Trading taking it from Tilhill 1. The event was closed by all the teams having lunch served by Oneplanet Adventure before heading off to all parts of the UK.”

Simon Miller, co-organiser and Tilhill Forestry Senior Forest Manager, said: “I would like to give a big thank you to everyone who took part as, without them, we would not have this opportunity to get together and have a combination of networking and competition.”

The results for the Short Course:

1^st Female: Tina Ambler - Tilhill Forestry: 9.39 mins

1^st Male: Andy Grundy - Tilhill Forestr:y 7.53 mins

The results for Individuals Long Course:

1^st Female: Kim Norman - Clifford Jones: 41.37 mins

2^nd Female: Hannah Arndt - Denbyshire Council: 67.03 mins

The results for the Male Individual Long Course: