Margam Madness

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BY: phil Morris

Published: 1st October, 2012

Margam Madness was a new event organised by Gareth Hayes and team. So knowing that Gareth would put on a great course, I entered the event as soon as we returned from the USA. I decided to enter the 3 hr as I would be lacking endurance after 6 weeks off the bike, and Margam is always fairly brutal!

The weather in the weeks leading up to the race was as wet as usual, but a couple of days before the event we finally had some semi decent weather, and the race day was looking good. So happy days!!!

The night before the event I was working, and after the race I had to go back to work for my 2nd night shift, so my fingers were crossed for a quiet night. No such luck there but hey ho! I got to the event just after nine as I work about 5 mins from Margam Park.

I quickly signed on and got myself sorted and went for a quick warm-up. After a quick catch up with good friends Jay and Maddie Horton who were helping with organising. Jay was also in charge of abusing the riders each lap or as its sometimes known commentating!

It was now time to start and I lined up next to some strong riders with Lee Williams and Huw Thomas to name just a couple. Off the start I sat on a wheel in second place for the long road straight, once it kicked up a bit I decided to take up the pace and lead until the next climb.

 Lee then passed me on the climb but soon after I went back past as he had slightly over shot a corner. Up the next climb I just set a nice steady pace with Lee on my wheel. At this point I wish Lee had taken the lead, because at the bottom of the next decent I hit what I thought was a small puddle, not so. The bike stopped dead and before I knew it I was head first into a bog! I managed to jump up and shake myself off and back on the bike, but I have to admit I was a little bit dazed, not to mention I was covered in mud head to toe!! I took a minute to settle myself and check the bike over, no obvious damage done so happy days. Just a slightly sore knee and shoulder!!

Lee was off down the road by now and I certainly wasn't going to attempt to chase him. Even after this mishap no one else had passed so I was fairly happy with that! I finished the lap a couple hundred metres behind Lee. Also had a lot of funny looks as if to say what the Hell has happened to you and this was reinforced when Jay caught sight of me!
To be honest the rest of the race for me was fairly uneventful, other than the strange feeling of all the mud starting to dry on leaving me with a 3 hr mud facial!!

I finished the winner of the 3 hr race with quite a comfortable gap, but man was I glad I didn't have to ride for another 3 hrs as my legs were cooked!!

Thanks to Gareth and Team for a great event and I really hope this returns next year as I think the course was one of the best enduro courses I have done, and I've done a few now!!

Also I would like to thank Gareth on a personal note for supporting Ryley by doing a sponsored bike ride at Bonty 24/12.

Pictures are courtesy
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