Like all great ideas it started in the pub over a few beers on the Isle of Man. The committee of South Wales TRF were engaged in their two favourite past times devising alcohol induced antics for the group membership and doing some quality trail riding with IOM events.
Grant Churchward of the Jarvis Race team and SWTRF member had been talking about setting up a day at his training facility in South Wales and would the SWTRF be interested in supporting it. The answer was a resounding yes, and four pints later it had grown into a weekend with camping, fire pit, 10 trials sections, a 3-mile enduro loop and 6-mile training loop with extreme obstacles, trials bikes and latest Husky Enduro bikes to try out.
Grant’s Bio
Grant grew up in the Welsh valleys and calls these mountains his home. After coming to Enduro relatively late his attitude, determination and bike skills found him successful in extreme enduro. Grant is a Romaniacs finisher, and Winner of the Michelin Tough One and the FIM Extreme Lagares enduro plus other multiple podium finishes. Grant is current UK and Europe Team Manager for the Jarvis race team and leads the Wales Jarvis Signature Tours franchise in the UK. Grant’s relaxed style and ability to coach all abilities make him an excellent coach and a great member fo the SWTRF. If you wish to contact Grant regards the signature tours, personal or group coaching/training days or find out more about Welsmaniacs e-mail him on. Grantchurchward@gmail.com
So, in March the seed was sown and watered a lot between the Grant Churchward team and the SWTRF!
Initial meetings between team Churchward and SWTRF divided tasks and clear accountabilities and the event date set for 6/7 August. We wanted to keep it small as it was Grant’s and our first event. Grant already ran a success off road coaching and trail riding business, so we would utilise his insurance, risk assessment, emergency cover and signing on paperwork etc. We the SWTRF would provide the marketing, logistics, tickets sales, daily planning, trials sections, marshals and organise the event on the weekend so Grant could focus his attention ”on the bike coaching duties”.
In the background, the SWTRF committee started planning, raffle prizes, marshalling volunteers, designing the day, access planning, camping needs, promotional video’s, Facebook progress updates. Ian Elliott drove the process and project with help from all the group members until on the 3rd of August, it was track preparation time.
Grant had returned from Romaniacs with a successful result for Graham Jarvis and our focus was now on building a challenging but rideable course, marking out the coaching loop and ensuring no two-way traffic.
There were two very long days for the group, staking and taping, strimming the bracken, putting up the signage, erecting obstacles and sending out riders as crash test dummies to check our handy work. Grant’s expertise was evident as we laid out his vision and watched him show us how it could be ridden, whilst us mere mortals thrashed about in the evening heat.
Friday evening first guests arrived, and we sat chatting and watching the sunset over the Welsh mountains and fortified ourselves for tomorrow.
The weather was on our side, and it was a baking 29 degrees as we greeted the 43 riders that signed on for Saturday. The Welsh Welcome and riders brief by Grant and the SWTRF Chairman Adam Hayes saw the first riders released on to the closed enduro course at 10.00am.
The enduro loop provided, fast open going, tight tree sections, some gulley riding combined with some rock sections and the valley of doom, a series of drop offs and short steep climb outs that got the heart racing and riders sweating.
Meanwhile the first Group were despatched with Grant and his marshalls for the 6 mile coached trail ride. The terrain provide moorland, terraced forestry, and a mile of stream bed rocks with steep loose climbs to rejoin the main ride area. Grant would stop at certain obstacles and coach the riders in clutch control, balance, off camber riding and how to perform switchback traverses on step climbs. The groups were absorbing the knowledge and learning quickly, Grant’s relaxed style making sure that everyone got time with him and the marshalls and they could ask questions and he could check our technique.
Towards the end of the ride with confidence increasing the groups got then opportunity to do some hillclimbs, try the extreme tyres, tackle the balance beam and hop through the rock gardens, whilst not quite Karl’s dinner , the rock garden’s quickly taught us to pick a line, keep momentum and keep the front wheel light.
The smiles on everyone’s faces told a story as they came back in, everyone had been challenged, coached, tried new things and came back better riders. There was something for everyone in the ride and coaching and not a single complaint was received all weekend.
Meanwhile whilst the Enduro loop and coached ride provided adrenaline and concentration in equal amounts, there was the Trials sections to try. Kelvin Varney SWTRF ROR Officier had laid out 10 sections which really tested our balance and slow control. The SWTRF had provided 3 Trials bikes for anyone to try but the sections were all doable on your trail/Enduro bike. Despite drought like conditions, Kelvin had found a bog that claimed a few, two rock sections that required real throttle finese and a limbo that was a test for all. It was great fun and the paired scoring system brought the competitive element out in a few!
In addition Nathan Churchward had 6 team Jarvis spec Husquavarna’s to try out on the loop, which was really well subscribed as people got to experience the differences that the suspension set up and a flywheel weight can bring, all free of charge.!
During the day , Adam Hayes and Ian Elliott hosted the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service who attened to see how a well organised event and Legal trail riding could become part of their land management and wild fire prevention initiatives. The discussions were fruitful and SWTRF will pull togteher some suggestions for future discussions with Naural Resources Wales that could see the use of vehicles to potentially create and maintain fire breaks.
At 5.30pm on the dot, the air horn sounded and engines ceased and the frivolity started with a campfire, a few drinks, a boom box and some very tired bodies reliving the day.
In true TRF fashion our youngest SWTRF member Owain Lovesy (17) had arrived straight from a night shift and did the entire day on his KLX125. As he put his tent up for a well earned rest, the SWTRF chairman serviced Owain’s bike ready for the next day. It speaks volumes for the inclusivity and fellowship the group is driving.
The Sunday was a repeat of the Saturday with some riders signing on for another day and some awkward calls home to wife’s and husbands as they extended their stay.
A further 41 riders completed Sunday and the feedback for the entire weekend has been overwhelmingly positive. We only had one minor injury attended to by the on-site paramedic and we sent over 80 riders’ home, tired but happy having experienced some expert coaching, enjoyed some wonderful terrain and encountered a welcome in the Welsh Hillsides.
This could not have been done without the entire SWTRF and Churchward teams working together whether it be the sign on team, Nathan, Steve, Lisa, Kim and Zita to the travelling marshalls, Andy, Dan, Jason, Mark, Kelvin, Adam, Simon, Ian and a special mention to our photographer Sarah. Check out the SWTRF facebook page for all the pictures and comments.
As a result of the weekend raffle £300 and a £200 donation from the Captains Adventures Ltd (Grant’s business) a cheque of £500 is on its way to the TRF Fighting Fund.
We learnt a lot from the weekend, however for our first event the prior planning and flawless execution by the joint SWTRF team made an enjoyable weekend for all. We also have some ideas on things we can improve for next year and make the 2023 Fun Weekend bigger and better! Rev it Up!!!!
2023 event will be held on 18th-20th August 2023 entries will commence in March, more details to follow on the website for TRF members.