Jamie Roper paced himself to perfection to win the Pro class in the mud at Sudbury Motorcycle Club’s first-ever Extreme Enduro event.

Heavy rain the day before the inaugural competition threatened it going ahead but overnight frost and temperatures at minus four degrees made it possible for riders to start.

The sun was shining for the 11am start at Foxborough Quarry in Sible Hedingham when the six Pro Class riders started their 150-yard run to their bikes, followed by 13 experts, 18 clubman and seven trials riders at one minute intervals.

Included in the line-up was comedian Ross Noble, who rides Extreme Enduro events throughout Europe and had been attracted to the Sudbury event in the Clubman class after seeing a preview video made by club president Roger Chaplin.

In the Pro class, Chris Hockey took an early lead, with motocross ace Jake Nichols in hot pursuit while Roper was further down the field.

The many obstacles around the course were causing many problems to all the riders with the top riders completing a lap in around five minutes and lower-ranked riders taking around ten minutes.

At the end of the first lap the tractor tyres, tree trunks and oil drums were causing havoc with riders falling off or slipping off because of muddy tyres but they picked themselves up and slogged their way through.

As the two-hour session wore on, the temperature rose.

It only made the going muddier and muddier but the spectators loved it and were being well entertained.

Before the first hour had finished, Hockey had to retire as his engine over-heated along with several other riders before the end.

However, Roper was pacing himself and gradually made his way through the field.

After passing Nichols for the lead he held on to it completing 18 laps with Nichols second on 16 laps, while Sam Toy took third on 13 laps.