CONDITIONS were perfect as Sudbury Motor Cycle Club hosted the third Extreme Enduro at Foxborough Quarry in Sible Hedingham.

The rain the previous day didn’t have any affect and the sun shone all day.

There was one disappointment, that 2016 British Extreme Enduro champion Tom Elwood couldn’t make the event, however the 2016 British runner-up and last year’s winner, Charlie Frost, did and made his debut on the Active Bike Sport/Malcolm Rathmell Sport Sherco.

All four classes - Pro, Expert, Clubman and Trials - lined up on the hill beside the Sudbury club’s banner and at 11am the Pro riders ran down the hill to their bikes followed at intervals by riders from the other classes.

The course had been extended this year with extra obstacles including a see-saw.

First Pro rider round was Ben Wibberley with quite a lead and Frost was nowhere in sight after he had got stuck in one of the bogs and by the time he freed himself the Clubmen had caught up with him.

Wibberley was having it all his own way leading the field, however, Frost, who was getting used to his new bike, was gradually picking off rivals Jamie Roper, Stevie Roper, Craig Roper and Jason Morland.

Morland was riding in his first Extreme event, but then got severe arm pump, which affect his control of his machine.

Frost ploughed on, though, and managed to gain on Wibberley.

At around 75 minutes of the two-hour event he was able to pass Wibberley and from then on, he extended his lead to win the class by completing 15 laps.

Next came a trio of Ropers - second was Jamie on 14 laps, third Stevie on 13, two minutes 38 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Craig, who was also on 13 laps.

Morland had been in third place but with one or two fall offs towards the end was relegated to fifth followed by Brendan Mayers.

There was bad luck for Wibberley with three laps to go as his chain came off and with his wheel well stuck, he could not free it so had to retire.

There was a battle throughout the day in the Expert class, with Mark Kirby securing first place on 11 laps while the next two finishers rode ten laps, with Toby Morley, who has grandparents in Halstead, taking second place by 1m 32s from Chris Cook.

The next five places went to Kevin Silvain, Jake Purcell, Daniel Piper, Gene Womack and Jason Green.

Fred Adams won the Clubman class quite easily, completing 14 laps.

Dawson Marriott was second on 11 laps, third was Keith Maude and Daniel Hunt fourth with both on nine laps followed by Lee Boulden and George Eustace, who both completed eight laps.

In the Trial class, the first two riders both completed ten laps, with first place going to Ben Grice 3m 29s ahead of last year’s winner of this class, Paul Nash.