MORE than 500 motorcyclists will flock to Llandrindod Wells later this month for the Welsh two day Enduro event.
As well as riders and helpers from all over the UK, competitors and supporters travel from all over the world for the challenge of riding a single 140 mile lap each day in the countries largest event of it’s type on June 23 and 24.
This year, the regulars from Ireland, France and Netherlands are joined by visitors from Australia in their annual pilgrimage and will be welcomed with open arms by the mid-Wales town’s residents.
The event, that is based at the lakeside common each June has an online entry system which was full in a record 16 minutes this year. The organising committee, made up of local volunteers, work all year to ensure that all the planning and preparation is sorted to enable the event to go ahead.
This year, the organisers have been working with the Llandrindod Wells Town Champion, Jude Boutle to involve the town’s businesses and to ensure that they benefit from hundreds of people who will visit the town for this event.
Each year the organisers invite the Mayor to flag off the first competitors and they are assisted by local schoolchildren who have won the honour of taking part in a poster competition.
Local charities and good causes benefit every year to the tune of thousands, as surplus cash is donated into the local economy and chairman of the event committee Mike Davies said: "We spend all year working to give the event the best chance for success. We support local businesses when we need things like clothing, amenities and the like. We couldn’t do any of this if we didn’t have the backing of the town."
The route starts and finishes at the lake, and in between, riders can venture out around the region, taking in parts of Wales which riders can only access in this event once a year.
The support from farmers and land owners enables the riders to see some beautiful scenery as they complete the route. Riders must maintain the bikes themselves, but can have help with service at several points around the route.
The time allowed ensures that riders take their time on the roads, though spectators at the three special tests are treated to some excitement as riders show their skills in bike control against the clock in specially prepared routes which are timed to 100 of a second. These tests this year are at Crossgates, Bwlch y Sarnau and Cwmythig Hill, Rhayader.
Last year’s winner, Steve Holcombe is currently leading his class in the World Championship, and he will be hoping to secure his second win this year.