LAST week, 500 riders from all over the world rode in the very popular Welsh Two Day enduro which is based in Llandrindod Wells.

Each year the town welcomes competitors and visitors who come to see local and international riders competing for the Dragon Trophy. Last year’s winner, Joe Wooton of Newtown was away riding for an international team at a world round in Italy, and not available to defend his title.

It was a hot couple of days, with dust and intense heat proving a different challenge for the riders.

The event has solo and sidecar competitors, and Wales has some of the best sidecar riders and passengers in the UK.

The route, 140 miles in a single lap took in forestry and mountain top tracks, with riders doing the same lap in reverse on day two.

There were three special tests at Llandrindod, Rhayader and Saint’s Well where the bikes could be revved and raced away from the public roads.

The solo winner was Alex Snow of Somerset, who just beat five times winner Daryl Bolter of Wiltshire. Jamie Lewis, riding for the Yamaha Off Road Experience of Llanidloes took third with former European Champion Tom Sagar of Oswestry in fourth.

David Williams and Luke Peters (Llanidloes) defended their win from last year, with Jonathan Williams and Neil James (Llandrindod Wells) in second. Micheal Hutton and Kieran McCarley (Llandrindod Wells) won the sidecar expert class with Damien and Sean Jones third. In the sidecar clubman class Anthony Mills and Neil Pugh were second, with Marcus Morgan and Callum Gibbons of Kington third.

Other notable rides included Martin Rowan of Llandrindod finishing third in the Clubman class, just pipped by Harry Houghton of Wrexham; and in the sportsman class, Liam Ryland of Builth Wells won with Gavin Zembrzuski of Llandrindod third.

Tom Knill was runner up in the classic expert class for bikes over 30 years, while Bo Anderson, also of Llandrindod Wells won the veteran clubman class (for riders over 40 years!)

In the expert class, Adam James of Rhayader was third, in a very fast class.

Results can be found in full on the Welsh Two Day Enduro Website. The organisers would like to thank the town of Llandrindod Wells, the area around, including landowners, Natural Resources Wales and all the volunteers who braved the heat and dust to make the event such a success.