THE 63rd Welsh Two Day Enduro took place last weekend at Llandrindod Wells with a mix of world champions and international entries, sun and rain, forest and moorland, grass and mud.

Based in Llandrindod Wells, the event is probably the second oldest enduro event in the world (after the 100+ year-old International Six Days Enduro) and offers a unique long-distance challenge in off-road motorcycle competition.

The jewel in the crown of British enduro, the event was won for the second year running by Steve Holcombe a 22-year-old professional enduro rider from South Molton in Devon.

Holcombe (riding for the Italian works race team, Beta) also currently leads the motorcycle enduro world championship and is part of a new wave of British enduro talent that have honed their talents in Welsh enduros and are now stamping their authority in the world series.

However the Welsh Two Day Enduro is about more than the elite of enduro. It attracts riders of all abilities – most are hobby riders – and from all corners of the world, this year including riders from Australia, South Africa and Holland.

With a 150-mile single lap, ridden in a reverse direction for the second day, this is one of the last true long-distance events in the world and ridden sight-unseen tests the capability of the riders as they seek to overcome the challenges of the steep terrain and the rocks and roots found in the forests.

Local riders always feature well in the results. This year David ‘Winnie’ Williams and Simon Brown of Llanidloes won the championship sidecar class (for second year in row) from the impressive rookie pairing – and usually solo riders – the Davies brothers, Rhienallt and Tudur, from Machynlleth, who were riding their first Welsh in an outfit. Local favourites Jonathan Williams and Neil James were forced to abandon on day two, while lying second, with a holed radiator.

In the expert sidecars, Llandrindod’s Gethin and Mathew Price left it to the final special test to secure the win, with another Llandrindod pairing of Martin Rowan and Anthony Mills rounding out the podium in third. Yet another Llandrindod based pairing of Keith Heliwell and Gavin Zembrzusksi finished second in the Clubman sidecar class.

In the solos, Joe Wooton from Welshpool finished an excellent third outright, which was all the more impressive as this was his first major event since having some metalwork removed from his leg after breaking it at the end of last season. Farmer and former world championship rider Edward Jones was sixth with Charlie Evans seventh (both from Llanidloes). David Brick (Knighton) was second in classic expert class.

In a very competitive veteran expert class William Jones from Ystrad Meurig took the win from Rhayader’s Christian Walton. Adam James from Rhayader (on his ET James KTM) was extremely happy to take the overall win in the expert class, with Alex Walton (emulating his dad’s success in the veteran’s class) taking fourth expert overall, and Shaun Buchan from Llandrindod fifth expert overall. Top local rider in the Sportsman class was John Williams from Llandrindod just missing out on the podium in fourth place.

Mike Davies, chairman of the Welsh Two Day committee said: "We’ve had a fantastic event this year, we would like to thank the event sponsors ET James of Rhayader and Steve Plain Motorcycles of Llandrindod.

"The popularity of the Welsh never diminishes, our entries are taken online and this year we’d reached our capacity of 500 within 16 minutes. Many riders come back again and again, and I was particularly pleased to hear from our international competitors on just how friendly the locals are and how much they appreciated the waving and cheers they received as they rode back into Llandrindod as they completed each day.

"By the same token, without the support and participation of the local communities, businesses and agencies this event would not be possible. On behalf of the competitors and the organising team a huge thank you to all."