Race Report: Southern Enduro Round 1 - Milland

Apr 11, 2021
by Nick Bentley  

photo
Photo Epic
Southern Enduro
Round 1 Milland
Words & Photography by Nick Bentley (Man Down Media)

The 2021 Southern Enduro series kicked off at Milland this year. The race was held on private land between Guildford and Portsmouth. this is not an area you can ride outside of racing. However, the Southern Enduro team does put on open days and evenings at Milland and it's well worth checking out.

There were 5 stages for the 357 racers to compete with each around 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds in length for the faster riders, the venue held its last race in autumn last year in the brief window between Covid lockdowns. This was a totally different Milland today with dry and loamy trails that thanks to some of the good weather we have had, meant it was running fast and loose in sections. The team behind the Southern Enduro series have been hard at work throughout lockdown adding drainage and making changes to the Milland trails and it’s fair to say this work paid off as the riders were loving the new look stages.

I m looking forward to when I don t have to put something about social distancing into one of these things but everyone did well sticking to the current UK government guidelines.
I'm looking forward to when I don't have to put something about social distancing into one of these things, but everyone did well sticking to the current UK government guidelines.

Action Sports Timing was on hand to set all the riders up with their timing chips and keep on top of the stage times.
Action Sports Timing was on hand to set all the riders up with their timing chips and keep on top of the stage times.

prof that even though it did snow it really is spring here in the UK the lambs were out at the host farm.
The lambs were out at the host farm. Proof that even though it did snow it really is spring here in the UK.

Nathan Jerome heading in to the woods on stage 1.
Nathan Jerome heading into the woods on stage one.

the upper section of stage one had been felled last year and now the Southern Enduro team has sculpted a really flowy upper section for this race.
The upper section of stage one had been felled last year and now the Southern Enduro team has sculpted a really flowy upper section for this race.

not the result Amy Moore wanted today but the Stans rider rode the whole day with a massive smile on her face and having fun on your bike is the most important thing.
Not the result Amy Moore wanted today but the Stans rider rode the whole day with a massive smile on her face and having fun on your bike is the most important thing.

Joe Carpinter on his way to 5th in the 10-13 field.
Joe Carpinter on his way to 5th in the 10-13 field.

Sam Shucksmith taking the win in the elite field and the fastest time of the day beating Brendan Fairclough by just 5.459s over 5 stages of racing.
Sam Shucksmith taking the win in the Elite field and the fastest time of the day beating Brendan Fairclough by just 5.459s over 5 stages of racing.

Molly Jones showing you dont have to be on a full suss to race out taking on the Milland stages on her XC hardtail
Molly Jones showing you don't have to be on a full suss to race, taking on the Milland stages on her XC hardtail
Aoife Bakovic 3rd today in the 16-17 women s field.
Aoife Bakovic 3rd today in the 16-17 women's field.

Manveet Dhaliwal representing the RFA today with a second in the womens fun feild
Manveet Dhaliwal representing the RAF today with a second in the women's fun field

Rhiannon Gunner the solo woman in the 18-29 feild but that didnt stop her being hot on the heals of the elite ladys with a 4th fastest time from the women today.
Rhiannon Gunner the solo woman in the 18-29 field but that didn't stop her from being hot on the heels of the Elite ladies with the 4th fastest time from the Women today.

Matt Lakin onboard the fully rigid Stooge once again we will be checking in with Matt for another bike check on his new Stooge he s riding this year.
Matt Lakin onboard the fully rigid Stooge once again we will be checking in with Matt for another bike check on his new Stooge he's riding this year.

Charlie Hay just missing out on the podium today with 4th in the 10-13 boys feild. It s always amazing to see just how fast the kids are.
Charlie Hay just missing out on the podium today with 4th in the 10-13 boys field. It's always amazing to see just how fast the kids are.

Sonny Bird pulling the hello tree face.
Sonny Bird pulling the hello tree face.

Adam Bath showing that he s been paying attention in his Firecrest Coaching sessions and making short work of stage 3.
Adam Bath showing that he's been paying attention in his Firecrest Coaching sessions and making short work of stage 3.
Alex Tarr powering through the new berms on stage 3.
Alex Tarr powering through the new berms on stage 3.

Dougie Bishop has to be up there for silliest face pulled of the day as he comes through the mud on stage 4.
Dougie Bishop has to be up there for the silliest face pulled of the day as he comes through the mud on stage 4.

Chris Sage carving through some of the tight sections of the Milland stages on his way to 2nd in the 30-39 field and 8th fast time overall.
Chris Sage carving through some of the tight sections of the Milland stages on his way to 2nd in the 30-39 field and 8th fast time overall.

The upper sections of the stages had seen a lot of work from the Southern Enduro crew to change them up. it proved popular with both riders and photographers there was plenty of features to keep riders on their toes.
The upper sections of the stages had seen a lot of work from the Southern Enduro crew to change them up. it proved popular with both riders and photographers, there was plenty of features to keep riders on their toes.

It s always good to see the big names at these events. Brendan took second today in the elite field but more importantly made a lot of the kid s day with them being able to race with one of their hero.
It's always good to see the big names at these events. Brendan took second today in the elite field but more importantly made a lot of the kid's day with them being able to race with one of their heroes.

The Mysterious rider 317 whose plate isn t on my timing sheet. looking smooth through stage 2
The Mysterious rider 317 whose plate isn't on my timing sheet. looking smooth through stage 2

Philip Shuckersmith powering through the reworked section midway up stage 2.
Philip Shuckersmith powering through the reworked section midway up stage 2.

Joe Brown carving obe of Millands many berms
Joe Brown carving one of Milland's many berms

Becky Cook took both the elite women s win today and the title of the fastest lady on the hill. the ladies field is growing and any girls out there who are unsure about racing come and give it a go everyone is really supportive and just there to have fun on there bike.
Becky Cook took both the Elite Women's win today and the title of the fastest lady on the hill. The ladies' field is growing and any girls out there who are unsure about racing come and give it a go, everyone is really supportive and just there to have fun on their bike.

This point on Stage 3 when we raced her last was a bog thankfully better weather and some ever better drainage has made this section into fast-flowing section of drops and berms.
This point on Stage 3 when we raced her last was a bog, thankfully better weather and some ever better drainage has made this section into a fast-flowing section of drops and berms.

George Cotsworth-Smith took the win in the 10-13 field and even more impressively 85th out of all the men racing at Milland not bad for someone his age in a field of 300 men.
George Cotsworth-Smith took the win in the 10-13 field and even more impressively 85th out of all the men racing at Milland not bad for someone his age in a field of 300+ men.

Stage 5 had a big over hall this year the amount of time that has been put into this venue by the Souther Enduro team is paying off.
Stage 5 had a big over hall this year the amount of time that has been put into this venue by the Souther Enduro team is paying off.
Typical English spring weather today sunny one minute snow the next.
Typical English spring weather today sunny one-minute snow the next.

There really are some tight twisty sections here at Milland.
There really are some tight twisty sections here at Milland.

6th place in the 30-39 field for Jamie Arnold this time round.
6th place in the 30-39 field for Jamie Arnold this time round.

The next Southern Enduro Series 2021 round is Tiverton, Devon on the 6th June 2021 head on over to their social media and website to find out more.

Results

Elite Men

1st. Sam SHUCKSMITH
2nd. Brendan FAIRCLOUGH
3rd. Richard TUCKER
Hardtail Men

1st. Michael SMITH
2nd. Mitchell WALKER
3rd. Matt LAKIN
E-bike: 40+ Men

1st. Adrian PAUL
2nd. Stuart HOWARD
3rd. TMark BIRD
E-bike: 0-39 Men

1st. Scott ROBERTS
2nd. Davi ROBERTS
3rd. Will BRETT-ATKIN

10-13 Boys

1st. George COTSWORTH-SMITH
2nd. Felix GRIFFITHS
3rd. Thomas HAWKINS
14-15 Boys

1st. Oscar GRIFFITHS
2nd. Charles CROSSLEY
3rd. Soli HARVEY
16-17 Boys

1st. Daniel STURGEON
2nd. Jasper JOHNSON
3rd. Robby JOHNSTON
18-29 Men

1st. Lewis BATEMAN
2nd. Alex WATKINS
3rd. Taylor ARNOLD

30-39 Men

1st. Tom DUNN
2nd. Chris SAGE
3rd. David VALLER
40-49 Men

1st. Chris BLACKMORE
2nd. Ben LEACH
3rd. Ashley NEWBERY
50-59 Men

1st. Jonathan TARR
2nd. Ian SANDERS
3rd. Jason ARNOLD
Fun Men

1st. Johnny CUTTS
2nd. James DALZIEL
3rd. Max SLATER

Elite Women

1st. Becky COOK
2nd. Francie ARTHUR
3rd. Emily ASHWOOD
E-bike Women

1st. Alexia DESILE
2nd. Laura GREIG
3rd. Daisy POTTER
10-15 Girls

1st. Katie ALLSOP
2nd. Lottie THOMSON
3rd. Molly JONES
16-17 Girls

1st. Eme COSH
2nd. Lucy ALLSOP
3rd. Aoife BAKOVIC

18-29 Women

1st. Rhiannon GUNNER


30-39 Women

1st. Gemma LISMORE
2nd. Yasmin THORPE
3rd. Katie BOW
40+ Women

1st. Rachel CLAY
2nd. Jackie FIELD

Fun Women

1st. Katie WOOSTER
2nd. Manveet DHALIWAL
3rd. Anna CURRAN



Posted In:
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7 Comments
  • 6 0
 My first race in nearly thirty years and I loved every minute. Very well organised (especially with the COVID limitations), a great atmosphere, some fantastic tracks that had clearly had a lot of work put into them and a wonderful effort by Mother Nature to provide everything from blazing sun to make you sweat on the way up and freezing snow to cool you off just before you headed down!
My only criticism is that I don’t think the timing chips are reliable - I’m sure I went much faster on every stage than my results suggest!
Good times. Long may they continue...
  • 4 1
 Thanks to the Southern Enduro crew for the fun trails! I've still got no idea what the weather was up to - had my t-shirt sleeves rolled up in the sun, then suddenly getting snowed on...
  • 2 0
 Great review and some impressive results (looking at you George), Makes me almost wish I was racing again but I think I'll put my effort into getting my daughter racing for next season.
Shame all these races are so far away from Essex (as its flat) and so expensive to do as a family.
  • 2 1
 Nice to see Alex Tarr repping the Bike Supply Drop team and Freerider apparels new kit #shamelessplug

On a serious note, was so good to see have some normality back and the atmosphere was awesome! Scott put on a really good event as usual
  • 3 0
 Fantastic and enjoyable day of racing. The trails, organisation and riding was top notch!
  • 3 0
 Good times ! Was great to ride some fresh dirt and Scott had done an amazing job getting the tracks ready
  • 3 0
 T'was an enjoyable day out. Good trails and fun racing!







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