With Christmas just round the corner thoughts are turning to turkey and all the trimmings, not forgetting a splurge of Christmas pudding and custard, so why not book a ticket on the next Brass Monkeys Enduro to help you shake off that Christmas excess?

Round two will take place on December 28 at Ash Ranges, while round one brought the true meaning of Brass Monkey to life, with sub-zero temperatures.

Nearly 500 riders braved the arctic weather and were rewarded with classic single track action. Utilising many trails rarely used, the enduro took riders on a merry romp around Porridgepot Hill, taking in the Valley of Doom, a loose gravel descent followed much too closely by a leg wrenching climb.

In the four hour race, TORQ riders Ben Thomas and Tim Dunford blazed a trail, leading from the front racking up the fastest lap times, leaving the rest of the race in their wake as they clocked up seven laps.

The duo matched each other for pace, however a leisurely ‘comfort break’ gave the chasers a sniff of the action and soon the TORQ riders were in their sights.

Dunford responded by making a quick exit on the last lap leaving nothing to chance and taking the win, with Thomas second. hung onto to second, despite a surge by Wiggle rider Matt Page who just pipped Phil Gale to third.

In the vet men’s four hour race, Matt Craner had a near clear run, only James D’Arcy may have given him a run for his money if a mechanical hadn’t hampered his pursuit on lap one, while Jo Munden’s fast start in the women’s event gave her a strong lead that she held for her six laps to take the victory.

The two hour race saw George Budd, Richard Mardle and vet Paul Hopkins control the race from the front. On the final fourth lap Mardle made his move, leaving Budd in chase mode, with Hopkins racing for gold in the vet race making that dash for second even more challenging. Mardle triumphed, while Hopkins surged past Budd to claim the vet’s two hour race.

More details and entries can be found at www.meridabrassmonkeys.com