IT was a change of venue for Pendennis Motor Club's annual February Hare and Hounds Enduro on Sunday and the new track on the outskirts of Redruth was going to be a challenge for the full entry list.

It was the Clubman two-strokes who were first away on a very muddy and waterlogged course and it soon became apparent that the lap scorers were also in for a hard day; with the completion of their first lap the early leaders were already covered in mud!

Colin Eddy led the way, hotly pursued by Jamie Page, Paul Warman, Greg Spears and Simon Bolitho.

On completion of their second circuit, Eddy slightly extended his lead over Warman who had passed Paget, and with Spears and Bolitho dropping back, it was Andrew Coad who was now chasing a podium place.

As the race settled down it was "as you were" at the front until the latter stages with Eddy and Paget having trouble leaving Warman in front, right up to the final minutes when somehow Geoff Varker came through to push him hard but had to settle for runner-up, leaving the race pacesetter with a deserved class win.

In the Open two-stroke early front runner, Shaun McIlroy, only managed to stay there for two laps, firstly being passed by eventual "class" winner, Phil Liddicoat, and on the fourth lap by Lee Carter who briefly came within two bike lengths of Liddicoat. In the end he had to settle for second place, one minute adrift of McIlroy and a further three minutes adrift for third.

The four-strokes, starting a minute adrift of the two-strokes, soon got amongst them with the pre-event favourite Michael Williams completing his first lap in seventh overall and Ben Golley in 20th. It took Williams five laps to catch and pass early race leader Eddy and then steadily pulled out a comfortable lead until (like Eddy) had over-heating problems in the deteriorating conditions and failed to make the finish.

Class winner Mark Lanceley didn't take long to pass Golley and finished a comfortable eight minutes up for the class win and fifth place overall.

Matt Sweeney had it all his own way in the "Big" four-strokes. Leading from the first lap, he finished the day completing one more circuit than runner-up, Rickie Nancarrow and fourth overall.

Another "class" winner was Wayne Barnard in the Sportsman. Wayne, making a comeback after several years away from the sport, certainly showed he has lost none of his riding ability, leaving Ian Henderson and Matt Bardoe to fight for the remaining podiums.

The quads certainly found the mudbath of a track to their liking, getting amongst the solos on the first lap led by Dave Tipper with Shane Orchard on his tail and Adam Willougby, Paul Jeffery and Nick Julian in close attendance.

As the day progressed the four-wheel drive of Tipper stamped his advantage and had a clear lap advantage at the end. Orchard's demise 30 minutes from the finish let in Jeffery for second and Willougby for a well-earned third.

Another returnee to the sport was side-car winner driver Jack Penfound with Simon Rogers as ballast. They kept Chris Mallaber and Gareth Andrew behind them for the early stages. Mallaber and Andrew briefly went to the front, but decided to take a flying lesson and found themselves out of time to claim the class win.

Pendennis MC Limited would once again like to thank the following who made the running of this event possible in very tricky conditions: Euro Tool Hire & Sales; Truro Tractors; Cornwall Kawasaki; Andy Loos; working parties and marshals; the lap scorers and especially the landowners.

Award winners - Clubman up to 220: 1, Paul Warman, 14 laps, 3.15 minutes, 125 Yamaha, Crowlas; 2, Geoff Varker, 14, 4.40, 200 KTM, St Austell; 3, Adam Blake, 14, 6.51, 125 Yamaha, Bude; 4, Andrew Neal Davies, 13, 0.53, 125 Honda, Rock; 5, Andrew James, 13, 1.28, 200 KTM, Saltash.

Clubman Open: 1, Philip Liddicoat, 13, 3.27, 250 Suzuki, St Austell; 2, Lee Carter, 13, 4.55, 250 Honda, Illogan; 3, Shaun McIlroy, 13, 8, 250 Honda, Bodmin; 4, Frances Banfield, 13, 8.13, 250 Gasgas, St Dennis; 5, Carl Band, 12, 250 KTM, Portreath.

Clubman 250 4-stroke: 1, Mark Lanceley, 14, 6.18, 250 Honda, Roche; 2, Ben Golley, 14, 16-25, 250 Honda, Roche; 3, Ryan Kendall, 13, 13.07, 250 Honda, Bugle; 4, Danny Bullen, 12, 0-37, 250 KTM, Bodmin; 5, Martin Howes, 12, 6.06, 250 Husquarna, Launceston.

Clubman over 250 4-stroke: 1, Matt Sweeney, 14, 450 KTM, Calstock; 2, Richie Nancarrow, 13, 350 KTM, St Austell; 3, Andrew Lundy, 12, 3.30, 450 KTM, Portreath; 4, Jon MacKeen, 12, 6.37, 525 KTM, St Germans; 5, Pete Gregory, 12, 6.58, 400 KTM, Camelford.

Evolution (Pre-1990): 1, Phil Atkins, 14, 250 Honda, Scorrier; 2, Jamie Paget, 12, 250 Kawasaki, Stithians; 3, Stu George, 9, 250 Yamaha, Illogan.

Sportsman: 1, Wayne Barnard, 13, 250 Honda, Illogan; 2, Ian Henderson, 12, 2.03, 250 Yamaha, Helston; 3, Matt Bardoe, 12, 6.35, 450 KTM, Redruth; 4, Steve Curnow, 12, 6.54, 525 KTM, Penzance; 5, Richard Maddern, 12, 7.55, 250 Husqvarne, Rame.

Quads: 1, Dave Tipper, 14, 800 Outlander, Perranporth; 2, Paul Jeffery, 13, 400 Suzuki, Penhallow; 3, Adam Willougby, 12, 2.09 400 Suzuki, Penhallow; 4, Peter Bullen 12, 9.11, St Day; 5, Toby Thipthorp, 11, 450 Yamaha, Perranwell.

Sidecars: 1, Jack Penfound/Simon Rogers, 11, 500 Honda, Crackington; 2, Chris Mallaber/Gareth Andrew, 10, 500 Kawasaki, Carharrack; 3, Tony Penhaligon/Dinky Richards, 9, 500 Kawasaki, Redruth.