Player battles his way to victory at the Borderlands Classic Hare & Hounds – Report & Results

Set on the border of Dorset and Devon, and just a stone’s throw from Somerset, the recently renovated Thorncombe venue hosted the inaugural running of the Borderlands Classic Hare & Hound. With rain on Friday night followed by brilliant sunshine forecast for the weekend, the weather delivered the best track conditions we could have asked for.

Words by Ben Harvey-Grounds – Event Organiser – Photos by TA Photography

The track was a 7-mile mixture of fast-flowing fields, stream crossings, woodlands, and even the occasional hard-bottomed bog crossing. We worked hard to create a layout that was both fast and flowing, while still busy and interesting, and to keep it raceable the whole way round. On the whole, I think we got the balance just right after speaking to the riders.

The stage was set—but you know us at Track n Trail, we like to do things a little differently. Introducing a sighting lap, GNCC-style pit lane, and finishing the race on the leader after the three-hour mark, we were very excited to get things underway and see how it would all play out.

As the riders came in from the sighting lap, the first strategic moves were already being made. Some riders, like Jake Strawbridge, elected not to top up with fuel after the lap to secure a better position on the start line, knowing they would have to pit earlier. Meanwhile, race favourite Ricky Wiggins rode slowly on the sighting lap, choosing to study lines and track conditions while also fuelling up, sacrificing a better start position. We were about to find out which strategy would pay off.

Experts:

With the stacked Expert class first away, silence filled the venue in anticipation of the dead-engine start and the drop of the flag. The flag dropped, and Paddy Twentyman rocketed around the first corner in the lead, with Henry Life and Ricky Wiggins hot on his heels. The three-hour race would be defined by three distinct chapters.

Chapter 1: Ricky Wiggins made short work of Twentyman and Life, taking over the lead and putting his attentive sighting lap to good use, coming into lap timing with nearly a minute’s advantage. The first hour belonged to Wiggins, stretching out his lead by riding smoothly and picking smart lines. At the hour mark, the win looked all but decided—but heartbreak struck. A mechanical issue forced Wiggins to retire from the race.

Chapter 2: The hard-charging trio of Henry Life, Josh Player, and Dan Guy pushed to the limit throughout the first hour, battling over the remaining podium positions. After passing the stricken Wiggins on lap five, the added incentive of a win meant there was no holding back. All three riders were separated by mere seconds for much of the race, swapping positions constantly through the second hour. Life pitted early from the lead, hoping to undercut Player and Guy, who stayed out for an extra lap before pitting. Once the stops were complete, it was still anyone’s race.

Chapter 3: In the final hour, it became clear the top three were evenly matched on speed. As the track developed and the bumps deepened, endurance became the deciding factor. Dan Guy was the first to falter—his early pace proving costly as he slipped down the order. Then there were two. Player, on the big 450, began to edge away, consistently gaining around 30 seconds a lap on Life. To his credit, Life never gave up, pushing all the way to the end and forcing Player onto one final lap with just two minutes remaining on the clock. The chequered flag came out for Player at 3 hours and 12 minutes on lap 13—a welcome sight after a hard-fought race. Life crossed the line 10 minutes later after fading in the final laps. A super-consistent Lewis Gigg came home in third, just a minute and a half behind Life, surely wishing for one more lap.

READ MORE: BRITISH ENDURO NEWS

Over 40’s Expert:

The Over 40’s Expert class delivered a tight and competitive race, with Gary McCoy ultimately taking the win after completing 12 laps and setting a strong benchmark pace, including a fastest lap of 15:32. Close behind, Martin Izzard pushed hard throughout and recorded the quickest lap of the class at 15:19, but had to settle for second overall. Karl Langford secured third with consistent lap times, while Chris Marsh battled through to fourth despite completing one lap fewer. The class showed impressive depth, with riders maintaining solid averages and delivering a fast, competitive contest from start to finish.

Clubman:

The Clubman class produced a fast-paced and closely fought race, with Adam McCarthy taking top honours after a strong 12-lap performance, also setting the outright fastest lap of 15:16. Jed Symes secured second with consistent laps and a solid average time, while Daniel Whitehouse completed the podium with a competitive fastest lap of 15:48. Arron Richards and Josh Ford rounded out the top five, both maintaining a steady rhythm throughout. The class showed great depth, with all riders completing 12 laps.

Over 50’s:

The Over 50’s class saw a standout performance from Jack Twentyman, who dominated from start to finish, securing victory by an incredible 15-minute margin after completing 11 laps. His pace was unmatched throughout. David Brignall took second with a solid ride, while Steve Cormack claimed third despite completing one lap fewer. Dennis Harrison and Matt Guppy completed the top five after a demanding race.

Over 40’s:

The Over 40’s class produced a competitive race at the front, with Joshua Fusco taking the win after 11 laps and setting a strong fastest lap of 17:19. Bruce Wareham secured second with consistent pace, while Jon Noble finished just five seconds behind in third. The top three were closely matched throughout.

Sportsman:

The Sportsman class delivered a tight contest, with Kieran Costar taking the win after 11 consistent laps. Paul Frater pushed hard for second, setting one of the quickest laps of the class at 17:19, finishing just two minutes behind. Dale Guppy, another two minutes back, rounded out the podium and recorded the fastest lap of the class with an impressive 16:57.

Trail:

The Trail class saw Josh Manley take the win with 10 laps and a solid overall pace. James Penny secured second on 9 laps, while Paul Byrom finished just one minute behind in third, also on 9 laps. It was a determined effort from all riders in a challenging class.

A massive thank you to our fantastic team who made the event run so seamlessly, and of course to the landowner Richard, not to mention every single rider who took part.

All in all, the inaugural Borderlands Classic proved to be a huge success, delivering exciting racing across every class and showcasing exactly what Hare & Hound is all about. From strategic battles at the front of the Experts to close fights and standout performances throughout the field, the event had something for everyone. The combination of a well-received track, evolving conditions, and a fresh race format made for a memorable weekend—and with such positive feedback from riders, it’s clear this is just the beginning of what promises to become a firm favourite on the calendar.

Results