Welsh Teams. ISDE Serres 2008 After months of fundraising and planning it was on the evening of 20th of August that team members and helpers met near Llandrindod Wells to load the lorry ready for its departure to Greece the following morning. Gwyn and Grunt crossed from Dover on Thursday afternoon and embarked on a journey that took them across France into Switzerland and on down to Ancona in Italy to catch a 15 hour ferry to Igoumenitsa in Greece, followed by an 8 hour journey through the Greek mountains to Serres.The remaining 19 team members, managers and support crew boarded a flight from Manchester at 8am on Sunday 24th August to Kavala where our hire cars awaited us for a two hour drive to Serres, I was relieved to receive a phone call just after landing from Gwyn and Grunt to inform us they were 8 hours ahead of schedule and as we drove into Serres they were spotted sitting outside a café with Grunt having a beer to celebrate his arrival!We then luckily met a local who was working at the event and he took us out to Serres Race Circuit and showed us where to park up the lorry for the evening, we then headed back into the center of town to find our home for the fortnight - The Galaxy Hotel, a basic hotel but with clean tidy rooms and an extremely helpful owner for who it seemed nothing was too much trouble, in general the welcome and hospitality we received in the town was fantastic.Mon 25th - we moved into the pits but couldn't do much until the remainder of the GB contingent arrived, the lads went off to walk tests and some of the rest of us drove round to establish whereabouts of tests etc.Tues 26th - more test walking and managed to convince the organisers to let us sign on early!Weds 27th - Team GB arrived and after discussion it was decided that due to lack of room in the allocated area we would set up our own pit area with the Sheep Skull Team and Justin, this proved to be very successful.Thurs 28th - Technical Scrutineering - All okFri 29th - completed test walking, other support crew collected tyres and sorted out the container, the girls having adjourned to the Pool!Sat 30th - Opening Ceremony at Serres Race Circuit.Sun 31st - Rest Day for everyoneMon 1st - Day One - Very Hot! Very Dusty! Andrew and Jon encountered brake problems but they managed to rectify during the dayDay Two - Jon has more brake problems but another new system seems to have sorted it, Dave nursed his machine home and fitted a new clutch with no lost time, Andrew changes a front pipeDay Three - New route today, Tim rebreaks his big toe and Craig chips a bone in his elbow, Andrew does another pipe - no lost time.Day Four - With their injuires straped up all 6 riders start , Andrew does a radiator on the first lap and on lap 2 the clutch basket breaks up locking the engine solid, after some trackside maintenance he got the bike to the end of day and fitted a complete new clutch with no time loss. Tim also fitted a new tail pipe at the end of day.Day Five - New route again today expected to be the hardest day, Craig's exhaust pipe mountings break off the rear sub frame all finish the day with no lost time.Day Six - Eight laps around the moto cross track today with all riders finishing in extreme conditions.The Welsh Teams finished an impressive 7th and 13th out of 74 club teams, being the highest place British Club Teams. Individual honours were awarded to:A Team: Andrew Edwards - Gold; Jon Hinam - Gold; Tim Forman - SilverB Team: Gethin Price - Gold; Dave Brick - Silver; Craig Bounds - Silver.This was achieved in temperatures of in excess of 35 degrees with two riders competing with injuries - Craig Bound chipped a bone in his elbow on day three and Tim Forman aggravated an existing foot injury by rebreaking his big toe.In order to maintain their machines throughout the week as well as the grueling riding they changed a total of 54 tyres, 2 clutches, 4 exhaust pipes, 1 radiator, 3 complete brake callipers and approximately 200 air filters and 400 filter skins!Well Done Lads!But none of this would have been possible without the volunteers who travel at their own expense to support the teams. Also all the clubs and individuals in the UK that support with our fundraising.Many thanks to you all
Report of ISDE Event in Serres, Greece 2008
Pictured left to right: Gethin Price, Jon Hinam, Craig Bounds, Mike Davies (Team Manager), Tim Forman, Gemma Williams (Team Manager), Andrew Edwards, David Brick, David Vaughan
Welsh Six-Day Team History.
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