Exmoor Beast riders return for end of season challenge

SEVERAL hundred cyclists will be hitting the roads and lanes of Exmoor on Sunday for the second annual Exmoor Beast, a 100-mile end-of-season race.
This year, the start and finish is at Wimbleball Lake, and the routes takes in Wheddon Cross, Dunster, Minehead, Lynmouth, and Simonsbath.
The event is already considered one of the best and most challenging cyclo-sportives of the year and offers a choice of routes over either 100 miles or 100 kilometres.
The Exmoor Beast has been devised by professional event co-ordinators and experienced sportive riders, who have been observing and learning from the varying organisational standards of UK promotions.
Chief organiser, ex-Royal Marine Marcus Di Vincenzo, said: “The domestic sportive scene needed a spectacular fixture, which is a fitting finale to the annual calendar and we will provide all the trimmings that will form the ideal climax to the season.
“We have the expertise and highly-trained manpower to enable the Exmoor Beast to be safely and successfully tamed, providing you give it the respect it deserves and have prepared properly.
“If the awesome climbs do not take your breath away, then the fantastic scenery certainly will and our aim is to make the journey from entry to post ride recovery smooth, enjoyable and truly memorable.”
Exmoor Beast is being held in partnership with BikeSomerset and this year has attracted nearly 1,000 competitors.
The first riders set off at 7 am on Sunday and the first to arrive back at Wimbleball are expected at about 1.30 pm.
The race will be raising money for the charity National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

• Our photograph shows riders crossing the finishing line in last year's Exmoor Beast. Photo by Active Exmoor.

F1 chance for karting champ Beresford

WEST Somerset kart racer Beresford Mandley (pictured, centre) is to compete in a race of champions at Wembley Stadium for the title of BP’s Ultimate Karter.
Beresford received confirmation this week that he had set a fastest lap time at a qualifying event held at Team-Sport, in Cardiff, which was a new track record of 27.145 seconds.
Thousands of drivers have been taking part at 20 participating tracks around the UK and those with the fastest lap times qualify for the Wembley final later this year.
Beresford and several members of the Somerset Karting Club, which he co-founded, had travelled to various venues in the hope in setting the fastest lap times, but he was the only one to do so.
Beresford, who is 2006-07 National Karting Association Champion, is currently looking for local businesses and motor sport enthusiasts to be a part of a two-year sponsorship deal to help him compete in the Formula 100 series and in more British championships.
Due to lack of sponsors last year, he was unable to raise the £2,500 funding which was needed to compete in that series.
Beresford funds most of his karting activities himself, but previous sponsors Andrew and Sarah Dixon, of Andrews on the Weir, at Porlock Weir, came to his rescue with a sponsorship boost which enabled him to qualify for major competitions such as the BP Ultimate Karter, where he can prove his racing abilities.
He is also waiting for confirmation of a qualifying lap time set in January, which is a competition to find the next F1 star.
Event management company So World Ltd, the Daily Star newspaper, and broadcasters Channel 5 have come together to organise this 12-round championship, starting with karts up to Formula One.
The final two drivers will battle it out in an F1 car to see who will win a contract with a recognised racing team.
The Somerset Karting Club has been operating for more than a year with more than 40 members aged 16 to 80 who can enter the Somerset Karting Club Super series.
Prizes will be awarded for overall series champion, best newcomer, most improved member, best female driver of the year, and the brand new weight classes.
Membership is free and members can learn new driving techniques, race craft, and find their own driving abilities in a safe environment.
Depending on interest from younger members, there could be a juniors’ championship set up for ages eight to16 years.
More information can be found at www.somersetkartingclub.co.uk.