IT RAINED, it poured and rather than suffering from broken or sprained limbs, the biggest problem was mud in the eyes.

Despite this, the Forest of Dean's 6th MTB Enduro and the first to be taken on by the Lions, was a stonking mud-splattered success raising thousands for local Forest charities.

Entries nearly doubled to 491 with 430 taking part on the day and they came from Kathmandu to Carmathenshire. It is now a cert there'll be an even more ambitious event next year.

"It was absolutely brilliant, really went well and the atmosphere was so friendly," said Alan Townley of the Lions.

"Entrants were amazingly good humoured, even though it rained almost constantly while the race was on. It was only as the last ones were completing their laps that the sun finally came out.

"When one of the riders I knew came in and said 'Hi Alan' I couldn't tell who he was, he was that covered in mud. They were absolutely plastered. We don't know of any injuries, but the biggest problem was mud in the eyes which needed to be washed out."

Angus Holland, a heating engineer from Lydney on his first major enduro event, said it was as much about mind as body.

"Some of the riders doing four laps were doing them faster that we were doing two laps. Hats off to them because they're real athletes. It is a real mental challenge just taking on the second lap, you can't see, I had to keep washing off my glasses with my water bottle, there are roots and stumps everywhere. One of my friends had to pull out after one lap and had his eyes washed out with two litres of saline solution. He made the mistake of taking his glasses off so he could see.

"But you really felt so great about just completing the laps and I have to say it was really well organised. By the time we'd finished and got a cup of tea our times were up on the screens."

The enduro, which took in freshly laid-out trails and tracks around Sallowvallets near Cannop, involved a series of laps – each being 10 miles long.

•The course was designed and prepared by "Dr J" and fellow Royal Dean Forest Cycling Club members. The Race Director was Brian Griffin.

The Marshals and Officials were members of the Severn Dean and Forest of Dean Lions Clubs and Friends of the Lions. Radio comms and route markers were provided by the Forest of Dean Motor Club.

Timing was provided by Black Sheep Sport. The trails were used by permission of the Forestry Commission. First Aid was provided by St Johns. Facilities for signing-on, results etc. were provided by Pedalabikeaway.

Cycle repair facilities on-route were provided by Severn Valley Cycles and Dean Forest Cycles.

Marker posts were provided by Forest Products. All details on the fodmbe.org website.

2011 Prize winners

4 Laps

1st Expert and 1st overall - Niall Frost

1st Master - Graham Forbes

1st Junior - James Nixon

1st female Expert - Iwona Szmyd

1st female Masters - Sarah Forbes

2 laps

1st Sports - Sebastian Meighan-Davies

1st Veteran - Anthony Cowley

1st Youth - Harrison Webb

1st female Sports - Nirjala Tamrikar (from Nepal)

1st female Veteran - Kim Williams

1st female Youth - Eilish Gilbert

1 Lap

1st Fun/Beginner - Shaun Carter (from Brierley)

1st female Fun/ Beginner - Ffion Gilbert

The team event was won by Team Wolf.

Prizes

Prizes were commissioned for the event from Mary Rose Young and donated by Whitemead Forest Park, the Speech House and Severn Valley Cycles.