100 Luzon riders join 1st Sagada Enducross

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- The 1st Sagada Moto Enduro Funrace gathered nearly a 100 riders from Luzon here at Maduto grounds of Barangay Ankileng on June 16.

Riders came from the towns of Bontoc, Tadian, Bauko and Sagada in Mountain Province; Tuba, Itogon, La Trinidad, Buguias and Mankayan of Benguet; Tabuk City, Kalinga; Ifugao; Quezon City, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan and Manila.

Participants thrilled the audience with their racing styles riding uphill, downhill, traversing muddy canals, overcoming obstacles at the race track along the Suyo- Balili Road.

A rider got points crossing the race per lap basing from time.

Mountain Province with its mountainous and natural terrains present potential sites for enduro motorbike riding.

Maduto grounds present a spacious oval to plant obstacles, challenging creeks to traverse, rocky surfaces to go over, and low to potential higher sloping uphill climbs.   

Organized by the Mountain Province Trail Riders Group (MPTRG), racing categories are Production, All China, 85 kgs and above, Underbone, Local Enduro, All Sagada, and Female category.    

Riders from Baguio, Manila, Bauko, and Bontoc won 1st prizes in the different categories at P3,000 for each winner including the 1st prize winner in the All Sagada category and female category.  

Second prize winners bagged P2,000 each; 3rd prize winners got P1,000 each while the 4rth prize winners took P500.00 each.  

Winners also got trophies and certificates of awards.

Winners in the production category were: 1st- Ryan Saguiyod of Baguio clocking in 15 minutes 57 seconds to 2^nd placer Roy Farinas  from Itogon  at 17:08 and 3rd Dondon Kisofen from Tadian following in close at 18:38. Fourth place is Jericho Oyo Poi  from Marikina.

For 85-kg and above category were:1st- Roy Farinas, 2nd- Jericho Oyo Poi from Marikina,  3rd- Kennan Yodong from Sagada   and  4th- Gian Lomong-oy from Sagada.

Underbone category winners were: 1^st placer Julius Marrero from Bauko who took the challenge at 29 minutes and 54 seconds followed far by 2^nd placer Giovani Domingo  from Tuba, Benguet.  

Third placer was Rain Hart Aguilar fromTabuk City, Kalinga and 4^th is Pike Soria from Bontoc.

All China Category was won by 1^st placer Kyle Domingo from Tuba Benguet who clocked in at 39:09 followed close behind by 2^nd placer Jefferson Sapul  at 40:03 and 3^rd by  Bryan Ron Rodriguez from Quezon City at 40:20. Fourth place is Jasher Bantic  from Bauko.   

Winners for the Local Enduro category were 1st- Remar Nise  from Taguig who did fast crossing at 12 minutes and 30 seconds followed far by  2^nd placer Kiefer Mangaoli from Baguio at 18:07. Third place is Reydel Bayaona  from Ifugao and 4th- Jessie Saguipel  from La Trinidad, Benguet.

Most of the winning riders particularly Saguiyod, Farinas, Kisofen,  Marrero and Domingo  won in other  enduro competitions  including those held during festivals at Tuba Benguet, Pangasinan, La  Union,  Bauko, Bontoc  and Tadian Mountain Province.

The All Sagada Category was won by 1st- Lanban Bolares, 2nd- Felix John Gansoen, 3rd- Ian Fritz Baniaga and  4th- Kevin Tauli.     

The Female category was won by 1st- Peja Maude Sagsagkho  from Bontoc, 2nd- Jikky Aranduque from Sagada and 3rd- Charmain Pablo from Bontoc.

Sponsoring host organizers are by the rules of  MPTRG are not allowed to join enduro competitions held in their respective locality.

Pioneering founder-member of MPTRG Gareth Likigan from Sagada emerged champion  in the local enduro category in the 1st Montanyosa Enduro Challenge held during the 2019 Lang-ay festival.   

Pioneering founder-member of MPTRG James Wandag  from Sagada who won in some previous enduro events held in Mountain Province said he hoped it will be another grand enduro event next year with the venue eyed for this national event to be held in Sagada.

Enduro crossing in Mountain Province began this year with the influence of Tadian riders and the game having started in Baguio City last year.

Enduro events were first held at Tadian during its 2019 Ayyoweng Festival held 1st  week of March,  2019 Begnas festival at Bauko held 2nd week of March and during  the 2019 Lang-ay Festival held first  week of April.

Gareth said enduro is good for the discipline it gives to the rider. He said no smoking is emphasized among the riders.It’s a total exercise with the muscles and the mind coordinating with the other, he added.

It’s not purely physical as one has to mentally gauge the distance and the foresight in overcoming the obstacles along the way, he said.  

We were only touring before and now it’s getting to be a competition. There is not much of a difference though because I still feel the stress and the thrill in riding, competition or not. Though enduro is more stressful, he added.  

James and Gareth are open for cause- oriented enduro activities. MPTRG has been doing  cause- oriented riding before they went into enduro.

Gareth saied they are also open for trainings for those who would like to learn motorbike and enduro riding.

Prizes for the winners of the 1^st Sagada Enduro funrace were donated by local sponsors including Yoghurt House, Ganduyan Souvenirs, Rock Inn, 7Js Souvenirs, Ayeona’s Souvenirs, Coda Lines, Log Cabin, Rusty Nail, Juniors’ Fabrications, Gabay Wines, Moonhouse, Rock View Hardware, Sagada Weaving, Sagada Guesthoue, e-dagdag Merchanidse. Sagada Hub, Sagada Caveman, Dako Bagano, Arturo Masferre,  Fely Capuyan Omengan, Rusco Aben, Inggo Ayban, Raymond Patacsil, Romeo Pagedped, Jones agpad, Aldwin Ayban and Felicito Dula.  

Other sponsors of the event were San Miguel Beer, Red Horse and Oppo.