They came from Quebec and they came from Georgia.
They came from as far away as New Zealand.
Pumping brakes and adrenaline, 165 Enduro riders, their families and fans made their way to the county for the 59th annual Corduroy Enduro during the weekend.
The event started at the Gold Rock Lodge in Norland in 1953.
“It’s moved around,” said organizer and Ontario Federation of Trail Riders president Ken Hoeverman. “Back in the ’50s, there was no such thing as a dirt bike. They’d bring their BMWs up from Toronto, take all the heavy bits off [to race] and then put the heavy bits back on and drive back to Toronto.
Now centred in Gooderham, the two-day competition took riders south to nearly Bobcaygeon as well as to west of Kinmount and Gelert.
Riders pass through checkpoints and are timed on certain 10-kilometre segments.
“I’m trying to physically and mentally wear them out before they’re even scored,” Hoeverman said.
It’s the points from those timed segments that determine the winners.
There was also an Enduro cross pit, sometimes used to break ties, set up near the community centre.
A special guest this year was Chris Birch, considered one of the world’s best Enduro riders.
He spoke during a dinner Saturday evening.
Organizer Tracy Evans said the event was good for tourism.
“I think it’s important for the county to know how far some of these riders come,” Evans said.
While Enduro bikes are permitted on the Haliburton County Rail Trail for one day during the annual event, the vehicles are normally not permitted on the trail.
Hoeverman said next year’s Corduroy will be a special one to mark its 60th anniversary.