PHIL SMITHSON'S challenge for the World Enduro title certainly took off in Czechoslovakia.

For the Clitheroe engineer successfully completed an Olympic ski jump - on his Husaberg 600 motorbike!

The daunting obstacle was just one of the challenges facing competitors in the third round of the punishing championship, held near Prague.

"It was incredible, we were expecting a tough challenge, but this was unbelievable," said Phil.

"The two-day event was centred around a ski resort, and I reckon the organisers put the ski jump in to sort the men from the boys.

"It was very difficult to judge the right speed down the slope, go too slow and you wouldn't have enough momentum, and too fast meant crashing off the side. "When it came to my turn, it was absolutely chaotic, with riders landing everywhere and even the marshals, who were trying to help keep the bikes upright, falling off the edge of the jump.

"Luckily, I managed to keep my balance and made the jump okay, no thanks to the hundreds of Czech fans at the bottom who were cheering anyone who crashed."

At the end of the two days, Phil was placed an excellent 14th overall, out of 180 starters - and survived a near-disaster just 10ft from the finishing line.

"I came round a tight hairpin with the finish in sight and going really well, when the front brake jammed on," explained Phil.

"The bike slewed out of control, tipped me off and hit the timing beam post. I managed to get up and force the bike across the line, but it was a close run thing.

"And I don't think the organisers were too impressed either, because they gave me a 60 second penalty for wiping out all their timing lights!"

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