Ashton Brightmore, a seventeen-year-old level 2 Carpentry & Joinery student from Buxton & Leek College, is currently ranked number one in the world in Super Enduro. The sport is a hybrid motorcycle competition which mixes supercross and enduro racing. Ashton has triumphed in the junior class, which sees 16–24–year–olds compete on various terrains including rocks, logs, mud, and concrete.
Check out this exclusive interview with Ashton about his experience as a world champion and BLC student:
Where are you from and how did you find Buxton & Leek College?
I’ve lived in Buxton all my life, my dad is from Buxton too, and we have a very supportive family local to us which is nice. I found a Carpentry & Joinery course at BLC at the Leek campus and thought I’d give it a go because my dad is a joiner, and I’ve really enjoyed the courses and my time here so far.
Where do you sit currently in the world ranking?
I’m world number one in the junior category, and one of the top 12 in the world including adults.
How long have you been involved in the sport?
My dad has been a motor biker all his life and still rides occasionally too, so I’ve grown up in the scene. My brother is 21 and I’ve very much followed in my brother’s footsteps. There were some things I was too young to take part in, so I’ve just watched him, and learnt from him and now we’re competing at the same level, so we get to learn from each other.
Before this, I spent ten years trial biking, but I wanted a change, so the last three years I’ve been competing in enduro; but motor bikes and the sport are a lifelong hobby and passion.
I currently ride for an Italian team called TTR, who are based in Italy. The group have raced for years, and I race for them with my brother, being involved with them has helped to get us onto the professional scene a lot easier.
What do you love about your sport?
The variety of different races keeps things exciting. Each race is different so one event can be four days in the mountains, and then the next event can be two hours around one wood. It changes from week to week, so you never get bored.
How do you manage to juggle competing, training and completing work for your course?
This year has probably been the busiest in terms of keeping up with work whilst competing, but my mum has helped by sending the calendar to my Progress Coach so that everyone is aware of when I’m competing or flying out. But if I’m ever falling behind on something then John, my tutor, sends me work so that I can catch up as soon as possible.
Are there any skills you’ve been able to take from your course into your sport and competitions?
Definitely a lot of hands-on skills, particularly if something breaks down. You can be out in the forest for hours, so if something does break down you’ve got to be ready to get your hands dirty and figure it out so you can get to the finish. It’s a lot about being able to adapt to the environment, not only the terrain and the competition, but the situation too, so being able to problem-solve quickly as different issues arise.
What do you love about BLC and your tutors?
I really like the relationship between me and John, because he listens, he understands, and he wants to help. John really gets my situation, having been a rider himself, and his son being in a similar position to me, so he’s able to help by showing me how to have a professional approach to races – he’s helped me massively both in and out of College.
What are your plans moving forward?
I think this is my last year with BLC, my dad is a joiner, so I’ll be going to work with him next year. It’ll make things a lot easier if I’m given short notice for a competition, but BLC has been a massive part of preparing me for work. They’ve developed my skills and professional behaviour by giving me real-world tasks I’m likely to encounter once I’m working full-time. I feel ready for work now and I’m excited for the flexibility which will come with that.
BLC also had the chance to catch up with Ashton’s tutor and BLC Carpentry & Joinery lecturer John Shaw, to ask him what it’s like to tutor a world champion.
What is Ashton like as a student?
He’s great, I understand him and his sport from my own circumstances, not to mention he’s got a lot of skills from working for his father’s joinery business. He’s very committed and he just comes in and gets on with the job so he’s not only up to date with his work despite a busy schedule, but he’s ahead.
How do you support Ashton with his studies whilst he’s competing at such a high level?
Everything is planned to keep things simple and straight forward. He knows what the structure is, and he knows what he needs to do and that really helps to keep him on track when everything else can be so hectic. There’s also good communication between different departments, Ashton, and his family, so everyone understands where he is, where he needs to be, and the support he needs is available.
Buxton & Leek College is incredibly proud of Ashton and the hard work and dedication he has shown not only with his sport but in his studies and the start of his career too.
For more information about BLC’s Carpentry & Joinery programmes click here.
