A top Red Bull athlete has fulfilled a childhood dream by taking on an epic ride at a Lake District slate mine.
Enduro rider Jonny Walker, who grew up in Keswick, visited Honister Slate Mine to unlock his ultimate dream moto playground.
It is owned by the Weir family – and Jonny grew up with them.
Honister has been part of his life since he was young.
His grandad worked in the mine, often spending weeks at a time underground.
Growing up around the slate works, Jonny always imagined one day riding the huge features hidden within the quarry and tunnels.
Now, he’s finally made that dream a reality.
Jonny’s adventure included:
- Jumping a 20m road gap
- Riding a wall ride deep inside the slate mine
- Bunny hopping a pile of slate
- Pulling a superman through a low and narrow mine shaft
He said: “This is honestly a dream come true for me.
“Ever since I was a kid, I imagined one day riding the quarry in a place that means so much to me, so coming back and actually doing it has been incredible.
“There were moments that were genuinely terrifying – I barely slept the night before – but that’s what I love about pushing myself, especially here in my home town.”
Jonny has been riding since the age of nine.
He began by competing in the British Schoolboy Trials Championship, which he won twice, and maintained a top three ranking until he was 17.
Jonny was also the youngest ever winner of The Pinhard Prize, an accolade awarded to under 21s who are deemed to be the highest achievers.
In 2008 and 2009 Jonny competed in the European and Junior World Trials Championships but, after several years in trials, he hankered after a different challenge.
Buying his first motocross bike led him to try the sport of Enduro, after a friend suggested he should have a go.
Despite being thrown right in at the deep end in his first full Enduro season, he enjoyed considerable success.
He had great first-time performances in the World Indoor Cup, Hell’s Gate and the British Enduro Championship, where he invariably finished in the top five until he topped the podium.
