Oxford Ixion Norton Cup Trial

Report Ken 'The Mud' O'Brien

Pics Gary Dowzall more pics in gallery

Oxford IXION website

A lovely piece of silverware was up for grabs last weekend at the Norton Trophy Trial where promoters Oxford Ixion Mcc put on a traditional muddy muddy muddy trial with a handful of big hill climbs thrown in for good measure.

A full lap of Cox's farm made for ten testing sections that were ridden three times with this event also being a round of the South Midland Classic Championship for Pre 65 and Twinshock machines.

Two routes were on offer today and the hard route victor and winner of the Norton pot was BSA Bantam 185 mounted Tim Blackmore.

Tim put in a faultless first lap but on his second visit to sub one the mud had dragged up the bottom turn over roots and a steadying prod was delivered at the precise moment to ensure he stayed feet-up to the end cards.

His second dab was taken on the last lap section two a twisting but open climb and by this time most were taking threes but not Tim, a factory dab in the right place and the little Bantam gripped like a good thing to the ends.

Alan Taylor Triumph Cub was putting a winning ride in but a few misfires here and there with the deep muddy slots of section ten taking their toll Alan had to settle for third spot today on fourteen marks lost but still lifted the best Pre-65 Unit Class.

Ex classic Scrambler Brian Ayres was out on his recently restored Fantic Motor 200 and just scraped in by a single mark to take the Twinshock class.

Scramble expertise came in very handy today as most sections were third and fourth gear blasts especially section eight a boggy start then a 70 yard flat out blast up a slick and steep bank shutting-off at just the right moment before turning to make the equally steep drop.

Gordon Pusey rolled back the years to put the best performance in on a modern machine losing four, one of which went astray on the sandy climbs of section nine where the last steep sector became surprisingly grippy late on.

The second route on offer today was not that easy and experience shone through ( all pushing for their pension books ) as Ron Walters best performance John Eckhart Pre Unit Paul Wickson Two Stroke and Julian Wade Rigid all finished Top Dogs in their respective classes.

Ron was on for a clean ride until the last section last lap this fifty foot wide section of downhill marsh and the same up took no prisoners and Ron had to settle for a three his only loss of the day.

Many thanks to all the observers who braved the cold but sunny weather.