Report Ken O'Brien
The sun shone all day at Ixion's Steeple Hill Bank venue for the penultimate round of the club championship where four laps of ten were taken in with a mix of mud big hills and rocks.
Guy Kenyon-Bell was best Expert with a loss of seven he scorted around in record time as sections were deteriorating very rapidly especially that of Tom Mitson.
A tame looking affair with a grassy run up to a lace of tree roots but after fifty or so bikes had tracked through the outcome was obvious a deep two feet wall of roots with minimal grip then a sharp right hand turn over the base of a huge oak tree before a series of sandy cambers.
There was only one way to tackle this hazard a fourth gear blast was the answer and Guy cleaned it every visit.
Dan Cameron took runner-up spot with a loss of 46 putting some quality rides in at section one a series of steep banks and loamy turns.
On the Standard white route Best Clubman Phil Ducker 300 Gas Gas got the better of traveling companion 250 Beta mounted Ali Haigh but it was close run thing finishing on thirteen and fifteen respectively.
The only section to give Phil grief was section ten a sharpish drop over an exposed root system after which a hop though a natural tree vee was tough then a 10 yard or so swamp like gully only a handful of cleans were recorded here all day.
Adrian Steele was out on the new factory Beta losing seventeen but machine gremlins were about to hamper his quest for glory.
Jason Clifford was the best Novice on 18 and a flooding carburetor was a nuisance rather than a setback today although fuel consumption was high.
Bret Harbud was again best Youth B and the little 125 Beta was reacting well under the guidance of this young rider.
Best British Bike was BSA Bantam mounted Mick Chapman 26 was an excellent score considering the going was primarily aimed at modern machinery.
Ex Motocross rider Dave Barrett showed some scramble skills at many of the sections that required third or fourth gear and his reward was best Intermediate.
On the Blue easier course Tim Davies was back to winning ways losing a miserly seven marks the 4RT finding much grip in the less than dry conditions.
Rob Lewis Sherco dropped fifteen for second place whilst Craig Hargreaves was a few behind in third taking his time today as he was keeping his eye on a couple of mates new to the game,
Many thanks to all the observers for helping out.
Expert Guy Kenyon-Bell Gasser 7
Dan Cameron Mont 46
Ashley Thomas Gasser 48
Will Fidler Gasser 66
Standard White Route
Clubman Phil Ducker Gasser 300 13
Ali Haigh Beta 250 15
Adrian Steele Beta 250 17
Novice Jason Clifford Beta 18
Intermediate Dave Barrett Beta 34
Youth B Bret Harbud Beta 125 38
British Bike Mick Chapman BSA Bantam 26
Blue Eased route Tim Davies Mont 7
Rob Lewis Sherco 15
Craig Hargreaves Mont 18
Steve McHugh Mont 22
Paul Trendall Beta 23
Gary Partlett Beta 27