The weather did it's best to spoil yet another of our events. In the last 10 days we've had 8 with sunny or dry conditions and two with rain. The two with rain were Saturday and Sunday which compromised all the prep work that had taken place previously and forced a rethink on some of the planned routes for the sections. Even then, some also needed further tweaks on Sunday morning before the trial started.
However, the initial drizzle fortunately disappeared and by the time the trial started it was dry and we even had some occassional sunshine. The trial ran with no dramas and although slippery in places the balance of the sections seemed just about right and the event ran through smoothly with no nasty surprises. The winner's scores in each class look just about right, so big sigh of relief after the dismay of waking to more rain Sunday morning.
In the experts I wasn't able to scrape one measly mark from Sam Yeomans who went clean with an excellent ride as a couple of the expert lines did get very greasy as the laps went on, so to remain feet up with such consistency was some achievement, well done. Pete Ruscoe held off Darren Jones to take second on 13 to Darren's 17, both very good rides in their own right as they were some way ahead of next placed expert Shaun Hadlington.
Three riders contested the 50/50 and it was Shaun Hammond who came out on top with a score of 32 with Elliot Petrek taking second on 56 having moved up from riding the medium route. Sections 5 and 10 were the biggest challenge as the 50/50 riders followed the expert route on these two and number 10 especially proved very slippery on the uphill cambered turn just after the start. I must thank Matt Spink for faultlessly illustrating this to me after the trial and demonstrating how to slide down a section on your backside whilst groping a TYZ - or being groped by a TYZ. Not sure which one was doing the groping. But it made me chuckle a bit. A lot.
Honours on the medium route was a very close fought affair between Rob Badland, Danny Littlehales and Keith Burgess with scores of 9, 10 and 11. Danny actually had them rocking right up to section 9 on the last lap when he was actually leading but a 5 on 9 meant disaster and the win went slip sliding away along with the rear wheel, but a superb ride nonetheless on the little twinshock Fantic against the mighty modern Betas of Rob and Keith.
On the white route, the Bolton steamroller rolled onwards to yet another win, Bruce just nicking it from Bill Brown on furthest clean as they both lost 4 marks in total. Richard Corbett was close behind taking third on 6 marks lost.
Once again, thanks to all who came to ride and support the event, I try and make the effort to vary the sections and although the weather caused a few problems I was still able to use some of the ground I'd prepared and there were a few new lines to ride around the course, so it wasn't all in vain. Thanks to all who observed, helped clear up and those who occassionally provided what was undoubtedly unintentional but very welcome entertainment around the course.
Next one is boxing day with free buffet in the Green Man pub afterwards