Report Ken O'Brien
Fine weather greeted a host of riders from many different Centres to contest the Norton Trophy for best Pre 65 machine on the White Route.
Despite being a Pre 65 and Twinshock event all classes were catered for.
Much rain on the preceding days meant for a shortened course as waterlogged areas of the farm were a no no.
Four laps of ten sections were ridden with a variety of roots gullies cambers and a few Big Hill Climbs.
The sun was low in the sky the temperature never rose much above zero and to these elements add four laps of ten sections with slick cambers and turns the scene was set.
Time was of the essence though as an amber flood weather warning had been issued by the Met office and heavy rain was due around 2 o'clock.
Best Pre 65 and the Norton Trophy went to BSA Bantam mounted and Midland Centre Raider Paul Howells losing 14 marks.
Section two' Axfords Ditch ' was harder than it looked but Pauls many years of Trials experience shone though with three excellent cleans after a first lap failure with Sat-Nav gremlins to blame .
A gentle but boggy drop to a turn over a log then a short sharp climb before popping over a fallen Oak with a bomb-hole awkward right handed camber to the end cards up the bank was the going for this sub.
Overall best performance on the White eased route came from Ixion Veteran Gordon Pusey 290 Beta with a tally of 7 marks lost for his four laps.
Section four was proving difficult to master for most a soft turn leading to a greasy camber then a tricky angled giant hawthorn root to clear, next was the soft stuff downhill to a controlled right hander over submerged roots to the ends.
Gordon showed the younger generation the correct line but it wasn't as easy as it looked with many marks taken.
Kenny Presly aced up the Twinshock Class piloting the tidy TLR 200 around for a miserly 14 points and showing a clean pair of boots to most at section eight, angled low boughs then a steep climb before dropping back to the field turning circle then a hundred yard steep sandy climb to the summit.
On the middle yellow route Best Clubman was the on-form Roger Thornton Montesa who managed to pilot his steed around for a loss of 15 with section seven taking four of these.
It comprised a tight left handed uphill camber with a drop to a left handed slot with rocks then a lattice of roots climb which got a bit tasty as the mud dragged up the bank.
Peter Cook Fantic 200 had a great day getting around for a very creditable10 mark penalty, section ten was a tester for most a hundred yard steep muddy climb with a chicane at the half-way point but Peter held the the little 156cc on the pin and she could be heard detonating from afar.
Freddie Warner recently upgraded to the 125cc Beta was having a blast with many great rides to take best Youth B.
Rob Warner 300 Montesa took best Expert with his trademark all guns blazing approach albeit only 2 marks ahead of Steve Swanson riding the John Lee 300 Beta.
Both these aging Experts made section nine look easy a grassy turn then a gentle approach along the verandah before a pivot turn up to the plateau with a tricky cambered root then a drop down though gorse to pick up the trail.
50/50 course runner Jason Clifford kept his Vertigo on the level for most of the day losing 27, section six took many marks from most riders but Jason had good rides here.
An all uphill affair beginning with a leafy turn then a fallen tree root four feet high to round before a couple of slick rooted cambered turns then a blast to the ends.
Many thanks to all who helped on the day.
Next Trial Sunday Dec 29th.