Report Ken O'Brien
Cox's farm Beckley was the venue for Oxford Ixion's Trial where a fine gathering of riders quietly waited in anticipation for the start of the first round of the 2025 club championship.
Much rain on the preceding weeks meant for a shortened course as waterlogged areas of the farm were swamped out.
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 and 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 for a good days sport.
In the Expert Class Vinny Branch 300 Gasser made short work of the opposition losing 12 marks with section nine proving the tough one for all classes.
Much inspecting was taking part here as there was little or no room for the wrong choice of line of which there were many it started with a simple short cambered drop though a marsh then a slick left handed drop before the leap of faith over a drainage culvert the spectators enjoyed it at least.
Josh Quigg over from the Wycombe Club had a good ride on the 300 Beta taking the Intermediate class win on 52 marks lost, riding the hard route Josh had four brilliant cleans at section seven ' The Wooded Glen ' an awkward left handed camber with a fallen tree then a steep lattice of roots before a fierce right handed drop a great performance.
On-form and recent James Cup winner Peter Archer aced them up again in the 50/50 class with a powerful ride on the 280 Honda edging out Jason Clifford by a couple of marks for the win, both cleaning every visit the undulating climbs of section one.
Charlie Crabtree had a bash at the same route on the little 125 Sherco and posted a 52 mark loss a very creditable ride as most sections today were big gear and power jobs.
In the Yellow Middle route Clubman Class Martyn Willmore wasn't hanging about as the rain was coming and he burned around for a miserly loss of 26 marks on the 300 Factory Beta.
Four superb cleans at section eight a second gear camber with a dropping left hand boggy turn then a third gear flat-out rip up a rooted bank to the ends was the hazard the damage was done here taking him to a class win.
Mud Lark Alan Taylor was close on his heels with a 29 deficit with Tim Wheeler a further 2 behind.
These three riders have in excess of 150 years of riding experience but even they couldn't master every lap the task laid before them at section six a 250 yard ten yards wide hill climb not particularly steep but with many hazards underfoot ,good efforts though.
The best sounding bike award goes to Paul Hadingham over from the Nene Valley club wringing the neck of the ageing 250 Bultaco Sherpa on nearly all sections and 36 marks lost was one of the rides of the day.
On the white eased Sportsman route there where good rides all-round and best performance was Chris Aylott DOT 250 losing 17 taking best Pre 65 with Chris looking good at section 5 a Nadgery affair on the wooded bank.
Simon Dowling took best Sportsman with three superb controlled rides at section two a really old fashioned muddy gully with a sting in the tail left turn exit.
Recent in-form Sportsman Hugh Robertson-Payne was on gold in his class but machine Gremlins decided to intervene and his day was over.
A fair few well presented Twinshocks were on show today and the star of the show was the 310 Armstrong CCM piloted around by Paul Toplis who bought this machine new in 1981 and has been riding it ever since.
Poppy Carter was having fun on her 125 Gasser winning the Youth B whist Bradley Sims was best Youth C guiding the little 80cc Beta to victory.
Many thanks to all who helped on the day.
Next Trial Jan 26th at the farm with Big Hills.