Standlake wood was the venue for this years charity trial and as the sun always shines on the righteous the riders and observers of course we all had a great day. The money raised from this years event £805.12 was handed over to a local appeal fund for Charlotte Nott a young girl amputee who suffered meningitis as a baby. Four laps of ten sections lay ahead for this open to centre and final round of the club champs.
In the expert class Oliver Humphries ran out a clear winner losing eight marks five of which went astray at section nine a newly cut out sub with a steep bank on entry followed by a series of sharp cambers.
Darren Wheeler posted a creditable score to take the runner-up spot having a prod each visit at section five the first of three steep downhill drops with even steeper cambered climbs out.
The Standard white route victor Adrian Steele 250 Beta also posted a score of eight to take best clubman and it was section one causing problems for many where Adrian lost five of his tally. This was a tricky one with a hop up a loose bank then dropping into a gully of axle deep sludge before a left turn over some tough awkwardly growing roots. As the day moved on this hazard got gradually worse as the water dragged around the section but not for second placed man Dave Barrett who aced it every time.
Best Novice Jason Clifford dropped thirty one going clean at sub four Jakes Corner a tame looking affair but with a sting in the tail for those less experienced.
Accomplished veteran Mick Chapman piloted the BSA Bantam around for thirty five marks lost showing a clean pair of heels to many modern machines.
The blue easy route wasn't as easy as it looked and it was a close call between Mark Anderson Dave Radford and Tim Davis the latter getting the verdict by one mark. Brian Taylor upped his game today with some inspiring rides namely at section two where he refused to dab at all. This section is fondly known as the Everglades and is often out of commission though flooding but not for this event and the course plotter managed to clear a cambered bank with slick sandy drops but the hard part was the start a loamy bottomless crossing to reach the bank and a third gear fast approach was required before shutting off to traverse low branches.
Many thanks to all who supported our event.
Report: Ken O'Brien
Expert
Oliver Humphries Gasser 8
Darren Wheeler Gasser 23
Ian Watts Beta 31
Standard White Route
Clubman
Adrian Steele Beta 8
Dave Barrett Beta 20
Phil Ducker Gasser 22
Pre 65
Mick Chapman Bantam 35
Alan Taylor Tigercub 46
Novice
Jason Clifford Beta 31
Blue easy course
Tim Davis Montesa 23
David Radford Gasser 24
Mark Anderson Beta 27
Craig Hargreaves Mont 31
Brian Taylor Mont 37