Dean Morton from South London has attended the last four Alwinton Two Day trials so we thought we would ask him to describe his experience last weekend. For Dean it’s a 700 mile round trip to Alwinton and back so we do suspect he likes the event.
Saturday
This year I was on my new Beta, which was put through it's paces on the many hills surrounding Alwinton and through all kinds of sections. I rode with Bruce and Jack Metcalf, it’s good to ride with a mate or two as it's a long (really long) way round. The steep gullies and river sections were harder than last year, actually it was all harder than last year but I managed them all. There were new parts to the course and lots of new sections.
We left Clennel Hall in sunshine at 10am on Saturday morning and ½ a mile later were climbing the first of many hills on our way to section 1 on the steep crags overlooking the local farms. Saturdays newly extended course took us onto the top of the Cheviot Hills, we could see across to the North Sea and Alnwick Radar Station on one side and nothing but endless moors to the other, this area is the Armys Otterburn training range. A beautiful clear day just to take five minutes and appreciate where we were. The observers need a pat on the back just for making it to the sections let alone observing.
Anyway off the fell tops with a few rocky outcrops and gulley sections to ride on the way and onto the first fuel check, a trailer taken up into the hills via a farm track using a 4WD. After the fuel check more sheep tracks and some steep descents, I was tricked by the wet ferns at one point which you need to ride straight through rather than across, but I needed a rest anyway.
Next stop was the graded hill climb and this year I cleaned it, all the way to the top on the Evo, looking back down at a rather small observer standing in the valley below. Some more descents and then it got a little easier, we were into the forest and on toward the lunch check. We got a great welcome from the ‘Dinner Ladies’ and had time for a chat over a sandwich and a drink with fellow competitors.
Then off on the rest of the sections, more spectacular views and miles of forest track on which to relax. We made it back to the finish in time for a quick pint before getting changed then back down for a good evening meal and more beer!
Sunday
Sunday was a lot cooler & rain in the air to start, got my wet top on, just in case! 1st section - rocky gullies, no problem. 2nd section - struggled until there was a shout of 'Is that how a southerner rides?' then I managed it with a 3. No mercy from the sharp tongued locals in these parts ! Three sections in and if I said I was knackered it would be an under-statement, there was another 27 sections to go. Mike Little had now joined our group as he keeps stopping in front of us to take pictures, this gives me a chance of a breather every 5 minutes!
We did a couple of miles on the forest track and I was feeling good, then I saw the 8th section, named Rocky’s Road to Hell after the Hotel Manager. A graded hill climb on loose shale and boulders. It was a bit daunting but we all agreed to give it our best shot and I nearly got to the end. A few more miles of tracks and onto the highest point of the course before dropping down via some quarry sections into the fuel and lunch stop. It's now raining heavily and its getting windy but it doesn’t matter, it didn’t make any difference once riding the sections.
After lunch we were back out on the moors, some sunshine and some more views interspersed with more rain. After the last section it was back over the hill tops and down one last steep descent onto the forest road and along to the Hotel. When I finished I felt like I could take on the world, well after getting the wet clothes off & dry ones on.
Highlight of the day - a good photo of me from yesterday riding up the hill from Mike & Hilary Little (just so I can prove to the family I was riding all weekend), Jack soaking his dad Bruce with a wheelie through a puddle & Bruce returning the favour on the way back in.
A perfect weekend, hotel already booked for next year 2016.
Images: Mike & Hillary Little
