With rain threatening to put a damper on proceedings around midday, riders assembled early at the first section to get ahead of the clock. The hazy sun kept the observers warm as the forty-one riders tackled the ten sections four times.
Once again the 'oldest rider wins' tie break rule was needed to separate the top three Ariel riders, Gary Mitchell, Mick Clarke and Ady Brayshaw who stayed clean all day. Gary's much campaigned machine may lack the polish of Ady's sparkling machine but beauty counts for nothing when the scores are level.
Bomb Holes
The first sections are set in the bomb holes with cambers, rocks and tight turns being much in evidence and not much trouble was caused early on although Malc Cocking came a cropper and lost his only marks on the relatively easy section three. Section five was the first to test the riders where the large square blocks were dislodged and hid over the mound to surprise unwary riders. All the rigids lost marks here but John Feather Ariel came out best to steal the show dropping only 1 dab.
The wood was drier than previous years and even the steep stepped climb at section nine was tamed by the majority of riders.
Sting in the Tail
Section ten is notorious at Greetland and Sunday was no exception. The uphill approach and squeeze between gritstone boulders before the sharp left cambered turn and climb to the finish took marks from all but the top three Ariels and Malc Cocking's big twin. Even ace midlands visitor Mick Ash succumbed losing his entire score of four here.
Unusually, none of the riders on their lighter unit bikes cleaned here making it a real big bike section.
Mark Spencer on his Francis Barnett visiting with Mick Ash was best of the non competitive riders tying on three with a rejuvenated Andy Greenbank on his Bantam ahead of club two stroke champion Steve Thomas and son Chris for a change.
Championship Points
The top three springers gained ground on class leader Paul Jackson with Gary Mitchell jumping into fourth place with his fine win. John Feather now leads the rigid class by one point over the absent Steve Cordon and Malc Cocking jumped into the lead in the twins class.
Rain
The rain arrived as predicted but the course was cleared before the ground became too wet. It's a small venue, but the majority agreed that the ten sections made for a great day out for a Pre Unit event.