The final round of the novice and beginners series was held on the 25th Oct at a cold and breezy Lee Quarry. The trial was set the day before when it was damp and windy all the time we were there and even though it stayed dry on the day of the trial, it remained very greasy underfoot as one or two found out whilst walking the sections.
The usual 3 routes had been set - beginner, novice easy and the normal novice, with 4 laps, 10 sections going in a clockwise direction. The novice easy route looks like the one that is becoming more popular, with riders stepping up from the beginners and other people getting out their twinshocks to have a go at one of our events.
Section 1 was probably the coldest for Mr Hoyland who once again observed despite him being under strict orders not to be too late home! 2 was on the left just up the road, this caught out a few as they managed to miss the yellow and white flags, follow the markers round to 3, observed by Glen Gosling, quite a long section with a mixture of rocks and cambers. Stuart Cripps struggled with this, dropping a couple of 5s over the funny shaped rock. Back out of this corner of the quarry was a turn right to number 4, observed by the ever present Brian, then a short blip to 5, a greasy one watched by young Blacky. From there you had a bit of a ride to six, a long gulley that has been used before, but because of the loose rocks it always provides a challenge. There was then another long run to 7 which was probably the hardest on the day, twisty and greasy. Most riders will have dropped marks here. Back down the road into the base of the quarry to young Alex who was ever watchful on section 8, you had to concentrate and hold your line if you wanted a clean on this one. Both 9 and 10 were good sections, set just about right for this level of trial and once again a good line with good bike control were needed.
Views from the riders were that this was a belting trial, sections spot on with a decent ride round. The entry was a bit low, but that was the only negative as the trial itself made up for that. It just remains to thank everyone for their efforts in the series this year, the observers for braving the cold conditions and the landowners for the use of the land.
We do have a couple of things left this year, the next on the calendar is the club's AGM, but mention these 3 letters and most people seem to lose their hearing! Seriously, we do need more people to run the club as we are only a small group The AGM is on the 11th November in the Band Club, Whitworth, details on the website.
The next trial is back up at Lee, on the 15th November, a NWC Round and a bigger lap, no beginners at this one, sorry, then last but not least, our Boxing Day Trial at Cowm. Money from this goes to charity, hope to see you there.
Thanks to everyone and see you soon