A cold but sunny morning greeted a class entry of riders for the 69th running of this prestigious Open to Centre Trophy the ' Harold Avery Cup ' where in the past such great riders as John Avery Sammy Miller Don Smith Bill Faulkner Pat Lamper and John Reynolds have all been triumphant.
Twelve sections were plotted to be ridden three times with long wooded climbs and muddy woodland tracks including a new Graded Hill. Heavy afternoon rain was forecast so time was of the essence and most pressed on to get an early finish before the heavens opened.
The other piece of silverware on offer today was the Phillip Howkins cup awarded for the best adult performance on the white standard route.
Darren Wheeler 250 Gasser put in an impressive first lap turning in a card of 4 marks but in the end 40 was his tally to take the premiere award.
Section two a hop over a low growing branch into a boggy turn before an inch perfect turn on the edge of a field drain was proving a little difficult after fifty or so bikes had passed through and took most of the Expert riders marks.
Best Intermediate was Jason Clifford Beta 250 who blasted his way to a clean on section five on his first lap, a fourth gear 200 yard climb out of the woods.
On the standard white route the Phillip Howkins Cup went to Beta mounted clubman Adrian Steele with a loss of 24 this was less than half the score of runner-up Alan Taylor although Alan's mount was a rather standard 1963 Tigercub.
Both riders put in excellent rides on section nine Adrian three cleans, a steep climb from the field to a very tricky ledge then an almost vertical sandy bank before dropping on a camber and then a slick climb to the ends Alan took best Pre 65.
Rowan Hill and Tim Davies made for a Novice one two respectively with only a single point splitting them, Rowan and Tim had mixed fortune rides at section ten a really tough angled camber that required the correct speed before dropping to a hairpin turn and then a steep bite the front tyre climb through undergrowth.
A cluster of riders contended the Blue eased route and the man on the money today was Rob Lewis who rattled around in record time for a loss of 24 marks the Ossa not missing a beat all day.
Rob rode section six for a dab each lap this was experience showing as many tried to clean it but came unstuck in a big way footing the entire section.
This sub started with a simple looking drop and a turn below a willow then a ditch crossing that had to be attacked with vengeance after which a many line rooty slot was negotiated this is where the dab had to be produced at the precise moment or feet down all the way.
Wayne Hutton 199 Tigercub pressed on and was rewarded with best British Bike on the easy course having some good rides on section 12 the Graded Hill cleaning feet-up every visit.
Report Ken O'Brien
Results
Premiere Darren Wheeler 250 Gasser 24
Expert Michael Johnson 260 Mont 59
Intermediate Jason Clifford 250 Beta 73
Standard White Route
Phillip Howkins Cup
Adiran Steele 250 Beta 24
Pre 65 Alan Taylor Tigercub 51
Clubman Patrick Toplis Beta 125 67
Inter Frazer Curtis 250 Beta 67
Novice Rowan Hill 260 Mont 78
Blue Eased Course
Rob Lewis Ossa 280 24
Brian Ayres 200 Fantic 36
Geoff Rank 200 Beta 38
Brian Tomkins 250 Beta 38
Steve McHugh 250 M0nt 39