To keep this National Trial as a 1 lap 38+ sections the Club need more observers, with bikes. Below is one persons experiance of observing the trial a couple of years ago He has come back every year since. Can you help out??? Ring Richard on 07812571538 or Penny on 07707565692. We can promise you a great day out across the tops of Yokenthwaite and Wharfedale.
An appointment with the "Bog Monster" ... !
"Eerrrrr?" was the response from the man standing in front of me to my question. And with that, I knew the answer.
That year was the first time I had any involvement in the Alan Jefferies trial other than planting a few flags a couple of years ago. But that year I was lucky enough that the trial fell on my weekend off work. With that, myself and David Milner spoke to Brian Ayrton, "the observer czar", at a WBS round making our services available
for this very day. And so 8.45 am on the day of the trial saw me arrive at Wilks', Halton Ghyll with bike and waterproofs
As it turned out, I almost didn't need either. My services as observer looked as though they were not required but Brian kept me on stand-by ready for the inevitable drop out.
Barry Fairbrother, was clerk of course that year, was here, there and everywhere looking a bit stressed. He and David Wilson had spent all week in rain and storms marking out as usual, but cometh the hour, cometh the sun. And before I go any further, let me say that they had done a fantastic job, despite sadly the mysterious removal of some route markers.
The ladies of Halton Ghyll furnished me with a bacon butty (first class!) and so I lurked around in the sunshine and stunning scenery for ten minutes before Brian said I was needed at section 17.
Where is section 17 I asked?
"It's just up and over the back of Wilks' field"
Now I know this field well. I also know how steep it is at the top.
"Will 17 be ok to get to for a beginner?" I asked hopefully.
Richard Taylor (Il Presidente at the time) was asked for his thoughts as he passed.
"Yeah you'll be alright." With a distracted look in his eye.
Leaving me thinking that had he been asked if a beginner could clean SSDT he would have said the same.
But he was clearly in "the zone" so I wasn't surprised, checking up on things before the start. A club president's work is never done.
To his credit, he put me on to Dane. Nice bloke with a proper bike (4 stroke Honda TLR) who was to be my guide. We were going over the moor with Dave Wilson as he opened the course, who won't mind me saying he is on the north side of sixty. I knew him from last year when I'd helped mark out so he was aware of my
limitations and was happy to take a route that did not incorporate any "pensioners initiative tests!"
You're a good man Dave.
At Wilks' field I ran into Paul Bailey who when told where we were going smirked.
"Ah hah. The bog monster! It got me last year. You've no chance!"
Ignore him I thought to myself. Just trying to wind me up. Then just as we were about to set off, Barry arrived. I told him where we were going to which he replied;
"Yes I know. That's why I'm here!"
Now that did start to worry me!
"You'll be ok, but I will need full commitment"!
So that was it. My fate sealed. Dave saying he would take me around the worst of it, and Barry saying; "I've never been stuck yet"
Tempt fate why don't you?!
Off we went, climbing and climbing, stalling and falling. Well, I fell off once when I went for a fresh air dab to be precise. None of it was overly technical or difficult, but I was well out of my comfort zone and trying hard to keep up with the others with my occasional blippy-blippy and permanent death grip!
No sooner would I catch them up, gasping like every breath would be my last, when Dave would give his familiar cry of:
"Onward and upward! We can have a breather at the top"
You're a good man Dave. Honest!
As we reached the top it began to level out a lot, but a dramatic increase in rivulets and reeds gave me a sinking feeling. It was around about now, I thought, a breather was scheduled, the bottle of water in my rucksack was calling me, but no.
Gary Rushton had caught up to us, just ahead of the pack, and I realised how a fox must have felt back in
Dave;- "Onward and downward!"
"Try going a bit quicker through the wet stuff and get your knees open more."
Good advice. And I tried Dave, honest. It was around then that a rivulet around a foot deep and six inches wide, parallel to the track, suddenly appeared and no sooner had I seen it and realised it was best avoided, I was like a moth to a flame. DOH!
So this was the bog monster? Surely it was more menacing than this I thought, as I stood next to the bike supported by the sides of the ditch. Catching my breath! I lifted the front wheel out and wondered which was the best way to proceed, the other guys ahead but for Gary. He looked at me and simply said:
"I'll get it for you"
I must have looked as knackered as I felt! It never ceases to amaze me how physically draining it is when things start to go wrong.
"Come on Pedro, the first riders will be right behind us!"
So away again, still parched and ready for a drink, trying to keep up with Barry and the rest. Second gear, trying to relax on the fairly even stuff, then SPLAT!! Stopped dead. Submerged right up to the top of my fork stanchions. The only thing visible at the front was the top edge of my mudguard! So THIS was the "Bog Monster"!!!!. I stepped off the bike, (big mistake) and sank up to my thighs.
The whole thing happened so fast you just have to laugh. We pulled it out and carried on of course, onward and downward. Bike fired up no problem, but time was marching on and there was no way I was going to make it over the other valley to section 17, so Mr Midgley senior swapped (another bog monster victim) I was pleased to hear.
So I observed section 12, recharged my batteries with the goodie bag care of the ladies of Halton Ghyll and braced myself for the ride back. I came back with Danielle Whitham and Richard Midgley who were patient enough with my ineptitude. Thanks guys. I came back better than the trip out, and the view from the tops down both dales was absolutely awesome. No other description could do it justice, with sun and cloud shadows on the fells. Wow.
All in all I have to say it was a truly memorable day. The event is simply unmissable. As for the encounter with the bog, well I got off light from what I've heard. A certain Mr Paul Bailey I believe went over the bars and filled his shirt with bog.
I'm not laughing Paul, honest. Ha hah ha ha ..........
Peter Coates BDMC
WE WANT OBSERVERS FOR THIS YEARS EVENT.