A good turn out for all classes to compete the fourth round of the Ixion club championship held in brilliant sunshine although the temperature dipped dramatically towards the end of proceedings as an easterly wind whipped up.
The venue was the very popular Standlake Pits where course plotting was put to the test as many areas were flooded after recent persistent torrential rain.
Ten tricky sections were plotted to be ridden four times with a variety of gravely banks- muddy climbs - fallen trees and steep cambered rooty hills.
Riding the hard route Intermediate Ryan Tomkins 300 Beta rode section five a water splash over roots then a sharp right handed muddy camber with an angled fallen tree before a really steep gravel bank to almost perfection only dabbing once on his second visit.
Expert Sean McCullagh had to call it a day as persistent carburation problems were holding the Sherco back and pilot jet was not an option today.
The Clubman was the most competitive class today with only our marks separating the top four riders.
Adrian Steele managed to shed two fives and still took the the win losing 16 with Alan Taylor on 18 Steve Clements 19 then in fourth place Ali Haigh on 20 although Ali was somewhat ring-rusty with only a coupe of outings this year.
A fair few of their marks went astray on section four a fairly straight forward looking job with several gravely cambers to negotiate but it only took a couple of riders to dump the clutch when in trouble and the line was gone so a look every lap was required.
The eased up sections of the sportsman route saw Mark Davidson 200 Fantic put in the best performance losing 21 that included a single prod at section one ' Jakes Gully ' a loamy affair with a ditch crossing then a series of offset sandy cambers to traverse.
Best youth on the white course was Marks son Freddie with a creditable 53 mark loss which included good rides at section ten it had many low growing willow branches and cambered banks with a mud splash to finish.
Report Ken O'Brien
Results
Inter Ryan Tomkins Beta 27
Yellow Clubman Route Adrian Steele Beta 16
Alan Taylor Beta 18
Steve Clements Mont 19
Ali Haigh Gasser 20
White Easy Route Mark Davidson Fantic 21
Brian Ayres Honda 34
Freddie Davidson Gasser 53
Dougie Swanson Beta 60
Wayne Hutton Triumph 62