Eight sections with 5 routes were set out on the Sunday morning.
With the recent Star Group trial at the same venue in very difficult conditions, the sections for the Club trial were laid out with rain in mind. However, contrary to the forecast, the day was dry with the sun breaking through later in the day.
Section 1 was in the V shaped gully in the middle of the wood, with yellow and red routes skirting the side over the logs. Blues and whites went across the gully over the bank and re-crossed the gully to finish. This was cleanable but some loose dabs were dropped on the bank.
Section 2 was at the edge of the wood. Yellow and red riders had to negotiate the cambers and bumps near the end of the section. Blues went over the stream along a bank then re-crossed the stream to finish over the bumps. Whites had a similar route but went over the stream then crossed the dry gully several times.
Section 3 was at the far end of the wood with all riders crossing the ditch at various places and a nice blast up the bank to finish.
Section 4 was along the slope by the main stream, with yellows and reds riding across the camber and ditch to the finish. Whites went further up the ditch and over the logs with blues across the camber and ditch, again marks were lost for the less able riders.
Section 5 was in the bowl by the stream. This was the scene of much discussion on the 1st lap for those riding the blue route as they were to come down the slope and make a tight left turn, then some further turns across the cambers to finish. The problem was stopping at the bottom of the slope with the leaf covered clay retaining the moisture from the previous rain. Lap 1 saw a few 5s here but the slope did dry out causing fewer problems later in the day. However, with the whites in the stream and dragging water up the bank the problem moved to a different part of the section.
Section 6 was near the field with all the routes up the gully and over logs or the concrete steps, whites finishing over the big concrete 'cotton reel'.
Section 7 was by the lower edge of the field with tight turns through the trees and up and down the banks. Whites crossed the ditch, blues had a tricky shimmy through some trees before ascending the bank. Reds and yellows had a nice blast up the bank.
Section 8 was in the far corner of the field using the bank, concrete and boulders. Marks were lost here on the bank and turn.
Full results are on the website at www.rrnd.co.uk. Best on the day were as follows:
White - Stuart Read 13, Scott Dark 21
Inters - Chris Dark 15, Pat Lloyd-Jacob 39
Novice Blue - Tom Horsburgh 8, Phillip Tickner-Wand 22
Over 40 Blue - Antony Read 29, Pete Jenkins 36
Red - John Yardley 1, Luke Edwards 2
Red Under 16s - James Dark 2
Yellow - Mike Hammond - 20, Simon Canacott 91.
The next Club trial 23 June at the Old Quarry, Betchworth.
Finally thanks to Roy for the use of the land, and we look forward to camping in August!
Colin Don