Report Ken 0'Brien
A clear but cold sunny morning greeted a classy entry of 60 plus riders for the 79th running of the James Challenge Trophy.
The James Challenge Cup was presented to Ixion in 1946 by the ' The James Cycle Company of Birmingham ' and this prestigious Open to Centre event in the past has been won by such great riders as John Avery Sammy Miller Don Smith Brian Devereux Bill Faulkner Pat Lamper Ray Haslam Freddie Mayes John Bull John Lee Steve Reece the Cowley brothers Tony and John to name but a few.
The event was staged at Howe Wood Watlington where ten sections were plotted and ridden four times on the chalky Flinted hills of the Chiltern range.
Two cups were up for grabs today the James Cup for best Expert and the Thistle Anderson Cup for the best adult performance on the middle route.
Gus Oblein was using maximum power on the Gasser 300 as there were many long steep rooted banks to tackle on the way to victory in the Expert class taking the premiere award with a loss of 6
A prod on section four first attempt was not a great start for Gus but it was a pretty severe tight drop over roots with an equally steep climb before lining up for the big rooty outcrop maybe 30 feet or so of continuous slick bank from a grip-less leafy base.
Gus got off-line on section ten also a tricky rooted camber incurring the maximum penalty also on the first lap, but from there on it was plain sailing with three perfect circuits.
The 50/50 ( hard - middle ) was competitive today but it was the ageing TY250 Yam that spoilt the party with a superb controlled ride by Scott Howlett parting with a miserly 1 mark on section nine first attempt.
It was the second part of a double-sub that took the dab a slick chalky drop then a very loose climb over a couple of fallen trees before a rooty off-set camber and drop to the ends.
On the yellow middle route another superb ride was put in by Midland Centre Raider Mathew Larkin Beta 250 over from the Leamington Victory club piloting the Beta around for tally of 1 mark lost.
Mathew was in total control until section six ' The Pine Tree Climb ' where it all looked fairly innocuous under foot, but if you were unlucky enough to follow a rider footing his way up the undulating path you were in for a loose stony time of it and this is exactly what happened.
Mathew produced his well timed prod at exactly the right moment to save the day and go on to take the very apt Victory and the Thistle Anderson Cup.
Paul Hadingham 250 Bultaco aced up the Twinshock Class on the middle route losing 11 two ahead of riding companion Pete Cook 200 Fantic both great rides.
It has to be said though the little Fantic was looking a little Frantic on some of the very severe forty foot climbs albeit cleaning every visit as did the beautifully turned out Sherpa.
Charlie Crabtree riding Honda machinery had a superb ride on 4 marks lost to top the Youth B class with four great cleans at section two a Rocky Outcrop to blast up and then a Rooty Outcrop which became more and more exposed as the day progressed.
The White eased course class is always well attended with young and old putting there skills and knowledge to the fore.
A lovely collection Pre 65 bikes were on parade today including small and big CC power with several different Marques.
John Hawthorn Triumph Tigercub was in no mood for footing showing a clean pair of boots to all classes with a zero point card returned and topping the Pre 65 class.
Section seven was long and steep and as the crowd gathered to witness some excellent action the little Cub didn't disappoint pulling second gear throughout the hazard whilst not missing a beat.
Rob Bremner took runner-up spot in the Pre 65 class on the Big Triumph Twin with a loss of one mark which was despatched at section seven where the sting in the tail an awkward right handed turn up a wet gulley caught many a rider out for a dab, there were mutterings of a fouled plug but the dab was pencilled in.
Jason Fathers cleaned up in the Twinshock Class on the Fantic while Charlie Howlett Gasser and Isla Crabtree Beta 80 headed their respective classes.
Pete Haines was best Sportsman losing a solitary mark on the Beta ahead of Mark Davidson on two marks lost.
Many thanks to all who helped on the day.
Our next Trial is the Norton Trophy Saturday 8th November at Beckley for Pre 65 and Twinshocks but all are welcome as there will be a class to suit everyone.