Report Ken O'Brien
Sunny but cold weather greeted 60 plus riders and officials for this 2nd round 2026 Ixion Championship with four laps of ten to be ridden.
Steeple Hill Corner Beckley was the venue, a notoriously wet course although on this occasion we managed three laps of dryness before the heavens opened to make for a challenging last lap for many.
Cambers Big Hills Ditches Gullies Roots and slick drops were about to be attempted by riders of different class and ability.
In the Expert class National runner Bret Harbud BVM 300 TRS dropped 14 marks, four of which were laid at section seven dropping into a loamy bog then a tricky low branch to negotiate before a drop into a soft berm then a cambered lattice of roots climb out.
Chris Wickham 300 Beta over from the Evesham club took runner-up spot with section 10 being the bugbear, a simple start over an extended log then a wiggle over an outcrop of Oak roots before a very slick sandy climb with a downhill camber over the latest stricken tree due to the storms then an uphill blast to the finish.
A fine line-up of 50/50 Hard-Middle enthusiasts were on parade today with HUX raider Jack Turner doing the business on 19 marks lost.
Jack, as were the rest of the field finding section four a tough one, it was harder than it looked the first hazard was a low growing bough, after this it was swamp-time and although not deep it was difficult to select the correct line as roots and the like kept appearing to make life awkward.
The most populated class today was the Clubman Yellow route with Adrian Steele 250 Beta taking the win with a four mark deficit from Simon Thornley Vertigo finishing on six marks lost, this was a super ride for Simon as had not been on a bike since 1983.
Adrian was on gold until a Clagged-up front wheel at the tree crossing of section 7 put paid to a near perfect ride.
Two other riders worthy of a mention on the Middle Route are Paul Howells 185cc Bantam and Pete Cook 156cc Fantic.
Section 2 was a great leveller, with a 20 yard run-up then a 100 yard steep wet sandy muddy climb, Paul was in his element screaming the little Bantam up for a perfect clean every lap.
Pete was in a similar mood at section 9 although this hazard had a few twists and turns on the way up, but even so you had to hold it on the stop if you figured on making the summit, the little Fantic on the rev limiter once again ( detonating ).
Tommy Goodwin was having a great day also on the middle route with the little 125 Beta coping with the steep cambered hills of section 8 no problem.
The 50/50 Middle-Easy course attracted a plethora of young and the more experienced older riders with pre-race favourite Tim Blackmore taking the win.
Tim was putting the ageing Majesty through it's paces with a view to running in the Hurst Cup across the Irish sea in a few weeks.
The Majesty lost grip incurring a max penalty first visit to the ultra-slick section 2 but from then on it was plain sailing before the rains came.
Joe Pusey Beta posted the best score in the Youth B on these 50/50 sections
The eased White route was taking it's toll with the late rain being a particular annoyance to most.
Beta mounted Simon Dowling was finding grip though, where most were finding grief and his tally of six just about weighed this up, section four over in the woods was the irritating one for Simon losing five of his six here.
Nick 'Dotty' James rode the superb DOT 250WR to victory in the Pre65 class parting with a packet full but it's the win that counts with a hundred champs points in the bag.
Miles Finney BSA B40 350cc and Steve Beck 500cc Triumph were close on his heels all day both machines could be heard far in the woods as they blasted up the big hills with ease.
Jayden Wright 250 EVO Youth A over from the Stratford club scorted around in record time losing fourteen marks along the way.
Many thanks too all who helped on the day and the next Ixion Trial is on March 8th at the farm.