Over the past few weeks I’ve had the pleasure of attending three, two day trials. First up was the South Shropshire Long Mynd Two Day, on the Long Mynd which stretches to both east and west of Church Stretton where I was a mid-field Clubman rider. Two weeks later came the Manx Two Day Trial, quite obviously on the Isle of Man where I was the ACU National Steward, then a further week later there was the Classic Manx Two Day where I neither rode nor officiated but simply refuelled 16 of my riding pals and took a few photos.
All three trials have one thing in common – they are two day events – but in other respects they are very different events.
Let’s start with the Long Mynd. This will probably turn out to be my last outing as a rider for a good few months as most folks will know I shall be incapacitated for a while, but when fully recovered I’m hoping be a lot more nimble than I have been.
I rode the Long Mynd once before, some four years ago as a one day event and enjoyed it, but this year it was absolutely blooming brilliant. Can’t say fairer than that. The course was two separate days of 35 miles and 36 sections; that’s 70 different miles and 72 different sections and with just two exceptions I looked at every single section and considered it within my ability i.e. if all went well, I could clean it. I didn’t of course but as mentioned above, a mid-field finish was considered more than acceptable for a rider of my age and ability.
But the real point to be made is that in the middle of rural England, the club managed to put on what they offered. I asked Mark Wells how they managed to get the use of so much agricultural and National Trust land, with the reply “I went to school with most of the farmers and I spend all year chatting to them, trying to get them to agree to us using whatever they have to offer. They’re a grand bunch and can see no harm in what we’re doing.”
And he’s right. His boundless enthusiasm has driven this event along with help from his colleagues to produce a fantastic two day trial.
The Manx Two Day a couple of weeks later is also a fantastic trial. This year was the 57th (I think!) running of the event that I first attended as a rider 49 years ago. Over the years it has developed as most trials do if they’ve been going for a while and was generally a touch easier than it has been in the past. The problem as everybody who goes there knows is that around 20 riders tackle the hard route and the other 150 prefer the clubman course.
The organising Isle of Man Centre would like to get the split nearer 60/40 as it once was, but can only do that by easing the sections in the hope that the better clubman riders will try the harder route. It’s not happening yet but at least the entry increased this year to around 175 solos and 37 sidecars from last year’s low of around 140/30. I was the Steward last year as well and said at the presentation that lads needed to get themselves better organised regarding travel and accommodation, for if they didn’t the trial could be on the downward slope. It’s obvious that message has got across and has resulted in a bigger entry which long term could return to its previous highs of 250/50.
The problem is that getting to the island is not just expensive, because of the popularity of the Classic Racing Festival held at the same time, ferry bookings are usually full long before the trial entries have been made available. Secretary Tony Temple tells me that your entry will always be accepted, so get the ferry booked early and don’t wait for the trial entries to come out.
One event that has no problem filling the list is the Classic Manx Two Day held the following week which attracted a full house of 250 split 60 twin-shocks and 190 Pre 65ers. It’s not quite such a problem getting to the island for this event as the Classic Festival has just about come to an end and getting back to the mainland on Monday is not a problem
Riding the trial as I have for the previous four years was not an option due to a forthcoming operation, so driving around, refuelling my pals was a pleasure I have not experienced before. Over the past 50 years many, many folks have looked after my refuelling requirements in both trials and enduros so it was no chore to pay back a bit of what I must owe.
Last year’s opening day was really quite easy, but this year the first day’s action was considerably tougher, in part due to some heavy rain showers around lunchtime, but Sunday’s route was much the same severity as previous years and judging by the comments received, it was a great trial, and though I only saw a few sections in comparison to the riders, it looked about spot on to me.
So there we have it. Three two-dayers in a month. All different in their own way but equally all superb, well-organised and attractive competitions which I very much hope to be attending for many more years to come. Do join me if you can.