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Week 180 - My, The Mynd Was A Long One


Andy
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I have mentioned in this column fairly recently that big, single lap, 40 section trials are becoming ever scarcer for reasons that are obvious to all. Of course there

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I must agree with regards to Sundays trial - brilliant ride round although some issue with the time limit made for a hectic last 10 miles!!!!

I rode the over 40 class with 2 friends and we covered all ends of ability spectrum and we all thought it was spot on with excellent route marking and some tricky sections but no killers for the lesser lights.

Thanks to all involved

PS - don't want to see another gate for a few weeks mind

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I would like to claim the world record for Motor Cycle mounted gate opening. Could be a new team sport for 2012!

Great job South Shropshire, spot on.

Edited by jordi
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Thanks to the South Shrops lads for a great trial. Thoroughly enjoyed the challenge on the Pampera.

There was only two sections it didn't fit, the tight no 4 and one near the end where it got wedged between some roots.

I did benefit from the generous "stop allowed" observing though.

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That's a point, what's the size of the "average" farm in the northern as opposed to the southern counties?

I'm not sure it's the size of the farm so much as the number of farms in fairly close proximity what firstly we could use and secondly have sections of good enough quality.

The further North you get, the rockier and steeper things seem to get, and I think that can be extended to Wales as well.

We could easily run another 40 section trial spread over 6 or 7 farms fairly local. We planned a route when it looked like we were going to lose our Forest Trophy land. We might struggle a little to pay all 7 or 8 farmers what we do normally when only using one venue (not sure they'd understand the difference), but maybe we could have done a deal.

To be honest, the big 40 section trials take so much more work than a standard club trial. We're lucky that our chairman (semi retired from work) Elwyn Williams is still the fittest bloke in the club :-) so does an amazing amount of work in the build up to an event, and the rest of us scurry round at the end to help out with the detail.

I know I'm busier than ever with work etc, and between the Forest Trophy and our Novogar, with one or two Welsh Champs thrown in, it takes a lot of time. We've hardly had chance to concentrate on any club trials this year, which is a shame.

I certainly wouldn't look to run any more big trials than we do. What everybody needs is WORKERS WITH TIME ON THEIR HANDS, a rarity.

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Hi

Before the 1st round of the Sammy Miller Champs this year my last trial was the 72/3 Perce Simon (a trial I had rode in every year since 1966).

I bought a wreck af 71 Sherpa last year and did a ground up rebuild.

I can throughly recommend this series, as each trial is around 30 miles (with road work) with 30 sections, which gives us wrinkly's a break to get our breath back.

Whilst at 62 after a 37 year break, yes I have found it hard.

But the countryside is superb, the fact that I am relearning forgotten skills, riding motor bikes (not pogo sticks) and the friendship of the fellow riders is as I remember it in 60-70s.

I have competed in the excellent Ringwood Thursday evening summer series which I found taxing as 4 laps of 6 -7 sections in 2 .5 hours was hard work but every time I left with a smile on my face.

To me trials without road work is not the real thing, but I accept that trials must adapt and so must I. Thank you everyone that has made my enjoyment possible.

I cannot wait for the next round this week end at Builth Wells.

Martin

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