Oxford Ixion ' The Ivan Davis Cup ,

Report Ken O'Brien

Fine weather greeted a host of riders 46 in fact from many Centres to contest the Ivan Davis Cup, primarily a Novice event with the best adult performance any class riding the Middle Yellow route taking the pot.

Many weeks of clearing was required at the excellent Cox's Farm venue after the winter rains and hot summer months had made for much over and undergrowth.

Four laps of ten sections were plotted with hazards ranging from ditch crossings long climbs a rocky stream and shallow muddy slots.

Time was of the essence though as an amber flood weather warning had been issued by the Met office and rain was due around 12 o'clock.

Luckily the weatherman got it right once again, and with the wet stuff falling heavily on one and all a few marks could be taken from most of the competitors to defy the dreaded tie-break situation.

Adrian Steele Beta 250 was victorious once more with a loss of four marks to take the Silverware.

Section 3 was causing problems for most and this included Adrian with an annoying three on his last visit , starting with a ditch crossing before traversing along a muddy camber and then the hard bit, an inch perfect drop into a slot with a rooty climb out, the rain had terrorised the bank so a three was a good effort as many failed to negotiate the hazard.

Pre race contender Alan Taylor TRS 250 was on gold until rear brake gremlins struck late on and retirement was imminent after frantic temporary repairs had failed.

A well represented Youth A contingent was led home by Jack Pettit Beta Evo losing twenty eight marks ahead of Riley Middlehurst also Beta mounted on forty marks lost.

Jack put in some excellent rides at section 8, starting with a rooty camber then looping up a slick bank before dropping beside a fallen Oak and then crossing the said Oak with a height of in excess of two feet. 

The 50/50 Hard/Middle route had some serious contenders for the win with John Cowley 'EM Plus' taking it with a 1 mark advantage over Martyn Wilmore on the factory Beta.

But maybe the ride of the day in this class should go to Ben Wilmore who piloted the Beamish Suzuki around for a miserly 7 marks lost, section nine over in Roberts Copse was pretty tough for the older machinery with several rocky cambers and a seriously slick rooted climb to the ends, the Beamish making it look like a main road on all but one occasion.

On the 50/50 Easy/Middle route Mark Davidson Beta Evo was on song once again with a tidy win in this popular class just a few points ahead of Jessie Basford on the TRS, both having a sprinkling of dabs at Hurworth's Hill, a hundred yard climb with a shallow bog crossing then a couple of soft turns that were deteriorating fast as this sub was the most exposed of the ten on offer to the twenty minute downpour.

On the eased White route a couple of Wycombe club raiders were also on the money today with Tim Roblett Beta taking top spot in the Sportsman class and travelling companion Jim Morris acing the Twinshock class on the beautifully turned out TLR 200 Rothman's Honda.

Although two completely different power bands both machines took in their stride the undulating although tricky banks of section one where the rain also made for an exciting watch.

Young Freddie Middlehurst was having a great time on the little Beta cleaning section six ' The Gorse Bank ' a very tricky drop on wet clay with a tight turn back up the bank to the welcome ends cards.

Oxford Club member Chris Aylott Triumph 350 Twin put in the best performance for the older classic machinery taking the Pre 65 class win ahead of Chris Page, both showing excellent skill and control on the twisting hillside of section 1.

Many thanks to all who helped on the day and our next Trial is the ' James ' and ' Thistle Anderson ' Cups at Howe Wood on October 11th 10am start.