Sunday 26th January saw Aqueduct Classics 2014 season get off to a wet start with its "detox" trial giving the riders the opportunity to shake down their new pants, gloves, jackets and maybe the odd piece of bling delivered by Father Christmas before the official championship starts next month. Nant Ucha Farm is always a venue to provide a varied set of challenges with its wide open stream, great banked sections and a variety of other natural obstacles that made this a great focal point to start the year off. Add to that a light sprinkling of rain that would have worried Noah and it was inevitable that a great days competition was going to happen.
As always, Aqueduct laid on the usual 4 routes (Novice, Clubman, 50/50 an Elite) and welcomed modern monoshock rider to compete alongside the established pre-65, twinshock and pre 90 mono classes.
The reports below have been written directly by two of the riders so I will apologise now for Pauls....... Joking aside a big thank you for both Ian and Paul for taking the time to report on what was a great event.
Ian Emery contested the Clubman route on his Montesa 4rt and reported as follows:
It was a very wet start with constant rain falling all morning meaning that everyone was soaked even before the trial got going. Fuelled with bacon baps and a hot tea, everyone had a smile and was ready to go!
53 riders in total of which 25 were Clubmen (Yellow route).
Sections 1 – 4 were in the stream alongside the field where the water was high and fast giving no visibility of what was underneath. The first section was a steep drop into the stream with an immediate 90 degree left at the bottom resulting in a couple of riders taking a light tumble. Section 2 followed the stream down before stepping out onto the bank for a slippy exit climb back into the field. Section 3 was another steep drop into the stream but it was quite dark under the holly trees and once in the stream the water was flowing fast making it difficult to plot a route and stick to it.
Section 5 was now in the woods in the "bomb-hole" and featured a series of lock-to-lock turns before hopping over a slippy log for a right/left exit. Throttle control and a little back brake needed to keep the front wheel within the tight marker flags.
Section 6 was in the river, which again was flowing fast making visibility below the surface impossible. A drop in, a tight left around a tree and into the water for 20 yards or so before exiting onto the bank. Section 7 was probably the deepest water with many riders' boots becoming as wet on the inside as the outside. If you got the line right it was plain sailing (no pun intended!) but it was easy to drop into a pot hole or hit a large rock hidden beneath the flowing torrents where dabs (or paddling?) was required.
Sections 9 and 10 were on the slippy embankment with Section 9 comprising of a series of cross cambers with exposed roots which if you caught them under power meant an inevitable 5. Reasonable pace and a steady throttle were needed to clean the section with only 2 riders managing this all 4 times.
Paul "Moz" Own contested the Expert (Red) route on his Rigid BSA Bantam
I did the expert route and thought to myself that the stream now river looked high, but I wanted a challenge. The sections were tricky and with a lot of rain and even the mud in the field was a challenge. Section 1 and 2 were on the bank and then had to drop into the water and the same coming out but with the mud more of a problem with slipping and sliding about just to find grip. Section 3 was over rocks but with the water high you could not see them and just had to hold on tight , lean back over the rear wheel and give it a handful to keep it rolling. Section 5 had logs which when wet were a slippy so the approach was critical for grip, Sections 6 , 7 and 8 were back in the stream and 9 and 10 was up and across the slippery banking with tree routes and sharp turns, but
I wanted a challenge and I got it with the red elite route. I came 2nd , must be beginners luck, he he....
Beginner honors were as follows:
Pre 65: 1: Pete Thomas (Enfield) 10
Twinshock: 1: Denise Blount (Whitehawk) 55
Modern Mono: 1: Rio Roberts (Gas Gas) 21, 2: Simon Edwards (Gas Gas) 39, 3: India Edwards (Gas Gas) 55
Clubman Honors were as follows:
Pre-65 1: Mike Hughes (Cub) 23, 2: B Sutton (BSA) 27, 3: Keith Baddeley (BSA) 64
Twinshock 1: Tim Godsmark (Fantic) 31, 2: Martin Johnson (Bultaco) 47, 3: James Edge (Yamaha) 54
Pre90 Mono 1: Gaz Thomas (Yamaha) 23, 2: Chris MacGillivray (Fantic) 64, 3: Paul Cartwright (Aprilia) 80
Modern Mono 1: Ian Emery (Montesa) 24, 2: Nick MacGillivray (Montesa) 51, 3: Matthew Sinnott (Gas Gas) 57
50/50 honors were as follows:
Pre 65: 1: Phil Alderman (BSA) 27, 2: Harry Lyons (BSA) 28, 3: Colin Fray (Dot) 29
Twinshock: 1: Alex Barrie (Fantic) 52, 2: Steve Blackburn (Montesa) 55 FC, 3: Eddie Evans (Fantic) 55
Elite honors were as follows:
Pre 65: 1: Chris Gascoigne (Ariel) 24, 2: Paul Owen (BSA Rigid) 43 FC, 3: Tony Dillon (Cub) 43
Twinshock: 1 Kev Ellis (Beamish) 46, Owain Edwards (Honda) 49, 3: Terry Musgrave (SWM) 53
A big thankyou to the event organisers, observers and catering team for putting on a great event despite the weather and also a kind thankyou to the Kynaston family for the use of the land.
The next event is at Plas Onn on February 16th.