BMCA Trial at Hunnington 28.04.2019 organised and laid out by Steve Leyshon and Kevin Walker.
Storm Hannah had been and gone by the start of this week’s trial, just a lingering bitter breeze remained as the competitors and observes pitched up in the paddock. Conditions brightened and warmed up as the trial went on, turning into a beautiful spring morning. The copious bluebells and wild garlic flowering in the woodland, proof that spring has truly sprung!
Conditions were fairly grippy considering the conditions the day before – it must have been nerve-wracking to set out the sections without knowing whether things would dry out or not. Good judgement (as always) by Steve and Kev, resulted in ten cracking sections that made the best use of the stream and banks.
A relatively low turnout of twenty-one riders, but a full compliment of observers and a fair few spectators turned out. Seven entrants in the Expert and Clubman classes, six Intermediates and newcomer Harry Barfield in the Gentleman’s class.
Expert class top three places were taken by Steve Hay, Dave Wood and Laurence Alden. Hay took the win losing just a two on section five. Wood just held off Alden to secure second spot on fourteen to his seventeen.
Intermediates class podium places went to Keith Gardner, Mike Butler and Ian Brittain. Gardner’s skill shone through, the only man in his class to clean section four and with low scores throughout the rest, lost a total of twelve points. Despite claiming to be “banjaxed” Butler took a well deserved second place on nineteen points lost. Niggling chain tensioner problems came back to haunt Brittain. Several derailments resulted in fives and took his score to thirty one points – a lot higher than it surely would have been.
The Clubman class saw a close battle with Steve Haines, George Houghton and Steve Leyshon coming out at the top of the table. Great riding by Haines, just the occasional stray dab or two resulted in only eight points lost. Houghton wasn’t too far behind on thirteen points, his spirits un-dampened despite taking a spectacular dip in the stream between sections. Leyshon just snatched third place from Barrett – both on sixteen points but Leyshon took it on cleans.
All in all, a great trial. Although originally, this trip to Hunnington would have been the close of the BMCA season, we have one final trial remaining: Mucklestone 12th May (Frank’s Charity trial), re-scheduled from earlier in the season. Raffle prize donations are gratefully accepted.
