Report by Spanner, Photographs by Catwoman.
It was back to business as usual for the BMCA: wet and muddy. Well, the sublime conditions that we enjoyed in previous weeks couldn’t last forever! Stirling work by this week’s organiser, Pete Reed and helpers (Mick Parkes, Stephen Leyson and Kevin Walker), ensured that we got to run such a good trial if at all. Due to a change of hands, the venue was nearly off the cards for the BMCA, but following some negotiation, the new land owner consented to a trial run (bom bom!) to see how it turned out. Hard work too had to be put into uncovering the sections – over eighteen months have passed since we last rode here and boy had nature run away with things!
A handful of retirements this week were nearly bumped up by two more when Barrett and Stratton simultaneously suffered spark plug issues. Collin Billington kindly stepped in with a shiny new plug for Stratton to get going again – thank you Collin! Barrett managed to get going again after some spannering, time for a new best plug’ perhaps! Some hard work went into simply finishing this week’s trial, let alone by those in the top spots – well done all!
Clubman class top three were separated by only two points: Simon Wilmore, Harry Barfield and Stephen Leyshon. Wilmore and Barfield tied on twenty three point lost, Barfield losing out ultimately on most cleans – top stuff guys! Leyshon rode a very tidy trial just behind the top two on twenty five points.
Intermediates class podium this week: Chris Poel, Joe Owen and Kevin Walker. Poel’s very clean looking clear lacquered Bantam reflected his riding, winning on just seven points lost. Mud specialist Owen couldn’t quite keep up, but a very respectable score of eighteen point scored him second place. Walker just headed off the opposition to take third on twenty six point lost – Strong was snapping at his heels!
Expert class made up the largest entry this week, twelve riders in total. Steven Hay, Nathan Jones and Kevin Taylor heading up the top three with the usual close-run competition throughout the class. Hay snatched the win over Jones with a score of six points vs Jones’ eight – a five on section eight doing the damage! Talyor finished up on eleven points, as did Howells – it came down to points with Taylor one the better.
This week certainly wasn’t the easiest trial so far, more of a step up in terms of the test posed. Which seems fitting ss the season progresses. Here’s hoping that the land owner will allow us back later in the season if not next!
Next trial is at Knighton 11th October 2020, Joe Owen organising. Venue: The Warren, Knighton, TF10 8AQ. Signposted from Whitchchurch Road, Newport, Shropshire.
PLEASE NOTE: Covid restrictions mean on-line advanced entry only (no entry on the day) and unfortunately no spectators. Please visit the online entry page HERE or contact info@bmca.org.uk for assistance or queries.