Motors, Mischief and Mayhem at … Bedlam
Report by Spanner. Photos by Cat woman
The weather gods smiled down on those at BMCA on Sunday 25th October 2020 pausing the forecast rain to keep riders dry… well, unless they fancied a dip in the stream or had holes in their boots. The mild conditions made for hot riding – especially as the laps clocked up and the arm-pump set in!
Event organisers Mark Lucas and Laurence Alden were caught smiling wryly as they realised not one of the experts had kept a clean sheet, proving to be a challenging day for all. Job done! The venue has played host to many a trial fifty plus years and the stream at Bedlam provides some of the best rocky sections in the BMCA calendar and the trial is always greatly anticipated.
Hill – Inters 2nd place 
Clubman winner – Mackenzie 
Inters winner – Lucas
Riding in the Clubman class this week were eleven keen riders, with just one unfortunate retirement, Simon Willmore – hopefully nothing serious. Taking the podium places were: MARTIN MACKENZIE, on his Bantam, dropping just 6 points. In second place was STEPHEN LEYSHON close on his heels with 8 and in third place, with 20 points, ERNIE JOHNSON. Bad luck goes to STEVE HAINES who also scored 20 but lost out to Johnson on cleans – congratulations, gents.
Kev Taylor – section 8 
Gary Hawkins – B40 
Clubman 3rd place – Johnson
Intermediate class saw 12 riders take part. All credit to the guys, they took on some of the hardest sections faced by the class this season and still came out smiling! MARK LUCAS on his C15 dropped a very respectable 10 points to take the top spot from TONY HILL on 17. In third place was NICK WOOLLEY riding his very tidy ARIEL with 22 points lost.
Halford – Cub 
Andy Hunt – Bantam
The most popular class this week was the experts’ class with sixteen riders ready to tackle to rapids of Bedlam’s stream. In total, 291 points were dropped by the experts today … surely nothing to do with the venue name? An unfortunate retirement for Pete followed a quick dip to test the local water in Section 8, unfortunately, the chain tensioner had been bent, resulting in the chain falling off again later. There were plenty of 5s given out to experts today but first place, dropping only 5 points in total, was earned by NATHAN JONES. Three points behind was STEVEN HAY and in third place with 14 points was STEVE GOLLINGS.
Another good ’un – surely all would agree! Thanks to all the loyal organisers, observers and riders.
NEXT BMCA TRIAL SUNDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2020. Nigel Houlston. Easthope Wood. TF13 6DN. Signposted off B4371 Much Wenlock to Church Stretton Road. Parking on Wenlock Edge Pub Car Park.
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.