The Greeves Riders Association | GRA Trial at Watlington on 23rd May 2004

GRA Trial at Watlington on 23rd May 2004

As the red kites of Oxfordshire circled lazily overhead, twenty-seven riders, sixteen of them Greeves-mounted, assembled at Howe Wood at Watlington for the second round of the Greeves Riders Association trials championship.

The weather was fine and dry, as it had been for several days before, so mud was not going to be part of the challenge on this occasion. The hard route had been set out by Ray Timberlake and Dick Sadler to test the expert contenders, while Colin Sparrow and Ian Sankey had devised an easier version for the gentleman rider.

The “direction of travel” through the wood is usually reversed from trial to trial, so this time section 1 was straight into the deepest part of the gully, with swoops in and out, up and down the steep banks. A bit of a test for the first section admittedly, taking 165 marks over both routes, but at least things then got a bit easier for those who persevered. A run through the wood gave riders a chance to settle before tackling section 2, a short technical section around the trees, and section 3 which, with traverses across adverse banks, took a few marks off the experts.

Section 4 saw a return to the lower end of the gully. It was still relatively straightforward, but with a tricky hard route finish. Sections 5 and 6 continued the gully theme, the eased route on 6 proving perhaps a shade difficult and taking the most marks of the trial (161 altogether). Section 7 was the traditional “holly-bush” section with the final adverse camber traverse on leafmould and over a log calculated to catch out the unwary.

Sections 8 and 9 were more of the “round the trees” variety, with another awkward log on 8 which took a few marks from the experts. The lap finished with a long section 10 which was readily cleanable for anyone who kept the concentration going.

Congratulations to Roy Jones for a good Greeves win in skilled company, and to Chris Atherton for another sound ride. The rubber fork division was taken by Ian Lockwood, joint fifth overall on his Scottish, tying with Rob Fox’s Anglian on 33.

Footnote

Because of my considerable and growing other commitments within the GRA, I’m really going to have to pull out of the role of co-ordinator for the Watlington trials. If anyone feels able to take over I will be more than happy to hand over the paperwork etc. in good order and to effect introductions to the two landowners involved. I do hope someone is able to take this on, because if no one comes forward there will be no Watlington trial in 2005, and it would be a real shame to lose this excellent venu