Posted – 26/02/24.  14.22

Congratulations to Sam Haslam, on top form at The Wallace again this year.

North Berks MCC held the third round of the 2024 ACU S3-Parts National Trials Championship this weekend. South Shropshire MCC’s Vic Brittain was the first round, followed by Stratford-Upon-Avon’s Colmore Cup last weekend. As always, the championship is well supported again this year, we had a full entry so were looking forward to a great days sport in the Berkshire Downs. We were lucky with the weather on the whole, a bright frosty start to the day, a brisk wind but the sun shone for most of the day, things went downhill toward the end of the afternoon with rain setting in as the expert group returned to the Arena for the final six sections.

The action got underway at Seymours Arena at 9:31 sharp. Adam Roulstone was the first rider to be sent off, leading the Clubman class away. Three steady sections had been plotted in the Arena to get the competitors warmed up, before leaving and heading down the road through Aston Tirrold and along the A417 to group 2, The Lynch. There were 6 sections along the bank here, the marking out team had been busy and found a few new sections which rode really well. The banks were pretty slippery for the early riders, once the top had been scrubbed off the riders seemed to find more grip. On completing these sections, the riders headed back around the field and across Westfield Road, up the track to the popular group at Lollingdon Hill. We had 5 sections here this year, the landowner had placed some bee hives at the bottom of one of our favourites, so the team thought it best to avoid that one this time. There was still however plenty of scope to test all the classes on these fantastic steep and slippery banks that look across the Oxfordshire countryside.

After dropping back off Lollingdon hill, through the farmyard and back onto the A417, the riders were faced with 2 sections at Aston Pit. A couple of classic slippery chalk banks near the road, which are really tricky in these wet conditions.

The riders changed their punchcards before leaving here, well most of them did, a few had to come back as usual. They emerged from the old pit, back onto the track and up the hill towards Air-raid Shelter where they found group 5, consisting of 5 sections. Some great sections here on the steep wooded hillside. Bearing in mind the amount of rain we’ve had over the last few months the ground on this steep bank was amazingly dry and the riders were finding so much grip, as long as they were steady and smooth on the throttle.

Once the riders had completed this group they are treated to a fantastic ride, all off-road following the route markings across the gallops to Upton village, back onto the A417 again, where they found Bucknell’s Copse on the left. These two sections are always pivotal in the trial and can be the ultimate decider on the winner of the event. The two sections both have big climbs out of the muddy stream at the bottom – not for the feint hearted, it’s basically grab a big handful of throttle and hang on while the Michelin’s fight for purchase on the extremely slippery banks. The first one, having been used for many years, the slot that the riders ascend has got so deep now that the foot pegs are literally dragging in the walls of the gully so the way to go was to try to keep the front wheel high, then hook it left when nearing the top to force it through the end gates. This is always a popular spot for spectators and there were plenty there watching the action unfold.

Once the riders had dragged themselves out of Bucknell’s, it’s a quick hop across the road to Strange’s Gate, which is a single section in the stream, again because of the amount of recent rain the stream was running very high, so the team were limited to what we could do here, it ended up just crossing the stream in two places, threading the riders through the trees on the banks, with a tricky turn up and over the roots to reach the ends, it still took plenty of marks in all classes. Once that one was negotiated, it was a short ride through West Hagbourne to group 8, Nappers Railway Banks, where the riders found 3 sections – steep adverse cambers and climbs on the old disused railway banks, a fair amount of grip on the well drained banking but the last one here is always a test of skill and throttle control, very steep with a lot of roots to deal with.

They then headed down Nappers Lane to The Moors which was the next group to challenge the riders. 3 sections, two in the lane itself and one further in the field. Yet again the stream here was in full flow still so the section by the gate had to be eased the day before the event. Once these were completed, it was a road ride back to Seymours Arena where they found the final 6 sections amongst the rocky banks and steps, a few relatively steady ones and a couple of challenging ones to finish.

It was very close at the sharp end of the S3 Expert class. Congratulations to Sam Haslam, who took the win again this year, completing the 36 sections for the loss of 18 marks, four of those on time. Close friend and riding partner Alexz Wigg, one mark adrift on 19, third place was taken by Luke Walker on 21.

Daniel Tuley took the win on the S3 Clubman route, dropping 12 marks, second was Thomas Fraser on 20 and Ian Fortune a few behind on 23.

The top end of the S3 Clubman Over 40 class was again very close Philip Houghton managed to take the win on 17 marks over last year’s winner Philip Wiffen on 23 marks, Tony Buckley three behind on 26 took third place spot.

Congratulations to the winners of each class, we hope you all had an enjoyable day with us. Looking at the results it seems that the marking out team did a fairly good job, a few of the sections may have been a little long considering the time penalties that some riders picked up, but again the weather conditions probably impacted the time too. All the same, we hope you enjoyed riding round the beautiful countryside.

The club would like to thank everyone that helped out with the event again this year. Well done to Claire on event secretary duties; Claire and Leah for getting the riders signed on first thing; Mark for sorting the observers out; Sue and then Mark on the clock at the start, getting the riders away; Sue and Sarah on punchcard duty at Aston Pit; Pat & Pat for de-bibbing the riders at the end; Sue getting the results done and out sharpish on the evening, a lot of number crunching there, 100 odd riders over 36 sections. Thank you to the catering guys, you did a great job keeping everyone fed and watered again. Well done to Stu who works tirelessly to make this event what it is, his cutting/marking out team who put in the hours leading up to the event – Alicia, Mark, Liam, Mick, Todd, Ben and Ash. Stu and Claire for the route marking on Saturday afternoon into the evening, and the back markers tidying everything up at the end. Thank you everyone, fantastic effort as always and lots of positive feedback from the riders, which is always good to hear.

A massive shout out to all of the observers as usual, too many to name here but you are all amazing, thank you so much. And finally, thank you to all of our generous landowners who support us by letting us have access to their land, it is becoming more and more difficult, so we are very grateful to you.

Our next event is the ACU, Ladies & Girls Trials Championship round on 17th March at Seymours Arena.

There are some pictures up on the Gallery page. Nigel McGoldrick was also at the event with his video camera, click the button below to watch it on YouTube, 2 hours of footage, grab a cup of tea and settle down.

Daniel Tuley at the Lynch, winner of the Clubman class dropping just 12 marks.