(photos courtesy of Nick Shenston)

The season is now well under way with Round 3 of the 2024 campaign kicking off at Nant Y Ffrith. The club took the opportunity to present the trophies for 2023 at the start and it was lovely to see Kevs family join us to assist, at his spiritual riding home.

Good weather greeted the 86 riders and it was great to see a strong following in the Pre 65 and Twinshock classes with 20 and 13 bikes respectively. The Pre 96 AC Mono and Pre 2000 Water cooled classes remain strong 12 and 6 bikes a piece with the modern monos making up the count with 35 riders.

The red (Expert) route was keep busy with 8 riders taking to those lines and the Clubman and Intermediate classes continuing to be the strongest with 45 and 31 riders a piece. Finally it was great to see 2 riders on the novice route developing their trials competition journey.

Mike Griffiths – Observer / Section 7

 What a grand start to the trial and a superb presentation of various
awards . Then onto business. Yet another cracker and the section I had
(7) was a grand test. Easy to clean but just as easy to drop a mark or
3.

Grand weather (early on) and smiles every where. It also looked like
the sheep shearers had started early as Ed Beesley’e dreadlocks had been removed. Something was wrong as “butcher Foulkes” finished early. Was he wearing a gag ?  Pete Ruscoe had a dramatic start with a 2 but pulled himself together for a fine finish.  Some lovely bikes and all looked
nice and clean to start with. There was one brave fellow that tried a
bit of rockery making… Fancy trying that in my section.. Duly
admonished he soon shot off..

Just one little moan ! (Well I’m supposed to be grumpy
after all) There are still too many going round watching each other in
the section rather than progressing to the next one and discussing
things while waiting to ride.T here were riders with only 2 laps done in
3 hours.. Just think about it and you know who know who they are. Yes
you do it on practice fields but not in a trial as the observers can get
cold and wet. But to the other riders , well done lads with your attitude.
You’ll all be safe next month as I’ll be at the Scottish 6 day, creating
havoc there..

The Aqueduct team were as good as ever and produced a
grand day out. Oh and the cake at the start…… I’m supposed to be on
a diet to help my back…. See you in June.

Steve Harding – Modern Mono / Clubman

Got to the venue for about 9ish to help out with the parking and get set up. Some riders were there before me, not sure why so early but that are there,  got them parked up,  Chris deburger was parked up and getting ready for the rush of hungry riders .

I had radio contact  with Geoff so we could get everyone sorted, thanks for your patience,  the girls were in the trailer getting everyone signed on and bibs given out. So when every one was ready it was a short ride down to section 1 to kevs memorial stone for a short presentation for the winners of last year’s  trophies presented by Kevs family, which was great to see , 

So as usual, a huge thanks to all the Aqueduct team for all the effort you guys put in to put on such  a great event as all ways.  A massive thanks to all the observer’s for giving up their Sunday and braving the very windy changeable weather,  Chris deburger for keeping us fed and watered and the land owner for letting us use this great venue. 

All sections were spot on as usual  so a big thanks to Russ and the team for setting the sections on Saturday ready for the trial on Sunday, 

So here are a few of my favourites sections, although they were all spot on as usual. 

Section 3 is where we started. You start off from the top of a bank in the trees and in to the section over a couple of roots and head towards a tree where you turned a tight right. Then take a wide turn before a steep drop down over some more roots into the bottom of the section before heading up an off camber bank on the opposite side. Turn a bit of a left between two tree stumps before dropping back down into the bottom of the section then across and up a steep bank of even more roots and then a bit of a drop left before existing the section,  

Section 5. After a short ride you come to a small wall on the right  that you had to get over to enter the section. Alan on watch,  a well seasoned rider so no quarters given. So you start off in the trees (which were bending a lot due to the strong wind, through the start gate and drop down towards a tree and a really tight left. Easy for the front to wash out and take a dab, then a bit of a steep climb over a few rocks before turning right. Drop down into the  old ruins and drop down over a few loose rocks and then between a couple of large rocks before a right and exit the section. A bit of a tough one for me but managed to clean it on the last two laps , 

Section 7. After a good ride down the track before coming to the section on the left. You start off from the main track and into section across a bit of a ditch then up a bit of  a left climb before a tight right round a tree. Over some slippery roots then drop down again into the rocky bottom and left between two trees before turning right towards the steep bank. Then fire it up to the top and keep it tight right on the top and along a bit before a really tight right and steep drop over some roots and then a really tight left to exit the section. 

Overall I had a great day,  dropped a good few avoidable dabs but really enjoyed the day. Once again a big thanks to everyone involved especially all the observer’s for giving up there Sunday,  these people are almost impossible to find  so I hope everyone appreciates there time,  cheers, see you all next time. 

Graham Pennington – Twinshock / Clubman

Blue skies and a fresh breeze welcomed competitors to the Nant Y Frith Forest for the April round of the Club Championship. A superb venue which will always be associated with the late Kev Williams. Thankfully the rain held off until later in the afternoon and it was a cracking days trialling. Thanks as always to the landowners, organisers, section setters, observers and caterers for another faultless event.

The Clubman’s (Yellow) route sections were excellent and described below:
Section 1 ‘Top Bank’ Steep climb from the entry gates arcing left round the back of a big tree for a sharp right cambered turn over roots. Setting yourself up for another short climb to a sharp right
turn behind another tree and over a fixed green rock before heading left on a narrow track (that got narrower every lap) across the face of the bank, before dropping over large roots back to the road.
Section 2 ‘Lower Bank’ Nice level start to an uphill right turn behind a large tree, then climbing left over loose ground to drop over a large stone and set up for another short left climb between large rocks before heading right and down to the end gates.
Section 3 ‘The Bomb Hole’ into the woods for a combination of turns, drops and climbs across the hole with a short steep climb out over exposed roots which got more slippery every lap.
Section 4 ‘Twist and Shout’ a short but testing section entered over exposed large roots to make a tight right turn in mud followed by a tight left turn running the front wheel up over exposed roots
then a short steep step of earth and roots which polished up nicely, and another right turn to the end gate.
Section 5 ‘The Ruins’ a downhill entrance between the trees to turn sharply left and uphill before dropping right over the large stones of an old building then twisting left between large stones before
a right hand drop to the end gate.
Section 6 ‘Slippery when Wet’ Left through the start gate into an immediate muddy full right turn avoiding a large tree, twist left between large rocks to turn right between the trees over some large exposed right-angled roots.
Section 7 ‘The Hacienda’ Great section with more whistling than a 90s Rave. Steady entrance on loose stone to turn right across the slope behind a tree then left between the trees to set up for a steep climb on to the top of a bank with a right turn into a steep drop with roots and an immediate left turn to the end gate. Favourite section of the trial.
Section 8 ‘A River Runs through It’ First time the big stream at the bottom of the valley has been used in an Aqueduct Trial. Straight entry into the fast-flowing water, against the flow up the stream
bed to a right turn up the bank which got wetter and more cut away every lap. Avoiding large rocks turning back parallel with the water and keeping balanced in the liquid mud to the end gates.
Section 9 ‘Mud on the Road’ Another simple but tricky section along the bottom edge of the banking with some large rocks to negotiate and a final very muddy climb over a rocky hump to drop left and
hit the end gates.
Section 10 ‘The Dark Wood’ Into the trees just off the fire road and a very slippery entrance to a short earth step which dug away to reveal large stones followed by a sharp right turn between the trees over a couple of loose large rocks then dropping over large roots and divots to the end gate.

Before we move into the usual stats, we have to close by once again say a huge thankyou to the club team for all of the effort they put in over the preceding months to make this happen, the observers for still taking the time to support and the land owner as always.

Top Places

Pre 65

• Expert – Tony Gush, Dot (47)
• Intermediate – Mike Jones, Triumph (27); Keith Wells, BSA (28); Norman Tarbick, Drayton Bantam (30)
• Clubman – Steve Walker, Francis Barnett (14); Paul Brimelow, Cotton (19); Damian Morey, Triumph (38)
• Novice – Roger Smith, BSA (13)

Twinshock

• Expert – Steve Cliff, Fantic (63)
• Intermediate – Jerry Hawker, Honda (11); Dave Pengilley, Kawasaki (21); Tim Cuffin, Majesty (25)
• Clubman – Oliver Barker, Bultaco (21); Tim Davies, Fantic (31); Phil Cottiga, Fantic (33)
• Novice – No riders

Pre 1996 Air Cooled Mono

• Expert – Peter Ruscoe, Gas Gas (39); Kev Ellis, Yamaha (67)
• Intermediate – Craig Barkley, Yamaha (25); David Matthews, Yamaha (31); Paul Cartwright, Gas Gas (62)
• Clubman – Ian Emery, Gas Gas (13); Andy Steele, Yamaha (43); Paul Corfield, Yamaha (54)
• Novice – No riders

Pre 2000 Water Cooled Mono

• Expert – Richard Webster, Montesa (15); Chris Garlick, Gas Gas (20); Mike Jones (71)
• Intermediate – Alec Roberts, Montesa (24); Jim Droughton, Yamaha (59)
• Clubman – Marcus Greer, Beta (54)
• Novice – No riders

Modern Mono

• Expert – Badger Owen, TRS (61)
• Intermediate – John Petrek, Gas Gas (17); Dave Ellis, Beta (17); Mike Smith, Montesa (21)
• Clubman – Oscar Davies, Gas Gas (13); Bert White, Beta (19); Eamonn Talbot, Beta (19)
• Novice – Gordon Evans, Tenaci Wong (105)

Observer List

1 – Tony Cartwright

2 – Sue Goodwin

3 – Brian

4 – Wendy

5 – Allan Thoas

6 – Ian Jones

7 – Mike Griffiths

8 – Gordon

9 – Paul Edwards

10 – Ffion Gush

Stats

Bikes Classes

• Pre 65 – 20
• Twinshock – 13
• Pre 1996 Air Cooled Mono – 12
• Pre 2000 Water Cooled Mono – 6
• Modern Mono – 35

Route Classes

• Expert – 8
• Intermediate – 31
• Clubman – 45
• Novice – 2

Bikes

Pre 65

• Ariel – 1
• BSA – 6
• Cotton – 1
• DOT – 1
• Francis Barnett – 2
• Matchless – 1
• Panther – 1
• Triumph – 6

Twinshock

• Bultaco – 3
• Fantic – 3
• Honda – 3
• Kawasaki – 1
• Majesty – 1
• Whitehawk – 1
• Yamaha – 1

Pre 1996 Air Cooled Mono

• Fantic – 1
• Gas Gas – 4
• Scorpa – 1
• Yamaha – 6

Pre 2000 Water Cooled Mono

• Beta – 1
• Gas Gas – 1
• Montesa – 2
• Yamaha – 1

Modern Mono

• Beta – 16
• Gas Gas – 5
• Montesa – 4
• Sherco – 2
• Tenaci Wong – 1
• TRS – 3
• Vertigo – 4