Riders came from far and wide on the 10th of October to ride in the rejuvenated Market Drayton Club’s Pre 2000 trial based at Bourne’s Farm in Mucklestone, near Market Drayton in Shropshire.
54 entries were greeted with wall to wall sunshine and some fresh ground never used before tagged on to the side of the familiar terrain used for generations in the past.
13 sections were laid on in 4 groups, with a good ride around which spread out the entry nicely. A good range of hazards were included, from the early sections with tricky turns around trees in the woods, to slippery rocks on the last hazards, observed by local legend, Scott Ellis.
Sections were laid out to suit the nature of the bikes, all being manufactured before the year 2000. There were 3 classes of bike, twinshock, air cooled monoshock, and pre’ 2000, creating a great mix of bikes on show. There were 2 routes available, creating 6 classes in all. All observers were dispatched with goody bags, and a meal voucher for the burger van!
Ex world round rider and national runner from “back in the day” Northamptonshire ace Richard Allen (Montesa 314) took the premier with a great ride with just 2 marks lost, both marks lost on the very tricky and technical section 9, observed by club stalwart Tim Machin.
In second was local star Pete Ruscoe (TLM Honda) on 3 lost.
3rd was very local farmer and trial host Bill Bourne on 7, just getting the tie break from Jonathan Reeves, both on 7 marks, and both on TY 250 mono Yamahas.
Completing the top 5 on the expert route was another Stafford ace, Matt Spink on a TYZ.
It was equally tight at the top on the clubman route, with Paul Howells ( Bantam) with 6 on the card, just shading Jerry Hawker on his aircooled Gas Gas mono on 7 lost.
Furthest traveller Steven Mycock came in 3rd on 11 marks lost, then rushed back to West Lothian, a good four and a half hours drive!
Anthony Charles, Paul Cook and Harry Hall rounded out the top 6 , all on 12 lost.
Activities were then rounded up with the usual “if only”s and burger banter at Jim’s Eatery.
Photos in this post by MDMCC's Fraser Barratt
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