Report: Berkhamsted MCC John Holmes Trial

John was a great club member and the man who negotiated the first lease on the riding ground back in 1980. 

It was also the Berko Charity event and this year's recipient was CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young. 

A good friend of one of the club's young riders died last November from a heart complaint he had no indication . 

With the possibility of more donations to come in the total raised so far is £1,150.

The trial was also round 10 of the Meteor Group Championship and four laps of ten sections provided a challenging ride for the 64 entrants in very dry conditions, with five routes marked out to accommodate a few Youth Ds. 

Section one caused problems for some Experts and Inters on the White hard route with only trial winner Danny Greeves going clean on all four visits, and just one clean on the 50/50 Inter route by Neil Saunders. 

Previous multi Class winner Graham Haslam had an unfortunate five by catching his brake lever on a tree.

Sections two and three were sited up and down the banks on the railway side of the ground. 

Section four, Ray's Rocks – constructed by Ray Haslam who was away riding the Scott – proved tricky for his brother Graham, who did not fancy a drop off a rock in the section. 

Lionel Cox, riding the Universal route by choice, also had a torrid time recording fives on all four visits. 

Number five was situated on the banks and trenches in the centre of the ground and Gary Priestly went through for all cleans. 

Tom O'Sullivan was the only Expert to clean it each time and he was joined by Youth A riders Harry Coleman and Gus Oblein. 

Six, seven and eight, all up and down the steep banks on the canal side barely troubled the observers, with just a handful of fives being recorded – although number nine presented a much bigger challenge. 

‘Horwood Falls' has seen Gary and his crew spend many back-aching hours constructing a waterfall section. 

A pond is filled with water at ground level and this is pumped almost to the top where the discharge cascades down a section of slopes, rocks and steps. 

Red, White and Blue routes are then chosen as appropriate which then continue up and down the back of the mound to the Ends cards. 

At the top of the waterfall above the discharge there is a four-foot high vertical step which can be included in the climb and it was used just for the first lap. 

Danny Greeves was the first to attempt it on his brand-new Beta 300 and he flew up it for a clean ride. 

Graham Haslam hesitated as he was on a 125 but he climbed it for a one at the top and another one further down! 

results

Experts: Daniel Greeves 5, Thomas O'Sullivan 17, Scott Howlett 65.

Inters: Darren Haines 21, Martin Greeves 30, Neil Saunders 33.

Novice: Richard Gil 9, Ashley Bailey 26, Chris Hackett 29.

Clubmen: Kevin Fossey 2, Dean Devereux 2, Darren Phypers 4.

Sportsmen: Andy Masson 0, Jon Surman 3, David Rance 4.

Universal: Steve Southwood 35, Grace Hagan 35, Gary Watson 45.

Pre-65 easy: Chris Pickup 3, Danny Wilson 6, Julian Wade 7.

Youth A: Harry Coleman, 26, Gus Oblein 26, Keiran Tovey 36. 

Youth B: William Clark 27, Jake Woodlock 15.

Youth C: Jack Gil 5.

Youth D: George Clark 10, Oliver Slinn 41.

John Holmes Trophy (Awarded to best Berkhamsted MCC Clubman rider): Steve Clements, Fantic, 12.