IThe first two hills were just up the road
from the start, competitors briefly entering Wales as they headed west on
the A40. Both Pillbox and Goldsmiths 2 were un-believably steep, muddy and
rutted with a re-start on Goldsmiths 2 for seven and eight. Adrian was one
of ten class eights to clean both of these two horrors. The other classes
didn't fare very well, especially on Goldsmiths 2, where it was very hard
to get around the 90 left just up from the start. A special shout-out to
Derek Tyler (VW Baja), Sticker Martin (Ford Escort) and Tony Young (VW
beetle) who not only got around the corner but went on to clear the
section.
Ropers was one of the few non-forestry sections on the event.
Approached by a steep descent down to the River Wye, the section is a PCT
style muddy bank, with penalties for hitting the markers. Apart from
supermen Adrian Marfell and Simon Woodall, who both got as far as the one
marker, nobody else got more than half way. Then came the next challenge,
getting up the exit road, fearsome enough to be a section itself. Not so
bad for the sevens and eights, but a problem for some of the lower
classes, causing an appreciable delay.
It was back to forestry for the next group of sections, comprising
Jack, Jill the first special test, and Pludds. All familiar Kyrle
favourites. Dean Partington threw down a challenge here, cleaning all
three to close the gap on Adrian Marfell. Elsewhere most others floundered
on some, or all, of the sections, apart from Adrian Dommett whose
supercharged Wolseley Hornet stormed up all three, not bad for class two!
In class four Emma Robilliard had already had three punctures and Tony
Young was struggling with a dead starter motor and wasn't enjoying the
delays.
Next came a whole string of muddy forestry sections, many of which had
no exit at the top, necessitating a perilous descent with the handbrake as
they were all pretty steep. Snompers was the only one to see many cleans.
The last two sections offered some respite from the gradient, but not
the mud! They were both new to the event and Paul Bartleman and Simon
Groves are to be congratulated for finding them as they were different to
all the forestry and consequently added character to the day.
Shapridge was in forestry but no tree weaving here. After a short time
it turned into a real Crackington, only much more so, the mud and ruts
extending as far as the eye could see! No problem for most of the class
eights but event leader Adrian Marfell dropped six, dropping him within
seven marks of Dean Partington. In class three Richard Hayward cleaned
both this one and the last section to pip Sticker Martin for the class
win. Tony Young was still going, despite his starter problems, powering
his raucous Beetle through the mud for a resounding class win as he was so
far in front he could have dropped twelve on the last one! Keith Sanders
was another to do well here, his clean giving him a class win in a class
five rather decimated by retirements.
The final section, called High Hope, was another new one, approached by
a long, very muddy track, which was nothing compared to the section to
come. It was a great section though, skirting a farmyard before an assault
up a semi-surfaced track before a "chicane" and more mud. No problem to
class eight but tough for the rest. Class seven was decided here, Ray
Goodright (Arkley) just holding onto his lead despite dropping four. Derek
Tyler (VW Baja Beetle), Murray Montgomery-Smith (Marlin) and Brian Colman
(Dutton Phaeton), all cleaned it but Ray held onto his class win by two
marks.
Results:-
| Best
Overall |
Adrian
Marfell (VW Special) |
16 |
| Class
Winners |
|
|
| 1 |
David
Haizelden (VW Golf GTi) |
99 |
| 2 |
Adrian
Dommett (Wolesley Hornet) |
54 |
| 3 |
Richard
Hayward (Ford Escort) |
64 |
| 4 |
Tony
Young (VW Beetle) |
62 |
| 5 |
Keith
Sanders (Reliant Scimitar SS1) |
76 |
| 6 |
Gary
Browning (VW Beetle) |
57 |
| 7 |
Ray
Goodright (Arkley) |
68 |
| 8 |
Dean
Partington (DP Wasp) |
23 |
| 0 |
Rodney
Green (Ford Escort) |
51 |
Page added 25 April 2008