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Report Ken O'Brien 

Pics Gary Dowzall

Heavy overnight rain made for an exciting first lap for the 80 plus starters at the Lower Riding venue for the Harold Avery cup Trial which included a round of the South Midland Intermediate and 50/50 championships. Eight double-subs were taken in three times at this popular wooded hillside venue.

Top centre expert Stephen Rees Montesa 4RT made it look all too easy with a loss of 6 and the only rider to clean section seven a really tough one,An offset cambered rise then a steep drop to the waters edge before a fierce uphill climb over a lattice of roots mainly threes and fives were recorded at this one.Steve gets his name on the cup for the fourth time after winning in 1986/90 and 92.

Top Intermediate today was Beta mounted Stefan Walters who had some great rides at 9/10, Cleaning on every visit this fairly tough section consisted of a loose twisting first sub leading to an awkward 50 yard camber high in the woods.

Will McBain took the Youth A  with a creditable loss of 58 going particulary well on Bill Faulkner's section 5/6 which didn't dry out at all this combination of fallen trees and short gripless banks.

Twelve 50/50 riders set off in the morning sun with scores ranging between 23 and 91 the winning ride was acredited to David Birk Gas Gas he excelled at 13/14 ( the bomb hole ) a proper old fasioned section, Firstly a gentle root step with a nadgery turn then a 60 yard 3rd gear blast over greasy flat stones and rocks to the summit.

On the Standard white route Western Centre raider Nigel Tompkins Beta was on a mission parting with a miserly 3 marks Scorpa mounted Ady Mathews was runner up on 18 in this Clubman class,Adrian suffering an early setback with a five on section 2 around 12 yards of awkwardly growing tree roots with most riders taking the fast approach.

On the whole all of todays sections were pretty testing and scores started from 70 in the Novice class, They belonged to Berko Clubman Stephen Pearce Montesa who put in some nice rides on the long and often loose climbs if you got off-line of subs 15/16.

Young Daniel Greeves had steady ride around with Dad and for his efforts took the Youth B class.

Half a dozen Twinshocks turned out today and pre race favourite Alan Taylor ageing Bultaco duly obliged with Kevin Peters taking second spot on the nicley turned out Fantic.

A scattering of Pre 65 machines on parade today with Mark Howse 175 Bantam getting the better of Triumph mounted Gary Fleckney the big Twin ripping into the long wooded climbs of section 11/12.

The ever popular Blue route had a new winner for the first time in many years Richard Smith led 18 rivals home 8 was his tally, K&K veteran and centre recorder Bob Twigg was enjoying the march sun with a creditable score posting 32 on his trusty Beta.