Great Trial this year, with a couple of niggles, but otherwise fully enjoyed it!
Thestart at Popham seemed to be running OK, but we were at the back of the field, so things were mostly clear when we got there. the first observed test was as expected - straightforward, and then onto redscrip as classic canes had been cancelled due to logging. This and Underdown went without a hitch, and then onto my first fail from last time - Norman Hump. To my amazement I got out clean, and then into Clinton - another previous fail. we cleaned that, and all of the others up to crealy.
I thought the breakfast at Crealy was ok, but because of the queues at previous sections, we were running about an hour behind, and breakfast was nearly finished, so it felt a bit rushed.
section 8 - kingswell - went fine, but we dont remember seeing a section ends board before the queue for section 9, so were a bit surprised as we stopped at the back of the queue. again, another wait as we were using that start as a holding control for Tillerton. Failed the restart at Tillerton, and made our way to fingle hill. I love this section, and this time decided to try trickling up rather than firing myself at the scenery! that worked really well, and i'll definitely be doing that in future :-)
woosten steep was another that i had failed last time, and with help from the cheering of both claire and keith Oakes, we got out, shouting and hollering as we went!
the queue for Simms took the shine off the trial a bit for me - about two hours in all, but the marshals seemed to be doing a sterling job. we got as far as the red restart box, but then the tyres spun up as we slid into a rut, and that was the end of our attempt. shame really, as it felt great to that point. next time.......
at this point, there is only Tipley and Slippery Sam to go. I was confident of slippery sam, but tipley was a previous fail, so my medal hopes were looking bleak.... To our amazement, we managed to get away well, and trickled it up the section, until a puncture meant just planting my foot and keeping the momentum going - we made it! just. and changed the tyre at the top.
just slippery sam to go, and Matt was at the top waiting to congratulate us on a great climb, and a claimed bronze - my best achievement to date!
Thanks to the organisers, marshals, and everyone else involved for a great weekends trialling - it definitely ranks up there as the best i have had the pleasure in taking part in. but then i am wearing my bronze tinted specs at the moment ;-)