www.hrc1.org
www.hrc1.org
MARCH 2004 NUMBER 110
NEWS AND COMMENT
SORRY – Your Newsletter is late as
we had to get venue for AGM arranged.
However as the room in the pub is
being knocked down before the arranged
date we have put the AGM off for
one month – details next issue. NOTE
APRIL CLUB NIGHT AT PLOUGH INN
– LOWER BEEDING
COMMITTEE BRIEF REPORT
HR on Tour
Pete Brooker reported venue unsuitable
(see Benge bit below)
Teams
Additions will be made to all teams
with new names of riders in their second
year with the club, even beginners
can help cutting scrub and clearing
markers – new list next issue.
Camping Northlands 1st, 2nd, 3rd
May
Again full info to follow.
It was agreed that we need to be flexible if weather
is uncooperative. The plan
is marking out team will lay out trial on Saturday
for Sunday Trial. Saturday
afternoon those riding will practice on sections 1 –
5. Sunday trial will also
be a team event. Monday will be same sections in
rreverse and all persons riding
will help clear course and site. A fire and
barbecue on Sat and Sun evenings.
TEAM NEWS
Date schedules and 2003 names were
included with the last Newsletter on
Team Guidance Notes. It is
a big help to Richard, the organiser, if you let him
know well in advance that the date
is not OK for you when perhaps he can
arrange someone to swap. Secondly
we have had some shortage of clearer
uppers over the winter so more names
will be added to teams – you may not
be confident to help set out but
you can do a bit of hacking and help with
clearing up the flags then you’ll
have done your bit for HR and if you’re a
newcomer make a few friends into
the bargain.
HR ON TOUR – Exclusive Report!
Benge, Pete and Co went to investigate
the proposed site in Wales on the
weekend of 20th Feb – I phoned Benge
to find out how it went :-
‘It was very cold – incredibly cold.
It had taken 6 hours to get there and find
the site up 1 mile of Forestry Commission
tracks. We found an old derelict
house with a hole in the end you
could drive a car through, it turned out this
was where the ‘bloke’ lived.
The site was not brilliant for a trial, very peaty
and boggy only a rock stream for
sections but there was a lot of rubbish
everywhere, not the sort of place
we’d want to camp. The ‘bloke’ was a real
character said he’d lost a couple
of bikes in the bog and he stood about telling
jokes and we got hypothermia waiting
for him to reach the punch line; the
following weekend the site was under
6” snow. So we’ll look about for
another venue possibly Dorset/Devon’,
was the conclusion. Benge said the
pub they stayed in was good and
they had a casualty when Pete’s mate riding
an old red Mont broke a rib on a
waterfall – so they had a cracking time he
said.
INCONSEQUENTIAL NATTER
Club Night got omitted from the
dates list. Only 5 came and 2 of those
phoned to see if it was on.
Still it lasted as bike deals were being played by 3
of them. Ladder queries have
arisen here and there so we will take the full
analysis to the next events to prove
it’s right! Rider Profile requests got
nowhere but Gary’s M & B turned
out to instrumentalists M on Sax and B on
guitar. So their full records
should be revealed – can anyone fill me in?
Swindon and HR member who hadn’t
ridden for 50 years found things had
changed when he did one of their
club trials. He’d done 7 (of 40) sections
when they took the markers down
– still he made it in the local under
“Sprightly Pensioner rides again!”
Mustering the Kwackers team caused
Tim a few phone calls. Tony Flegg
holidaying in Spain and Phil Walker
with yet another broken bone, thankfully
Keith Tracey stepped in so, with
Mick Dunstan and Fiona to mark yellows and
Katie and Sam for reds all was well
and Phil appeared later to give one armed
support. That was not all,
Pete Penton appeared and urged Tim to make the
Whites even harder! ‘I’m looking
forward to riding this’ he said – then didn’t
turn up! However 64 other
riders did, 16 of them schoolboys (and girls) and
nearly all HR members. Some
old ones visiting – Dumps and Dave Mears who
hasn’t ridden for years. Steve
Hook taking the welcome pics for the website
and Roy Hopley from long ago.
Blues can go first as nearly half
were dnf! Keith Tracey had set a challenging
course, the bit of overnight rain
was slowly drying out but a small shower just
after lunch made it a tough old
day. Incidentally Keith says Dan Laker’s old
Gas Gas wreck is nearly completed,
he has a new Chinese Honda 4 stroke 200
engine fitted in and it will be
ridden next month. Jesse Brooker held up his
punch card at lunchtime – only 2
sections not 5 – go down to yellow I
suggested – ‘no fear’ was the response.
In the end he was dnf with Benge,
who, unable to steer his bike, with
severe fork problems, was cheesed off. By
afternoon they were joined by Kev
Thompson, Richard Darlison and Gary
Medhurst who sliding around and
losing lots probably finished but didn’t want
scores publicised! At the
top we had Mark Webber and Alan Lavender riding
well and on low scores unusually,
it was Alan who took 2nd place. Dave
Blackman and Keith Edwards kept
below the ton then Ian Mac (I’ll know I’ve
done this tomorrow) and schoolboy
Dan Webber both a bit over. Phil Jobbins
Snr having his first ride on HR
blues kept up and he too had a good work out,
I found him thinking hard on that
long camber of section 3. Here, Dave B had
to manhandle, Richard D took different
lines and got away with a 3 but 1st lap
star was Kevin B who charged across
the camber floating the front wheel over
the treacherous bits and cleaned
it.
Clint Leggett had arrived with a
choice of bikes in the back of the van, he
wanted to use his twinshock practicing
for Belgium but looking at the going
decided on the Mont. Just
as well he did as Adam Bell arrived to level his
score both on 21 + 21 = 42.
For overall top spot we use the ‘most cleans’
method to sort ties as it indicates
most committed (ie not cautionary) rides
Clint had 18, Adam 6 so it was sorted.
Those 42 scores were good and the
rest of the entry over 50 marks
back, in 3rd was Mike H on 94 and I suspect
he lost many of those footing away
on section 2. It was Section 3 though,
where Mick Huskinson almost plonked
that 270 Beta over the peak – I could
have sworn it wouldn’t make it.
Adam Bird’s first efforts on white route shows
lots of promise, halfway on the
blue ladder in 2003, I’m sure he’ll make
higher rungs on white.
Fiona and Mick set out a balanced
yellow route that produced a gradually
progressive result sheet (look at
it) with one or two hard sections and the
shower, keeping scores high at the
top. Shock for our top man John Y who
slipped to 7th on 40 marks unable
to believe he didn’t get up some greasy
bits. Ken Rickets went away
with a spring in his step and Kevin Mac probably
rubbed salt in John’s wounds, all
the way home! Richard Laker leveled with
Ken at the top but said he’d ridden
sections twice off as he had to get home,
finishing early he got a bit more
benefit from the dry period, he’ll have to
watch brother Andrew who is catching
up fast. Richard S was not having best
of days fiving section 4 twice on
the up bit yet Adrian Bee, who is riding well
lately, trundled up effortlessly.
Mark Johnson and Nick H took some delight in
being so near to the fallen one
yet Nick lost his way on Section 3 and
wandered around the woods before
he found the ends – but on his second
card came his best lap on 5.
Robert Lavender not enjoying the slippery gave
up and Kevin Mc and John did section
6 a funny way round where it was much
harder so we let it go!
Katie and Sam marked reds and got
an entry of 10 riders whilst Sam hasn’t
got a machine yet and had to ride
his mountain bike round (on 25 he said),
Katie was pleased to do a lap on
4 and not so pleased when it grew to 18 after
the rain. Jack Northover led
the field which 4 didn’t complete after the wet
bit. Dominic Philpot wasn’t
far behind though and it can’t be long before they
consider yellows. Don’t forget
boys you can enter red and where you see an
easy yellow try that instead, you’ll
most likely make your score worse but tell
Dick or Fiona at the end and we’ll
give it a mention. You mustn’t enter as
yellows and do reds as you’d be
bringing lower scores to a higher route – tell
us if you want to change down.
Finally thanks to the family clear
up, Tim, Fiona, Katie and Sam, who
collected the flags on foot, sorted
‘em all and came back to add up the punch
cards – what can the future hold
for our teams!?
results here
White Route
Yellow Route
Clint Leggett E 42 18
cleans Ken Ricketts 0/50 28
Adam Bell E 42 6 cleans
Richard Laker SBC 28
Mike Husband I 94
Kev McDavitt C 30
Sean Parsons E 100
Adrian Bee C 35
Mick Huskinson E 105
Mark Johnson C 37
Adam Bird I 109
Andrew Laker SBC 39
Harry Reed I 125
John Yardley 0/50 40
Nick Herridge C 41
Blue Route
John Pocklington C 56
Mark Webber 0/40 32
Rich Shoesmith C 57
Alan Lavender 0/40 43
Sam Spear C 67
Keith Edwards N 95
Richard Johnston C 68
Dave Blackman N 95
John Major C 69
Ian Mculloch 0/40 102
Ian Johnston 0/50 78
Dan Webber SBB 103
Sam Aldrich C 81
Phil Jobbins N 109
Biff Harrison 0/50 87
Martin Colwell N 123
Paul Holder C 89
Kevin Brooker N 128
Michael Hyden SBC 93
Sean Staker N DNF
Dave Alder 0/50 96
Kev Thompson 0/40 DNF
S.Whyte C 101
Rich Darlison 0/40 DNF
Dom Jarrett SBC 104
J.Mitchell N DNF
C.Harrison C 105
S.Barron N DNF
Elim Lillywhite SBC 115
Benge N DNF
Tom Bell SBC 118
Jesse Brooker SBB DNF
Tim Garman C DNF
Gary Medhurst N DNF
Li Louis C DNF
Rob Hyden C DNF
Paul Hill C DNF
Dick Husband C DNF
Red Route
Rob Lavender SBC DNF
Jack
Northover SBD 24
Dom Philpott SBD 28
Analysis Enter DNF % Finish
Katie Husband SBD 41
White 7 0
100
Chris Snellock Wob 47
Blue 17 8
53
Fabien Luck SBD 53
Yellow 30 6 80
Ben Phillpott SBD 94
Red 10 4
60
Colin Luck Wob DNF
64 18 72
David Garman SBD DNF
Andy Martin Wob DNF
David Martin SBD DNF
TRAINING EVENT 14th February 2004
One big vote of thanks from the club
to the many members who helped
towards what was to be a very pleasing
day enjoyed by the 26 riders
attending. Several had phoned
so setters out were thick on the ground. In
order of arrival were Duncan Archer
(Blues), Nick Herridge (Yellow), Gary
Medhurst (Red) and Richard S who
helped all round. Amongst the entries
were several first timers, 3 lady
riders and new members who were only half
eager to get going – it turned out
some
didn’t seem to know much about what
they had entered! Then came the ones
who were to give our expert advice
(the professors?) For these we are
especially grateful as this coaching
brings new faces to the sport and even
hope to those older faces who slip
down the snake not up the ladder. Prof.
Clinton, Prof. Duncan, Prof. Mike
and Prof. Gary were in attendance on most
sections.
Two hours over 7 sections gave everyone
lots of opportunity to practice and
try to ride on the harder routes.
Gary M did blues after his leading yellow role
at the last trial, he had 4 tries
on section 4 in order to get that Fantic through
cleanly. Dave Blackman had
7 tries at this one the first 2 clean, next 2 in the
water finally riding it in a masterly
fashion. Dominic J was on blue too and
with a bike needing Dad running
in hot pursuit Dominic went well until a
skidding pile up on section 7 –
it was a slippery day! Dan Webber was
confident on blues and his dad easily
led the route home. Kevin T had his
nippers Emma and Jack trying out
several routes – they settled on reds for
the event. I tried to talk
Richard and John R into going up to blue. Richard
said he tried one when a professor
showed him how to do it, when he tried he
went over the back of the bike and
got sore bum mudguard symptoms. John
just said yellows were quite enough
for today. Biff too practiced on yellow but
saying his body was kaput went red
in the event and finished in the lead.
Mark Johnson and partner Louise
shared the bike; he kept to Yellow but
Louise only rode a few red.
Another fresh face arrived with Kev Brooker –
another shared bike, like Nick H
they had to leave early but another HR rider
will result; two when he and Louise
get the credit card out.
Three girls rode – Emma & Louise
I’ve mentioned, then there was Katie who
had to have her first go on Tim’s
250 Gas as young brother Sam, just starting,
needed the 175 Yam. Katie
rode a few of the yellows and got through, Sam
rode a few minutes and managed to
dent the Yam tank which his sister had
kept unblemished for 18 months –
she did comment that Tim’s bike needed
some attention – now hers does!
The two lap trial was to be firstly
as the sections had been tried and then in
reverse direction. Richard
went last on the first lap and changed the punch to
other end so that went easily.
There wasn’t much difference over the range of
scores so as I didn’t see any sections
I can’t comment. Latecomer Phil
Jobbins Snr didn’t see much either,
he walked the dog and announced Jnr
wanted his bike back so he is looking
for a bargain offer – what’s that? (still
needs the credit card)
Clearing up the course Richard,
Biff, Clint and Duncan. Thanks to them and
the others again, this really was
a good HR team effort. The next
practice/training trial is scheduled
for June 19th (Saturday) at Mannings
Heath when it should be dry and
if it’s half as good as this one you’ll enjoy it.
Blue
Yellow
Red
Mark Webber 7
John Richmond 16 Biff Harrison
8
Kevin Thompson 11
Richard Shoesmith 18 Emma Thompson12
Dave Blackman 27
Mark Johnson 19 Jack
Thompson 14
Dan Webber 31
Paul Pidgeon 21 Katie
Husband 18
Gary Medhurst 32
Dominic Jarrett 26 M Tooley 19
Gary Stewart 31 Fabian
Luck 25
dnf Kev Brooker
Peter Main 33
Adrian Main 28
Paul Hill 49 dnf Louise Printer,
N. Ellen, C. Luck,
dnf Nick Herridge Sam Husband
GROUP TRIAL – CARSHALTON – DON BARRATT’S
By all accounts the wet weather made
this a hard one on that chalky mud but
only on the white route for expert
and intermediates. Some HR experts
become intermediates and some intermediates
become over 40 Blue riders for
Group events. It’s all very
confusing, on that basis, if you entered a National
you’d be a beginner, Novice or what?
(answer: Knackered! MH) I try to give
HR riders results on the route they
rode so we understand. But the significant
scores of Jordan, Penton and
Archer separated by 6 points at the Mannings
Heath event became Penton, Archer
and Jordan separated by 71 marks at this
trial, so it was a hard white route.
Don’t let that deter our members from
Group events – there are 4 routes
and the easiest are quite harmless. Go and
try at the one on March 14th.
Results – selected
White Route – (R. Puttock 24, S.
Foord 28, Scott Farley SBA 63)
10. Pete Penton 98,
11. Duncan Archer 120 14. Mark Jordan 169
Blue Route - (S. Jones 14,
D. Fry 15) 3. Mike Husband 27 4. Mick Huskinson 29, 10.
Steve Mills 42 11. Adam Bird
48
Yellow Route – (R. Beaty 39)
4. Keith Edwards 75, 7. Peter Main 114
Red Route – 1. Tony Martin 9
AGM –Date and Venue to be Advised
Next month
This is a pretty informal affair
that we must have once a year – it doesn’t last
long then it’s a chatty evening
– try to come. The agenda goes like this :
1. Minutes of last AGM
2. Secretary and Treasurer’s Report
and questions
3. Election of Committee for 2004.
The following were elected last year and we hope will
stand again :
Mike Husband – Chairman, Fiona Husband
– Secretary, Jean Husband – Treasurer,
Richard Shoesmith – Trials &
Team Secretary, Dick Husband – Newsletter
General committee Members – Pete
Brooker, Benge Chittenden, Nick Herridge, Kevin
Brooker and Duncan Archer.
4. Any other business – last year
we talked of new shirts and extra practice days all of
which have been fulfilled, it’s
worth coming to raise matters that interest you.
Summary of HR Balance Sheet Year Ended 31.12.03
Income
Expenditure
Subscriptions
£1,066.00 Note 1 HR Admin Costs £836.73
Trials Entries
£5,604.70 Note 2 Trials Costs
£5,146.72
Clothing Sales
£232.00 Clothing Cost
£839.62
Charity Collection £492.80
RFH Charity Donation £620.80
Sundries
£36.20
Loss on turnover
£12.17
£7,443.87
£7,443.87
2003 Assets
Current Account £325.76
Total 2003 £3,636.44
Deposit Account £2,533.39
Total 2002 £2,999.37
Equipment £91.29
Shirt Stock £686.00
Surplus for Year £637.01
£3,636.44
Note 1 Admin Costs -
Stationery, Newsletter, Postage, Affilliation fees etc
Note 2 Trials Costs
- Land, Insurance, Equipment & Cards, Group Awards, Flags etc.
NEW MEMBER BIT
This year has again seen several
newcomers to the club and so once again
here’s the bits you need to know.
In HR club trials we score ourselves
by punching the card with the marks lost
on a particular section. If
you ride through from begins to ends without
missing a gate, stopping or putting
a foot down punch 0 (clean). Put a foot
down once punch 1 (a dab), put a
foot down twice punch 2, but for a 3 you
can foot as much as you like providing
you haven’t missed a gate and you
reached the ends without stopping.
Either of these faults punch a 5 – it won’t
be your last!
In other trials the judgement on
your ride will be made by an observer but
getting 10 of these for every trial
we run would be impossible, so we score
ourselves and do not have awards
or a club championship. It’s like when you
play any other game for the fun
of it, but as we all like to know how well we
are performing (improving?) we give
you your years results in a table we call
the ladder. To get listed
on this you have to FINISH in 4 events during the
year. Finally the land we
ride on is privately owned and can only be ridden on
during an event when you much confine
your riding to the course and sections
marked for you. Arrive early
for an event and have the correct money if you
can. Above all enjoy your
trial, ask anyone for advise or help and come for a
beer on club night, the Wednesday
after the event.
------------------------------------------------------------
For sale Gas Gas TXT321 2001
road reg £1750 Mike Husband/Merlin 01403 257626
------------------------------------------------------------
HR EVENTS
MARCH
SAT 20 PRACTICE DAY AT DON BARRATT’S
SUN 21 BRIAN FOWLER CLUBMAN NATIONAL
TRIAL AT DON BARRATTS
Expert & Novice routes
only. Food van at start
SUN 21 PRACTICE DAY AT HALNAKER
SUN 28 BOGNOR CLUB TRIAL - Boundless
Copse, Hindhead
APRIL
SAT 3 LAYOUT CLUB TRIAL AT ROME
WOODS TEAM ENFIELDS
Richard Shoesmith 01798 869296
Peter Penton 01306 885694
Phil Jobbins 01273 844100
Nick Herridge 01403 210925
SUN 4 HR CLUB TRIAL - Rome Woods
- 10.30 am start
WED 9 HR CLUB NIGHT – PLOUGH INN
– LOWER BEEDING 8.30
Past Mannings Heath, left
towards Handcross, pub is on rt.
SUN 11 BOGNOR GROUP TRIAL - Elsted
Nr Midhurst
SAT 17 PRACTICE DAY AT DON BARRATT’S
SUN 18 PRACTICE DAY - HALNAKER
SUN 25 BOGNOR CLUB TRIAL – Elsted
MAY
SAT 1 HR CAMPING WEEKEND – (See
first page for details)
NORTHLANDS WOOD – Team Laverdos
– John Yardley
01273 555391, Kevin McDavitt
01273 601465, Bob Collins
01342 713808 – Layout trial
Saturday am. PM Practice
Session using 1st 5 sections.
Bonfire and BBQ in evening.
SUN 2 HR CLUB TRIAL AT NORTHLANDS
– Start 10.30
Bonfire and BBQ in evening
again
MON 3 HR CLUB TRIAL AT NORTHLANDS
– Start 10.30
WED 5 HR CLUB NIGHT AND AGM – VENUE
TBA
SUN 9 HR GROUP TRIAL – ROME WOODS
– Observers NEEDED PLEASE
SAT 15 PRACTICE DAY AT DON BARRATT’S
SAT 15 RRND Saturday
trial on the 15th May at Dons, Start 12.00 midday probably 5 laps of 8
sections and wondered if
HR were up for a bit of an inter club challenge..
SUN 16 PRACTICE DAY – HALNAKER
SUN 23 BOGNOR CLUB TRIAL - Elsted
TRADE ADS(£5 per year for members businesses only - helps you and the club)
MERLIN MOTORCYCLES sells Gas Gas,
Sherco, Scorpa, Montesa & Beta Trials and Gas Gas
Enduro bikes. Offers spares, service
& tunning too. Also imports Honda XR’s and yamaha XT660R
and WR 450 F. www.motomerlin.co.uk
- coming soon : Trials Bike Hire
MERLIN BOOKS sell motorcycle books
and videos, new and secondhand - free catalogue or
www.merlinbooks.com Mike Husband
01403 257626
HEADLINE ENGINEERING For aluminium
and stainless welding - helicoil thread repairs - cylinder
head, brake discs/drums refining
- all machining work - one off and prototypes.
Phone Derek Head 01306 712565