The OK Supreme Long Distance Trial - Sep 2006
Report by Ben Falconer
The third OK Supreme Long Distance Trial, held on 24 September, threatened to be a washout but with perfect timing the Met' Office turned off the taps and we all had a dry ride round south Warwickshire and north Glos.
With around 100 on the entry list, it's clear this is a good event and the Stratford LC and MCC did a grand job of making the most of the land they had, and linking sections with as much off-road going as possible.
West Glos was represented by Stan Howitt, Dave Harris, Colin and Robert Davis, Darren Thomas and myself (with Dad in two again, cursing his leg, injured in the Wyegate).
Stan reckoned he couldn't find his way round some of the sections, and he might have had a point – some were a little sketchy considering they were non-observation.
Still, he was in the right half of the results on 42 and Dave on 47.
The grudge match between the Davis brothers though, went Robert's way again – his Tricker took him round for 50, while Colin dropped eight more. Darren's score was crucified by missing some sections.
I got off to a start that handicapped me all day. Hitting the only rock in section 1, Blackwell's stream bed, lost me 2 on a very simple section. All the more frustrating because yet again I posted a faster test time than worthy winner Julian Page. He went round for 0, as did Kenny Brown, Richard Parkyn, Keith Wells, and John Bliss.
Compensation arrived in the form of the team award, though. I was drafted in to the CHG team after one of its stalwarts opted to watch the des nations instead. With Keith Wells and Dave Eeles, we lost 3 and were delighted to win the Richard Morris Trophy.
Highlights were Saintbury Quarry, Meon Hill climb, The Grove (which was LDT heaven – great sections and loads of private off road), and Dovedale, most of which have featured in great Stratford club events of years gone by.
Many thanks to S&D LC&MCC for an excellent event, super start venue and a very agreeable lunch stop.