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He came
close last year, this time he did the business. Dean Partington won the
weather shortened March Hare Trial, one of four clean sheets.
After a glorious morning the
rain came down in buckets just after lunch, resulting in the cancellation
of some of the afternoon sections when too many cars got stuck. These
included some of the sub-divided "stopper" sections so there were four
clean sheets, Dean in his Class 8 special, Steve Kenny (Liege) in Class 7
and the Class Four Beetles of John White and Michael Leete. Once special
test times had been taken into account the order was Dean - John - Michael
- Steve.
March Hare Trial winner Dean Partington successfully
restarts on Hill Farm. Peter and James Mountain skilfully positioned the
line to catch out many of the experienced competitors (Picture by Dave
Cook).
The Start
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Markyate Truck Stop. A few Hundred yards from
Junction 9 on the M1, Plenty of Trailer Parking and a good breakfast
available. The finish venue was just down the road.
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Duncan and Eleanor Welch chewing things over with scruitineers John
and Alex
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Mike
Hayward waving Adrian Tucker-Peake away from the start
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Norton Street Lane
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Byway - A long straight
climb on loose stones which had been resurfaced
since last year. Simon Robson had organised a restart and deviation
for classes 6 and 7.
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Peter Grenyer was in one of the three Suzuki X90's taking part.
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This is one
of the tracks that changes from year to year according to the amount of
water that has run down it over the winter. This year Falcon had to
contend with the landowner resurfacing it! Simon Robson had arranged a
deviation for classes seven and eight towards the summit but even so
everyone went clear.
Chalk Hill
|
Byway - Another hill used for
the first time on last fears modern March Hare but perhaps used by Falcon in
the 50's. The section is a well surfaced track, approached by more
than two miles of green lanes! Chief
Official Murray MacDonald had organised a muddy deviation for classes
7 and 8
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With
his Trojan in Class 2 John Wilton was able to bypass the deviation
where the marshals are standing (Picture by Dave Cook)
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Mike
Chatwin tackling the deviation in his Troll (Picture by Dave Cook)
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Last year
was the first time the modern March Hare has used this section although it may have been used back in the 50's.
Competitotrs who went up it last year weren't expecting much of a
challenge but drivers in 7 and 8 were in for a surprise as Chief official
Murray MacDonald had devised a route up an adjacent grassy bank to test
them. It looked daunting, it was daunting and the seven competitors that
cleaned it deserve a special mention. Jack Endley, Mark Endley and Steve
Kenny, all in Lieges in Class Seven. Ed Nikel (Dellow Mk2 Replica), Dean
Partington (DP Wasp), Duncan Welch (Austin Healey SS) and Mike Chatwin
(Troll) in Class Eight.
Water Cress Lane
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Byway -
Cress Beds and Water Tower into one long section, with a restart for
all classes on the step up to the road. The remainder of the section
has been rather spoilt by the County Council who have filled in the
ruts!
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Reg
Taylor marshalled the start and Geoff Jackson the restart.
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Clive
Booth and John Allsop were at the section.
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This is another section that has lost its bite after resurfacing. These
days its all about the restart up onto the road which usually catches a
few competitors. This year Clive Hillier was the only failure in his
Marina. Unfortunately he retired soon afterwards.
Kensworth Special Test and
Observed Section
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Special Test followed by a sub-divided section on Private Land.
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John
White struggled to stop his motor fluffing on the lower reaches but
went on to clean the section and win class four
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Stephen Kingstone spun
to a halt at the three marker to drop his only marks before lunch.
Stephen went on to win Class Five.
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Kensworths
grassy slopes weren't to much of a problem for higher classes but the
saloons and sports cars had problems finding grip.
Edlesborough Hill
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Two sections on Private
Land, both sub divided.
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Andy Kilby competed in
Class 0 in his MGB GT. Class 0 omitted the hills with deep ruts.
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Nigel Jones and David
Hunt cleaned both of the Edlesborough sections.
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Unlike last
year it was bone dry at Edlesborough and there was plenty of grip on the
two long sections. The Lieges were all going well although Julian lack was
caught out by one of the restarts.
Brickhill
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Two
sub-divided sections on Private Land.
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Jack
Endley watching his spinning rear wheel as he searches for grip on
Brickhills sandy surface. (Picture by Julian Robinson)
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Tim Foster and Becky
Bishop restart their Ford Special (Picture by Julian Robinson)
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Julian Lack in his Liege, one of seven in the event (Picture by Julian
Robinson)
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Peter
Morley was is his daily driver VW Beetle (Picture by Julian Robinson)
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Brickhill
was marshalled by The Herts VW Club. Check out
their web site at
http://www.hertsvwclub.org/
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There was a rest halt after the two Brickhill sections. Time for the trial
to regroup and for the mornings marshals to move to their afternoon
duties. It also saw a change in the weather. The morning had been
gloriously dry but now the rain started.
Ivinghoe
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Special test and a
Section on Private land.
The section ......
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Don
Stringer and Stella Pearce on the special test.
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Peter
Grenyer attempting the observed section before it was cancelled.
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Rain was
falling by the time the cars arrived at Ivinhoe. Unfortunately the
observed section was to ambitious given the conditions and it had to be
cancelled.
Hawridge Lane
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County Road - Clean/Fail. Ian
Davis had organised a restart for classes 3 to 8.
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A
Liege view of the start. The section goes up through the tunnel of
trees.
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Although
this track is yet another to suffer from resurfacing Ian Davis had placed
the restart in just the right place to catch the unwary. It certainly did
its job and around a third of the entry didn't get away.
Hill Farm
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County Road -
Clean/Fail with a restart for classes 3 to 8 run by last years winners
Jim and Peter Mountain.
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John Rowland failing to
get away from the restart in Peter Thompson's Opel Ascona (Picture by
Dave Cook)
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Don Stringer and Stella
Peace in one of the three Austin 7's taking part. (Picture by Dave
Cook)
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Harry Butcher slipped
sideways into the rut and failed to get away. (Picture by Dave Cook)
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Two time winner Duncan
Welch was another to fall victim to Jim and Peters Restart (Picture by
Dave Cook)
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Binghams
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It was planned to run the same
four sections as last year. Unfortunately the heavens came down and so
many cars became stuck it was decided to cancel all four sections.
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Nigel Jones tackles
Beetle Drive before conditions deteriorated.
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Stuart Forrest
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Back at the finish at
the Bull in Redbourn the results indicated there were four clean sheets,
Dean Partington emerging the ovearll winner by virtue of the special
tests. It was a shame that the weather had curtailed the end of the event
as the Binghams sections are more than capable of resolving the results on
the hills.
Plans are afoot to make Binghams
more "rain proof" for next year by constructing better escape routes.
RESULTS FOR 2009 MARCH HARE TRIAL
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March Hare Trophy |
Dean Partington (DP Wasp) |
0 |
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Best Falcon |
Michael Leete (VW Beetle) |
0 |
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Best Novice |
Nigel Jones (Skoda) |
4 |
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Class Winners |
|
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|
0 |
Martin Down (Suzuki X90) |
9 |
|
1 |
Adrian Tucker-Peake
(Peugeot 205) |
9 |
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2 |
Don Stringer (Austin 7) |
9 |
|
3 |
James Smith (BMW 318) |
24 |
|
4 |
John White (VW Beetle) |
0 |
| 5 |
Stephen Kingstone (MG
Midget) |
15 |
|
7 |
Steve Kenny (Liege) |
0 |
|
8 |
Mike Chatwin (Troll) |
6 |
Click Here for Full Results
Published 9 January 2010 |
