Rough Sections, Delays and Cancellations made this years Edinburgh a Difficult Trial

The report starts here

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After a main road run to Ashbourne there was a holding control at Carsington Water before the first section. There were some delays here, giving Michael Weeks time to sort some issues with the exhaust of their Midget.

The first section at Haven Hill had a common restart for all, omitting last years controversial deviation. This didn't cause any problems for the main trial but some of the lower slung cars in Class 0 had problems with ground clearance causing a few delays.

Rileys Rise was a new section this year. It was slippery, which caused problems for some of the motorcyclists who found difficulty staying on their machines. The section itself wasn't to troublesome for the four wheeled brigade, but getting to "Section Begins" was a problem for some and there were long delays for later numbers.

Classes C, E, 0 and 1 didn't attempt Rileys Rise and went directly to a special section for them, Deep Rake, the first of three sections in the quarry complex south of Stoney Middleton. There was a restart on slippery grassy bend but this didn't cause too many failures.

The Deep Rake Special Test was just up the track. A figure of eight with a very large puddle just before the end. This produced a few failures with competitors over-running the line. John Parsons was one of these. John's VW Buggy was not running well and running later and later he retired a few sections after, only to have the transmission fail just before home.

There were many miles of nice green laning though the quarry complex to get to Black Harry, where a 10mph speed limit was in force on the section. Everyone, including Class 0, had to restart before exiting the summit. Trojan driver John Whilton was mashalling the start, warning of a big rock just round the corner where some lower slung cars had grounded. In the main trial most cars went clean but the experienced Nick Farmer, didn't get away in his Class 1 Astra. The restart proved a challenge for Class 0 and Verdun Webley (Rickman Ranger) was one of many to loose his clean sheet here.

While Class 0 went for their breakfast at Bull I'th Thorn the other classes went to the horror that was Putwell. Sadly this much loved section, with his magnificent views across to Monsail Head, has become rougher and rougher and is reckoned by sum to be past its sell by date. Michael Weeks had two punctures on his way to cleaning the second section, although the results show a fail, depriving him of a clean sheet. (This was amended in the published final results***) Michael and Colin were appreciative of assistance received from Duncan Welch, Brian Alexander and John Parsons that enabled them to finish the event. Steve Kenny was one of many others to puncture here but the delay between the two sections enabled him to change both a wheel and a tube.

Litton should have been after the break. It was for the motorcyclists but not the traditional section which is not available. The hill was approached through by turning off the main road at the Anglers Rest and following the river valley to Litton Mill. Then, from approximately the usual start line, the hill went up the normal approach road before picking up the grassy Class 0 section and finishing in the usual place. The bikes were OK and so were the initial experienced competitors in well prepared cars. Unfortunately the earlier delays meant that some Class 0 cars were running towards the head of the four wheeled brigade. Several had problems getting to section begins and nervous of PR issues the Chief Official called a halt to proceedings. Julian Lack and David Bache were amongst the lucky few to get an attempt and reported it was a good section.

Later numbers were diverted from breakfast directly to Bamford Clough, where there were more delays for later numbers. This is inevitable for such a long hill, surely the highlight of the trial, and competitors are used to waiting for their turn. This was another section reckoned to be rough, caused by water eroding the loose material where the concrete patches end, creating "steps". There was a restart as well for the higher classes and this claimed many victims. When Dudley Sterry fails a section its got to a be a tough one!

After Bamford the main trial headed south to join class 0 at Calton. Everyone except classes E and 0 had a restart on polished stones and around 40% of the cars couldn't get away. Some in Class 0 had issues as well and neither Mike Westbrook (Dellow) nor Verdun Webley (Rickman Ranger) had enough momentum and stopped.  John Beaumont had transmission problems with his rear engined, A series powered Reliant. It took John a while but he worked on the car on the windswept summit and went on to finish the event.

After tea and cakes at Hollinsclough Village Hall the main trial went to the short Rakes Head section while Class 0 went direct to Excelsior where, unlike the rest of the trial, they didn't have to restart. The section comprises exposed rock and toughened up as the day went on and the loose covering material was burnt away. Steve Lister was giving his ex Geoff May Dellow its first outing and was one who spoilt his clean sheet on those polished stones.

Class 0 had their own section at Moneystones with MCC Secretary Peter Lawley in charge. This is a super section for Class 0 who appreciated Peter and his team standing out in the cold just for them.

With the section at Grangewood inaccessible after the rain and cancelled before the start the route followed an unfamiliar path to Darley Bridge and the Clough Mine/Clough Wood complex. There was some confusion here as the "Enthoven" sign isn't visible from this direction and a lot of people missed the turn.

The two sections at Clough Mine were muddy affairs. Everyone did the first one, in front of Dave Cook's lens. Dave was the MCC's official photographer for the event and as I am not sure of the arrangement he has with the club I have not used or linked to his pictures here. The nature of these sections was different to the MCC's traditional Derbyshire Fayre but with all the problems with officialdom may well have to feature in the future if the old favourites are denied.

The main trial then used Clough Wood while Class 0 went directly to the Dudwood Complex on private land.

Dudwood 1 was a muddy horror and the A boards came into the reckoning for all accept Class 8 where Robin Preedy went clear in his special.

Dudwood 2 went up into a wood and was attempted by everyone. After a gentle start it became rutted and rough. It was possible to blast up but it was far to damaging for Class 0 which was a shame as the rest of the event had been ideal for those who like to be gentle on their pride and joy.

And finally we came to the Dudwood Special Test. A simple blast round in a circle, only it wasn't so simple as it was on heavily rutted loose material. This caused a lot of problems to Class 0 and cost Richard Andrews his Tin. Clean up till now, even though he had done some damage to his Dellow on the last section, Richard floundered in the mud and that was the end of his medal hopes.

For once there was very little wind back at the Bull I th Thorn finish, so competitors could stand outside and chat while they watched the stragglers drift in, some quite a few hours behind time.

The day finished with a club supper in Buxton. Once again this wasn't very well supported, and with no words from the management, provided an anti-climax to the event. Trialling in Derbyshire has a special atmosphere but with a thin entry list and problems obtaining the use of the old sections it is becoming an organisational challenge. Lets hope the MCC can rise to these challenges so the event can continue.