This Sporting Life
Mud Plugging over the hills
John Newman
It's A Slippery Slope
Boxing Day sport is synonymous, for most people, with football. The TV broadcasters and print media would have you think there was little else in the sporting calendar and this year there was also an ignominious Ashes cricket defeat for England.
For motorcycling generally there's understandably not very much going on. There are the Boxing Day Plum Pudding races at Mallory Park Circuit: a combined motorcycle and car event that was cancelled in 2020. This year however, after two cancellations, the Northampton Club ran their 94th Wild and Woolly Moto Cross event on the 26th. A truly madcap affair with the organisers laying out a course through as much mud and water as they can find.
For motorcycle clubs that organise trials events, Boxing Day is a big one in their calendar. Up and down the country if you're a trials rider and enthusiast there's lots to grab attention, predominantly in the north,where there is arguably more land and space available.
Club Trial
This year with two additional holidays on 27th and 28th. Some clubs stretched their organised events beyond the 26th. One of these was the Huddersfield Falcons club; local to where I live. They decided to run a club trial on December the 28th, and as the venue was just a short drive away, I decided that walking between the sections would be a good way to get some exercise. Plus offering the opportunity to snap a few pics for Wemoto News.
For people who are not familiar with this aspect of motorcycle sport, the idea is for the rider to negotiate what are called 'sections'. These sections comprise a short route through difficult terrain that will test the rider's balance, throttle control, and quite often nerve. They are characterised by steep climbs and descents, rocks, boulders, tree roots, and tight turns.
The way through a section is designated by markers, and the idea is to keep your feet on the footrests all the way through without stopping, which is known as a 'clean'. If you briefly touch your foot down to maintain balance, this is known as a 'dab', and a point is added to your score. Should you need more strenuous efforts to keep you going; a 'leg' will see three points added. If you stop in the section by falling, losing control, or stalling; five points is your gain (or loss). The rider with the fewest points at the end of the trial wins. Scoring is adjudicated by an 'observer' in each section.
Wispy Cloud
The Met Office had forecast that the rain splashing steadily into my garden pond in the darkness, would clear away around 11.00am; the start time for the Falcons trial. They were right. In the valley below the wooded hillside where the sections had been laid out, remnants of wispy cloud clung to the treetops, but the portents were encouraging as I pushed into my walking boots and strapped on hiking gaiters which, in a rush of good sense, I'd slung into the car - to guard my jeans.
The way expert trials riders is truly balletic. They can make their bikes 'fly' across obstacles, pirouette and balance on either wheel and use body swerves to maintain poise and equilibrium.
Pure Sport
The Falcon's event was a club meeting, which is really pure sport involving riders of all levels and abilities and ages. Several young boys and girls were tackling the sections alongside their rider parent. Some competitors were on the very lightweight and low modern design bikes, others riding older twin shock models such as Yamaha TY, Fantic and BSA trials Bantam. The essence of it all was the sport.
Before tackling a section riders will examine the route. Look at the markers, and assess the potential 'dangers' where points can be added. They park the bikes, on the ground or against a tree, and gather with others at a section start point to swap info and point out the best lines to take and what to avoid.
Camaraderie
Camaraderie adds to the enjoyment of the event. They all know each other and the observers, who are usually older club members whose riding days may have finished, still make a valuable and necessary contribution to keeping the sport vibrant.
At this trial, riders had to complete four laps of a ten section course. In the wet conditions, what might have been a good route through on lap one, would certainly have altered over the ensuing laps. Rocks could have shifted and slippery ascents could mean loss of grip and tree roots could have become exposed, altogether changing the nature of the route.
Back in the day winter trials would often be referred to as 'mud plugging'. Afterwards riding gear and bike would invariably need close attention from a hose, or these days a more effective jet washer.
My muddy boots and gaiters are still in the back of the car!
Thanks so much for the story John, much appreciated - really interesting and it sounds like a great day out!
If any of you out there have been to, or taken part in anything like this we'd love to hear about it, just drop us a line at:
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