Late Autumn Trial

Event Report

Garry Preston won the Late Autumn Trial on the last section, after the trial was reorganised at a new venue in the preceding days, becoming the fourth winner in the four events of the year. Preston climbed out the top of the last hill, while Simon Harris could only manage a three on the slippery course.

2013 champion Duncan Stephens returned for the first time since, to lead the class after the first round but couldn’t keep with the pace of Harris and Preston as the day went on, falling back to third in class, and fifth overall, leaving the others battling tooth and nail over the thirty challenging hills.

Trevor Moffatt remained the only unbeaten class driver this year, to win the new car class, but was kept honest by Gary Morris, although a torrid fourth round dropped him back. Moffatt finishing fourth overall.

The battle of the day saw Dave Robinson, Dick Glossop and Mark Hoppe battle for every single point, Robinson had a poor first round, but superbly climbed one hill twice the others couldn’t look at, to see them all a point apart at lunch, then all tied with just one round of six hills left. The last three hills proved too tense for Hoppe and Glossop seeing Robinson move three points ahead to win the class and third overall. The others tied at the end, with Glossop taking second in class on countback following another titanic battle. Local driver Robinson became the fourth rear wheel drive class winner of the year.

Jo Chick returned after five years absence, to complete the top ten overall.