This is the trial we held after the October trial that was held in Kilmuir. Only 3 people turned up at the Kilmuir trial, for what would have bean a brilliant event. The weather was not the best but remember this is motor cycle trials, so who cares what the weather is like.

Anyway, on to what turned out to be the best club trial that we have ever had at the Heaste venue.

10 sections were to be ridden 3 times to find out the best rider of the day. Unfortunately for Allen Cowe jr, he was the only A class rider on this occasion. This did not dampen Allen’s enthusiasm as on his first lap he dropped 8, and he only dropped 4 points on each of the next 2 circuits. This was still too good for the rest of the riders ridding in the slightly easier B routs. Still, all the riders had quite a difficult day as all of the sections were very long.

There was something brand new for the first two sections. Section 1 was next to the car park area. This had 3 steps, the second 2 steps were pretty straight forward but the first step had a tight right hand turn as the riders had to negotiate a sharp rock that was sticking up right in the middle of the step.  A.C jr. [ 250 Sherco] was best here on his last lap as he footed at the sharp rock then went on with his 2 feet firmly sticking on to the foot rests. In the B class, Kenny Finlayson [250 GAS GAS] was the only rider to get past the sharp rock clean but needed 2 steadying prods to get  him threw the ends cards. Mike Lee [250 Beta] and Mat Wakeford [250 Scorpa] also managed 2 on this section on the second lap.

Up the hill for the next new section, [section no.2]. This section was a zig-zagging section. A big difference between the A’s and the B’s. A.C jr. made the huge steps look easy as he just cruised through to the end cards at the top of a 15 foot step. This section was cleaned many times in the B route. The riders ridding in the B’s did not ride the big steps.

 The Marathon section, [section No.3], Mike Tweats just loved this section, [half way up this very long drainage ditch, Mike footed and stopped to get some piping practices in] then carried on to the end cards for a well earned 3. Following Mike on lap 2 Granddad to be, Allen Cowe sr. rode up the ditch nice and steady for a well earned clean which he could not achieve on the last lap.

 Section 4 was an old favourite, as this river was ridden in the opposite direction as we would normally ride it. Maybe not the best ride here, but the most memorable was on the second lap, Mat Wakeford , ridding the B route: Mat dropped into the burn, rode  straight through the deep hole, [which Mike Tweats had ½ filled in], out the first banking, up and around the mound of earth, down the steep 10 foot banking then crossed over the burn, up onto the small banking then a wee tight turn, Mat then dropped his front wheel back into the burn for the third time and on this occasion,  Mat’s Scorpa took a fancy to the other banking and the front wheel got stuck in the mud [oh dear]. Down went the bike and so did Mat, head first into the burn[oh dear]. Mat was OK, just a little wet [ha ha.], so of we went to section no 5.

 Section no.5, another new section. For A.C. jr. and Mat, this river had a small water fall/step with water coming down it. Allen managed a clean here. In the B route, where the riders did not have to ride the step/waterfall, there were some hard working trials riders trying to get to the end cards. None other than Angie Grant [the only school boy rider here today ridding his little 125 Gas Gas]. Grant Watkins [250 Sherco] scored his first clean here on his second lap.

Section no. 6, this section crossed through a small burn then twisted through some rocks, up over a steep rock face and then down over a small bolder field and out the end cards. In the three laps this section did not take any 5’s. A.C. jr’s rock step was quite a wee bit bigger than in the B route, not that it made much of a difference, as Allen rode up this 7 foot step like it wasn’t even there.

 Back into the river for section no.7, then up over a large lump of heather and rock, then down into a turn through a pool of water, then over some small rocks and up a groove in the banking. Allen Cowe snr. [250 Beta] cleaned this on lap 2. Mike Tweats, Kenny Finlayson, Mike Lee and Grant Watkins all cleaned this section but if there was a prise for the fastest person to ride through a section, there would be no competition. Our answer to VALENTINO ROSSI. The rocket [Ross Nicolson 280 GasGas] would definitely win that prise. To be the observer, you had to be quick.

Section no.8 was guess where, yes, back through the river then onto the banking on the other side of the river, then dropping back into the river again, through and back over the other side, up a small wee step and into a small rocky burn with a muddy right turn and out over some greasy boulders to the end cards. At the first part over the river and up onto the banking, it was a much bigger banking for A.C. jr, as on lap 1 he had to foot and pull his Sherco back so he would not miss the red marker. Once again the rocket held the record for the fastest ride through from start to finish.

 Section 9, the wall. This was a wee bit longer than usual but it did not give any problems.

 The last section no.10. Yes, back into the river. Normally this is section no. 1. Angie Grant almost had his only clean here on his last attempt but for some unknown reason he footed on the last river crossing.

Thanks to everyone who attended. This was a brilliant event thanks.

  11 o’clock on Sunday morning and round 8 of the Isle of Skye’s trials championship was getting under way.

Due to the bad weather, over night, section 1 was put of till the second lap. Hopefully the water level would drop a few inches to let the riders into the river without drowning there bikes.

Section 2 and 3 turned out to be good warm up sections and did not cause any major problems, unlike sections 4 and 5. These two sections were back through the deeper than usual river. Both Allen Cowe jr. [250 Sherco] and Dveed Eckl, A class school boy [125 Beta], had little problems in section no 4 as all the riders had to: cross the river, then ride up the banking, round two tight turns, one to the right and then one to the left, then up over a large lump of soil, back down and through the river again then through the ends cards. [250 Montesa rider] Mat Wakeford was first into this section. He needed to use 2 steadying dabs to help him through to the end cards. A few more dabs were dropped here, but best of all was on lap 2 as Allen Cowe sr. [250 Beta] had a trip over the handle-bars as he crossed the river. Allen hit the large bolder right in the middle of the river. His bike stopped and wee Allen kept saying, Allen doesn’t need a shower after the trial now. Yes the water was a wee touch cold I think.

Section no. 5 was only cleaned by Mike Lee [250 beta] and young Dveed on the first lap. The route for this section was back through the deep river, then turn left up into a small fast running stream for 5 meters and then a wee right turn, up over some boulders and out the end cards. By the time the last lap came round the river had dropped in depth and lots of cleans were being scored. At this point on the second lap the competition was pretty close between Granddad Kenny Finlayson [250 GasGas] and Mike Lee, as there was very little points separating them.

Section 6 in the B class turned out to be very loose in this very long twisty burn. This section took some points early on due to the deep and fast flowing river. It was going to be the same route for all the riders until the second lap when A.C. jr. and Dveed got there heads together and decided to ride the 25 foot water fall that had not been used since the days of the club being part of the Scottish championship. Only 1 clean was scored here, that was on the last lap by A.C.jr. [Well done. You’ve got to see this water fall]

Long and tedious was the nattier of section 7. This section was not very hard but it was about 120 meters long. Many cleans were scored but if you did not concentrate you would put a foot out unnecessarily. On lap 3 Mat Wakford ridding his old Montesa [still going] scored a well earned clean to the amazement of all the other riders watching.

 Back in the river for sections 8, 9 and 10. No. 8 was the trickiest section of the day for the A class. Both A.C. jr and Dveed Scored 3s on the first lap and as the day wore, both riders were getting through for lower scores.

Section  9, this section was run back to front for the first time ever. Martyn Macdonald [125 Sherco] managed a clean on his second lap, and then mirrored that on his last lap as he was rapidly improving after lap no. 1.

Section 10, this was the CLARK of the Course’s old favourite. By this time on lap 3 Granddad Finlayson had put a small margin of points between himself and Mike Lee. Mat and his Mont were not far behind and after his wee soaking on lap 2 Big A.C. was catching up fast.

   Back to section 1 at the beginning of lap 2. The water had dropped 4 or 5 inches. This section was changed slightly due to the river being about 3 feet deep. Ross “the rocket” Nicholson [280 Gas Gas] was first up as he rode his bike threw at about 30 mph for a 3 point score. [Someone told me that trials was a slow sport]. On the Rocket’s second attempt, he tried an even higher gear. Well this is how the Rocket road the section:

 Down the banking into the river, front wheel first, then over to the other side, over the jumble of rocks that were hiding just under the serifs of the fast flowing river, then picking up speed the Rocket charged over to the other side of the river. There was a huge splash as a 280cc motor cycle was entering the deepest part of the river then climbed up onto the river bank.

For the other riders, the next part was easy; you just ride along the river bank. After the banking all the other riders were dropping back in to the water and then right back out and in again. All the other riders rode around the 5tone’ish sized bolder then out the ends cards.  Not the Rocket. Up on to the river banking came the Rocket [accelerating all the time] and instead of dropping into the river this GAS GAS and its rider jumped over the gap and nose dived straight into the 5tone bolder and on this occasion for the first time ever the huge bolder did not move [?] out of the way. The Rocket had to retire after the front bucket on his jcb broke of. Good attempt. That was the trial over for Ross on this occation.  Have a good holiday Ross.

This was a great event and I think every one had a good day. I will see you all on the 23rd of this month up in Kilmuir at Allen Cowe’s .