Gravesend Eagles MCC was the organising club for this event. Like most modern trials, it was held entirely on private land at Jackson’s Wood, near Horsmonden on the High Weald in Kent…
The course was 10 sections, which had to be ridden four times. Most of the sections involved slippery turns and climbs around trees, typical of South-East Centre mud-plugs. After an early frost thawed, it added a lubricating element and some of the sections became considerably more challenging.
The trial was the final round of the North Kent Trials Combine Championship, where a monthly event from the combine’s constituent clubs offers as much variety as possible. Kent may be the ‘garden of England’ but suitable trials land remains at a premium. Classes cater for all types of trials machinery and rider skill levels.
Early bikes are an important part of the championship and classes for the pre-67 twin shock encourages older two- and four-stroke bikes out of sheds. At the Gravesend event, it was Graham Baylis (Tiger Cub) who came out on top, losing 27 marks to put him eight marks in front of Paul Stephen’s Dot, with Roy Purvis (Ossa) on 44 for third.
Roy Purvis eases his late-model Ossa around the trees on his way to a third in class
