The Walsingham Trial – report

Ian Bell won the Walsingham trial in Hampshire by a massive margin from George Watson and Paul Price.

750 Motor Club had found a new venue near Petersfield that offered drivers a huge challenge within the woods with garlic making grip hard to find. Ian Bell took the early lead reading the ground well to hold a three point lead over John Fack, Paul Price and Roland Uglow after round one. Having worked so hard setting up the event Kevin Judd reacted to some drivers struggling and reduced tyre pressures for the second round, which saw Bell extend his lead dropping just four points with Uglow seven behind at lunch. Paul Price lead the intermediate class at lunch, and John Cole held a clear lead in the novice class, just ahead of ex multiple champion Ian Wright, who wasnt having a good day by his high standards.

Tyre pressures were increased again at lunch as sections improved, but a shower of rain made conditions very challenging for some and saw scores increase drastically. Bell had another fantastic round to finish twenty four points clear of Watson who didnt have a good round but just held onto second overall by a single point from Paul Price who had the third best round. Uglow also had a poor round dropping back to fourth ahead of Steve Courts and Julian Fack. Returnee Stuart Beare had the second best round dropping just sixteen points but a mistake in morning limited him to thirteenth overall. Price won the intermediate class from local driver Paul Faulkner who finished in seventh overall. John Cole won the novice class by a clear margin from Mike Baker in twelfth overall.

The clubman section, of eleven drivers was won by Steve Avery who would have finished sixteenth overall in the national section of eighteen competitors.

Ian Bell, Hamilton, 43points
George Watson, Hamilton, 67points
Paul Price, CAP, 68points
Roland Uglow, Crossle, 73points
Steve Courts, Facksimile, 81points
Julian Fack, Crossle, 83points
Paul Faulkner, Sherpa Indy, 85points
John Fack, MSR, 86points
Mike Readings, Sherpa Indy, 87points
Andy Wilks, RCAP, 91points

Duncan Stephens