2007 Reports

Report by The Plotter

Glorious weather at Oxford Ixion's 61st Harold Avery cup greeted 78 eager riders to contest 17 very interesting sections at the Lower Riding venue,This event also included a round of the South Midland Intermediate and 50/50 champs.

Young Michael Johnson took the premier with a controlled ride including two brilliant cleans on the the almost sheer at the top graded hill with spectators glued to the action all day,4th gear selected it was head down and foot to the board to have any chance of reaching the summit 180 yards later.

Top inter went to Chas Lee son of former winner John who was on hand with plenty of advice,Chas mastered section four a very steep and loose double climb with ease on every visit.

In the 50/50 class aging expert and local motor cycle dealer Rob Faulkner tried his best to fend off the young pretenders but had to settle for second best as Darren Walters went on to take the class award putting in some fine rides with a particular smart clean on section ten a very tricky rooty-rocky loose camber high in the woods.

On the standard white route swindon raider Gavin Moore 250 gas gas cleaned up in the novice class by a comfortable 26 point margin.

Adrian Steele 4t Sherco recorded the lowest score on this course today despite an early setback with a broken throttle and lever after rolling off at the 1 cards on the graded hill.

Pre 65 sole finisher Pete Hampton had a good day apart from the 114 marks he lost ,Pete bringing the wrong machine i'm afraid it should have read Triumph Twin in the programe not Tiger Cub (engine rebuild pete).

Ken O'Brien went on to dominate the twinshock class on his trusty ' Bliss Cotswold ' finding grip where some could not ,Section 5 & 6 was observered by ex southern centre champ Dave Fletcher it started from the rivers edge it was long steep and twisting with many roots the little cotswold gripping like a good thing to clean every visit.

' Youth b ' Matthew Christopher Gas Gas put in a very creditable performance losing 54 marks with an unbelievable 1 mark loss on the double sub of 14 & 15 a tight nadgery bank then a blast accross an extremely loose camber which never seemed to end.

20 Blue route riders turned out and Kevin McCullagh done the buisiness again on that montesa 4rt, the course was a little on the tough side but the weather leading up to the event played a big part in this hence a few retirments, Enough observers again and many thanks to them.