John Cowley	Darren Walters
Philip Ducker	Ali Haigh
Tony Cowley	Gordon Pusey

2013 Club Champs 4th Round and Charity Trial.

Report Ken O'Brien

Pictures by Gary Dowzall,  others can be found here

A brilliant entry of 80 riders turned out for the annual running of Oxford Ixion's charity trial with over £400 being handed over to the Mind Trust. Four laps of ten sections were ridden at the old Oxford Ixion Scramble Track this event also included round four of the club championship. Expert-Novice-Clubman and Twinshock headed to section one where much pondering took place as this sub was new and the only wheel ever to grace these ultra steeps banks was that of the course plotter as it is customary to put a tyre though after marking out. John Cowley was first up and a controlled inch perfect clean ride set the precedent for all, John 280 Ossa went on to take the Expert class with only a single mark lost at the Bomb-hole sub of David Faulkner whose eagle eye spotted a softish dab on a sandy camber.

Darren Walters took best Intermediate losing 28 marks with section nine proving the tough-one for most with a series of sharp turns and downhill offset rooted cambers.

On the standard white route no less than five riders finished clean in two classes of Inter and Clubman Phil Ducker-Ali Haigh-Dave Fowler-John Cowley and Paul Millhouse although you could argue Paul was best as he is by far the oldest Ha Ha.

Martin Wilmore BSA was best British Bike although a rare five on section one lap one wasn't the ideal way to start but a quick pit-stop and carb adjustment soon sorted the problem.

Tom Dunkley 250 Beta remained in control of the Novice class shedding thirteen marks two of which were left at section ten where a very greasy grassy camber was traversed before dropping to a narrow ledge and then an almost vertical loose climb of thirty yards.

Youth A winner Liam Anderson  Beta cleaned up today with the little 125 having to work hard on the quarry section three with its sheer banks and drops.

Steve Chandler was going well on the Honda for a lap or so in the Twinshock class until a forced retirement with machine gremlins ended his day.

Thirty Easy route riders set off across the fields to section five where a generous amount of mud and marshland awaited them. First to go was eventual best on route Kevin McCullagh easing the Sherco around at a steady pace to clean this opener. Kevin lost five today as did Mark Anderson with most cleans deciding it for the former.

Ron Walters Beta 250 Paul Wickson TY Pinky and Tony Sulivan BSA 280 all tied on six apiece with Ron getting the verdict on furthest clean this time.

Ryan Harris Beta Youth C had to work hard as all sections involved hill-climbs and done really well to finish top of his class the smaller cc machines coping and finding grip as good as any of the bigger models.

On the downside though 80 riders and only five volunteer observers with the remainder meaning club officials giving up their ride again.