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Dean Vowden was second in his special and Richard Hayward third in his Class 3 Escort proving there’s still life in old Fords.
Overall winner Ian Moss lifts the front wheels of his Imp engined Lypiatt Special as her restarts on the historic Nailsworth Ladder. Photo by Calvin Samuel. Click here for more of Calvins work.
This years event was organised by a new young team who provided a mix of traditional hills and muddy wooded sections, some new to the event. It wasn’t considered a particularly rough trial but there were more than a dozen retirements amongst the 77 starters.
Nick Badger captured the action on the traditional Ham Mill section
Ian Moss was master of the conditions in his lightweight Lypiatt Special, only picking up three in the woods on Bryans, three on Ricks Revenge and eight on the impossible Ryans Revolution which concluded the trial.
Dean Vowden put up a formidable challenge but dropped three on there deeply rutted Sandras Sink at the beginning of the trial where Ian was the only car to clean the section.
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There were ten clean sheets spread across four classes. Duncan was fastest in his Fugitive from Joe Browning in his Baja.
Long Term Dellow Trialler Richard Andrews looks on while marshalling the restart as Duncan Stephens claws the air on Nailsworth Ladder on his way to winning the Cotswold Clouds. Photo by Calvin Samuel
Stroud attracted their usual full entry for this years Cotswold Clouds which was held in unseasonable dry conditions, resulting in a number of clean sheets.
It was a dry Cotswold Clouds this year and most competitors were able to see the top of the majority of the sections. It was a competitive and closely fought event though. Crooked Mustard was on form but the event was decided on Jerrys and the Special Tests.
Despite the dry conditions Mustard was on form this year, entertaining the usual crop of spectators. Most of the Class Eights went clear but otherwise only Scott Aldridge in the Class 7 Smart Roadster got over the rock step and went on to clean the old hill.
Nick Aldridge and Gary Browning were second and third. Local driver Josh Moss came so near to a win in his Fuel injected, Imp engined Canon but the Class Eight restart on Jerrys proved too difficult and took all the specials out of contention. It was the same in Class Seven where Nick Aldridge also saw his chance at a win slip away.
The Cotswold Clouds is one of the most established events in the calendar, this year being its 60th anniversary. Organised by Stroud and District Motor Club, probably the most Classic Trials orientated club in the country, with a great depth of organising talent in its membership. Consequently there is no shortage of experienced Clerks of the Course and this year the event was in the capable hands of Nigel Moss.
The Cotswold Clouds once again lived up to its reputation, attracting a full entry of 80 cars to tackle its challenging sections under the eyes of an extremely professional organising team.
Winner Aaron Haizelden, in his Class 5 Reliant Scimitar, was the only car outside of Class 8 to climb the notorious Crooked Mustard near the start of the event and thoroughly dominated the rest of the days proceedings. It was difficult, even for the specials, and only seven of them reached the summit. The old hill took its toll on the machinery and the dead car park soon started to fill up. Alex Wheeler had his front suspension part company with the rest of his Nova. John Cox broke the diff on his Porshe 924 and even Dean Partingtons ultra reliable DP Wasp broke its transmission as did Matt Johnstons Cannon.
Across the road at the top of Crooked Mustard lay the summit of Axe, another long standing section. Competitors emerged covered in the glutinous mud which laid in the sections deep gulley. This clung to the wheels and underside of the cars, slowing many of the cars in the lower classes, some to a complete stop.
Neither of the traditional sections at Nailsworth Ladder or Ham Mill across from the Bear Inn at Rodborough caused to much trouble but that was soon to change.
Bryans by Kevin Sharp
Bryan’s is an unsurfaced track in the woods and got muddier and muddier as the day went on. Some in the higher classes couldn’t even get to their restart let alone pull away from it. Aaron Haizelden picked up his first fail of the day here and even he only got to the two, one mark further than Dave in his similar car.
Aaron and Dave continued their domination when they cleaned the short, sharp, Merves Swerve, a feat only repeated by Ray Ferguson (Liege), Dave Middleditch in the Top Gear Dutton Phaeton and ACTC Secretary Bill Bennett in his MG J2, the only Class Two car in the event.
Having raised his recently acquired Beetle after the Exeter Lee Peck tackles the blast through the trees at Climperwell. Stroud had drafted in some heavy machinery before the event to improve the section. Photo by Calvin Samuel Click Here for more of Calvins Work
The innocuous looking Bulls Bank restart is there to trap the unwary on its polished stones and this year its victims included Mark and James Smith. You can view their on James InCar Video.
Wicked Juniper by Kevin Sharp
Jerrys the penultimate section, a very muddy climb through the trees. Then there was Talbots Terror with headlights necessary in the gathering gloom for the early numbers and in the proper dark for those running towards the back. Aaron Haizelden dropped one here but it didn’t matter, he was hands down winner of this years Cotswold Clouds.
Ian Moss was first overall in his familair immaculate Imp. Ian dropped nine marks, one better than Matt Facey (BMW) who in turn was was one in front of early leader Sam Holmes in his Class Four Beetle. Continue reading “Tough Cotswold Clouds”
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Ryan Eamer (Cannon) was the provisional winner of a closely fought battle with Tris White (Troll), Richard Hayward (Escort) and Dave Haizelden (Reliant Scimitar)
Simon Jones captures Ryan Eamer working hard to get away from the Bulls Bank restart
Videos from Crooked Mustard by Duncan Stephens, Mike Eliis’s Dad and Duncan Stephens
Stroud and DMC received their usual full entry for their well established trial. The first half of the route included many traditional hills, some dating back before WW2, even if some like Crooked Mustard have changed their name in the intervening period! Continue reading “Tough Cotswold Clouds”
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Dean Partington won the Cotswold Clouds on 5 February in his DP Wasp. Aaron Haizelden was 2nd overall in his Reliant Scimitar SS and everyone needs to watch out if he ever turns out in a Class 8 car.
Once again Stroud and DMC put on a well supported and hugely popular event which still retains many of its historic hills.
Competitors rated it a very tough, but not rough, event and there were some telephone number scores when the final results were published.
However, overall winner Dean Partington only lost marks on two hills in his Class 8 DP Wasp. The experienced Dean was chased home by two of the younger participants in the sport, Aaron Haizelden and Craig Allen, displaying their mastery of Clerk of the Course Carl Talbots difficult sections.
Dave Cook pictures Dean Partington cleaning Crooked Mustard on his way to winning the Cotswold Clouds
Dean dropped his only five marks on Pheasants Run, one better than fellow DP Wasp driver Mike Chatwin. These weren’t the lowest scores on this section but they both cleaned all the others. Deans success came when, along with Mike, Aaron Haizelden (Reliant Scimitar) and Nick Cleal (Peugeot), he was in the elite group that came out the top of Merves Swerve.
It was a very tough trial with the rain making Axe a real mud bath and Cowcombe Wood becoming so slippery the sections were cancelled as the access tracks were becoming dangerous.
Mike Workman won The Cotswold Clouds after beating an equal scoring Tris White on Special Test Times. Kelly Thomas was third in Paul Bartleman’s Troll only one mark behind.
Cotswold Clouds Winner Mike Workman spinning to a halt on Merves Swerve(Picture by Dave Cook)
Sunday 7th February, and seventy five crews travelled to the secure parking area and start of the Cotswold Clouds near Stonehouse. Each of the classes were represented, five and six been the smallest with four in each. The Clouds saw the début of two brand new cars in experienced hands. Nicola Butcher in her long awaited swing axle 1300 Beetle, and Paul Allaway in his even longer awaited Nova GTE. Nicola was to have a very trying day as the engine didn’t pull very well, but was awarded the Ian Moss trophy for best presented car.
The first section was Crawley, just down the road from the start, where you pass the finish on the way to the section. The road sweeper and marshals were busy keeping the main road clear of mud, although it was a bit disconcerting to find the tractor heading towards you as it kept the road clean! Passing the sensitive houses at the bottom with great care and onto a gently meandering section with three gutters running across. These are no normal gutters as they had been built up in big speed humps with sand bags! A slow approach was needed but five competitors were adjudged to have stopped whilst traversing them which had a huge effect on the results.
A short run down the road to Dursley where Crooked Mustard awaited. Whilst waiting it soon got round that the hill was on top form, especially for the early cars. By the time Dave Haizleden arrived in car 37 only a handful of class 7’s and 8’s had been successful. Dave was the first “saloon” up the section with Duncan Stephens passengering so far forward he cracked the windscreen with his head somewhere on the section. He never worked out where as couldn’t find a bruise!! Made of hard stuff these sporting trial guys!! Special mention must also go to Giles and Keith Sanders who were the only other saloon cars to be successful on the day. Classes 7&8 had a much easier time of it though, with twenty two climbs, the majority been class eight. Dave Cook was here once again catching cars at all angles round the bends! One of these included David Shaylor who had borrowed Gary Brownings trial winning Beetle and went onto win the class.
A short loop to get to Axe on the other side of the road, with a holding control beforehand. With a deep area of clay half way up this proved extremely hard for the first twenty five cars with very few successful climbs on an clean/fail basis. Phil Tucker was one of the early successful climbs, his Escort Estate revving hard.
Next was another historic section, Nailsworth Ladder, with Ross & District Motor Club marshalling. It’s great seeing local motor clubs supporting each other in marshalling section in each other’s trials. The ladder had two restart lines for all classes but 1&2. Bruce Aitkin continued to have a very challenging day in his low slung AX, and the Trojan were the only other non-stoppers to fail. Bill Bennett continued his heroic acts in the J2 getting airborne twice on the step!! Dean Partington was in full confidence mode, backing right off even before the front got to the step. The higher re-starters generally didn’t have too much trouble provided they moved off the restart with some pace.
Ham Mill was just across the common at the top of the Ladder, with a restart on the right hand bend for some classes on polished rock, but with plenty of width to choose your line. The section ontinued to finish on grass. The restart caught approximately half the stoppers, including Nick Farmer who was unfortunate to have a puncture, costing him the overall win.
Wicked Juniper came next, gradually works its way further and further into the woods on lots of leaf mould. Just for an extra challenge a restart was in place with a nice long box to choose from. Bill Bennett, Keith Sanders and Emma Robilliard were the only saloons to climb, the latter two with a restart. Carl Talbot had a wheel fall off his Anglia which resulted in a 30 minute job to get him out of the way of the section.
Pheasant Run was a new section in a huge wood complex. You had to go past the section, turn round and come back to it. The early runners started on the track, but this soon became starting straight. The first few feet didn’t see much grip then loads before a slight bends with trees keeping you steady, and then another restart. Bill Bennett continued to excel with another clean, Dave Haizelden was persuaded he should have climbed it afterwards! Giles dropped a three here, but was out-climbed by Bill Rosten’s Imp and Nigel Scotford’s Skoda which cost Giles the overall win. Class seven saw Tubby, Rick Neale, Norman Tonkin (who must have shot gunned the trailer before Ryan or Ben) the only ones away and out of the top.
Following a long trip through the woods and across a horse training ground Merves Swerve was next, with 7&8 having their normal restart just before the bend. Dick Bolt used all his Duratec power under the watchful eyes of the noise meter to be the first climb. Dave Haizelden, Nick Cleal, Bill Bennett, Dick Bolt, Carl Talbot, Giles Greenslade and Keith Sanders were the only saloons to climb this year, as not much grip could be found up the first bit. Various re-starters tried to get out of the tracks but failed and the only way was flat out off the restart. Mike Workman failed to move far, Tubby was the only seven to climb it with Claire working hard in the back. Kelly Thomas using Paul’s Troll this week, Nick Farmer and Dean Partington were the only successful eights.
Into the Highwood complex for the two special tests and two sections. The two special tests were short all forwards simple tests which generally suited early numbers before the mud was brought onto the track, or the brave. Worky and Nigel Moss was fastest over these. Onto the sections and Highwood one was on fine form catching a few unwary at the top bend. Highwood two was a real stopper as normal. Nick Farmer was best with a one, but a trip into the trees on the previous section cost him dearly.
Climperwell was next running up the side of a country lane with a restart for all, and a couple of deviations on the way to slow you down. The restart caught all that came rushing up to it and inconveniently parked with the wheels against a tree root! Under the watchful eyes of South West Chairman Paul Parker.
Next were the two fearsome Blue Banks sections and their tricky restarts, which have caused so much heartbreak in the past, costing many an overall win. Who were they going to stop this year? Keith Sanders failed the second costing him overall, Norman Tonkin failed both, possibly due to never seeing them before, but Dean Partington didn’t have that excuse but was struggling selecting second gear and rolled back on each.
The finale was at Station Lane, with many competitors parking up and watching after theyfinished. Tim Whitney caused a few issues in his Imp repaired after the Kyrle, as reverse had broken. Then Neil Robins high revving BMW finally broke its diff, but there wasn’t much of a hold up, despite the length of the section. As time went on it got a little easier until the ruts got deep. Nick out climbed Dave in class one and was the only clear. Bill was once again in super determined mood and climbed out of the top, having been on valve bounce all the way. No class three looked like climbing due to ground clearance issues. Giles and John White were the only fours up, Keith the only five, as was Dave Shaylor in six. Late on Tubby got stuck in the ruts, and despite lots of bouncing which got the car moving again he had stopped for a four which cost him the trial. Next up was his Troll which had been leant to Mark and Mandy Hobbs for the day who had big grins at the finish having competed for the first time in many many years.
Very fittingly Mike Workman won overall with his grandson passengering. Next were the “if only club” competitors of Tubby, Kelly, Giles, Keith and then the extraordinary Bill Bennett’s MG.
Best Overall
Mike Workman (GVS)
7
Class Winners
1
David Haizelden (VW Golf GTi)
11
2
Bill Bennett (MG J2)
32
3
Carl Talbot (Ford Anglia)
27
4
Giles Greenslade (VW Beetle)
9
5
Keith Sanders (Reliant Scimitar)
11
6
Dave Shaylor (VW Beetle)
30
7
Tristan White (Imp)
7
8
Kelly Thomas (Troll)
8
We have been publishing stuff about Classic Trials on the Web since 1995 and always appreciate feedback. Comments, Corrections, Criticism & Concerns are all welcome. You can leave a comment to have your say here on this web site or our Social Media
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