Category: Lands End

Lands End 2025

Still under construction so keep checking back

Under Construction – Keep checking back as the story develops

This years event eschewed the traditional multi start points and everyone headed for the Bridgwater Rugby Club to do battle with Pete Harts first Lands End Trial.

It’s a dark night with rain falling as John Wheeler snaps the activity at Scruitineering. Outside is Werner Boeykens who came from Belgium in his 2CV. Meanwhile inside the tent Jon Moores gets some admiring attention to his newly built Ford CMR. Warren Blains Midget is on the right. Sadly his trial came to an end at Bluehills. (Photo by John Wheeler)

Felons Oak

Beggars Roost

Oliver Hicks Class 2 Dellow Mk2 waiting for its turn at Beggars Roost at Barbrook. The Dellow Register had five cars on the entry list but unfortunately Tim Pellowe and Steve Lister were non starters.

The historic section was quite smooth the year.

Riverton

It was still dark when later the later numbers came to Riverton. The long track through the woods before the section was very muddy as was the bottom half of the section. The section started downhill and a lot of cars scraped the bottom as they reached the bottom with the restart just in front of them. Fortunately this was restricted to the competitive machinery in B, 7 and 8

The first timed test was only a few hundred yards from the Riverton exit and this was a nice straight forward affair.

Sutcombe

It was light as the tail end of the field descended the picturesque track leading down to the start of Sutcombe.

A trio of Cornish step through riders had slipped back down the field amongst the Class 0 cars after navigation issues during the night. They were still cheerful but planned to drop out after Wilsey Down as some of their bikes were feeling the strain of the rough sections. Along with the Outfits and Adventure bikes they wouldn’t have to restart but the front wheel drive cars did.

Darracott

Steven Price didn’t need the assistance of the recovery tractor. (Photo from a Jane Hunt Vidcap and a bit of ai)

There were no restarts this year but the section has become noticeably rougher with a lot of loose rock on the corners.

There was a different holding control this year. The traditional approach via the site of the old Hobbs Choice Special Test and approach to the XXXX section had gone, replaced by a stop in a lay-by just off the main road. Unfortunately this wasn’t long enough necessitating a second line. Later numbers were waiting more than an our here. Some newer trailers got rather impatient and jumped the queue causing ill feeling amongst those waiting their turn.

Cutliffe Lane

Out on the Hartland Peninsula and restricted to the bikes, 6, 7 and 8 Cutliffe Lane was on form with a Class 8 restart.

Wargery Wood

Those that didnt tackle Cutliffe Lane went veto Wargery Wood, a short section with a restart for all on a righthand bend. At some time this had been tarmac. Overtime most of this has broken up and disappeared but there was a bit remaining on the inside of the bend making quite a step if you cut the corner.

Crackington

Video by Speed on Screen

After a long run west down to Bude came the Widemouth Bay control and the spectacular run along the cliff top came Crackington which with very little doctoring this year. The absence of the usual quantity of slime made the section much easier than usual and even the restart for the more capable classes didn’t take the usual toll.

Wilsey Down

Ruses Mill

There was a tarmac timed test in this picturesque location with Class 0 having an observed section as well. Class 0 were running at the back of the field and Edinburgh organiser Mark Gregg decided to call its an day with his Reliant engined Austin Sevens shortly after, feeling under pressure by the ever present course closing car

Warleggan

Video by Speed on Screen

Eddys Brach Line

All competitors in the main trial were scheduled to tackle the two sections at Eddys Branch Line. But on the day only the bikes and classes 7 and 8 amongst the cars had a go as organisers feared last years delays. Competitors were notified by the WhatsApp feed that they were to follow the route card to the section and then follow marshals instructions. As it happened the sections weren’t as difficult for the cars as anticipated although the bikes didn’t find the first section very easy and there were a lot of failures.

Lambriggan

Bike only section between Peranporth and Bluehills

Blue Hills

Video by Speed on Screen

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Videos

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Late Finish for 100th Lands End

The event attracted a big entry, which together with the conditions, led it to finish well after the sun came down.

Its Dark as later numbers attempt Blue Hills 2 watched over by marshals who had little shelter from the wind and rain (Click here for Paul Wheatleys video of his climb)

The MCC wanted to make the 100th Lands End special and their efforts were rewarded with just over 400 entries plus 3o in the Class R all tarmac event. It was a different Lands End, with the route tuned to cope with more than a hundred extra competitors compared to recent times.

The early sections proved relatively easy, but Eddys Branch Line and Blue Hills took their toll as the event drew to a close.

Continue reading “Late Finish for 100th Lands End”

A Different Lands End with an Unhappy Ending

Sadly a well known competitor passed away during the event after a medical emergency.

Organiser Dave Middleditch celebrating with Daniel Sauter and his passenger who came all the way from Switzerland to compete and finish the Lands End Trial in their Chevrolet. Sadly things were to turn sour for Dave when the MCC hierarchy informed him they were not happy with the event. Dave explains what happened and provided an update with the Motorsport UK feedback

Dave Middleditch had promised a different Lands End and delivered with more sections than usual, four special tests, a handbrake test and passage checks to ensure competitors followed the correct route.

Continue reading “A Different Lands End with an Unhappy Ending”

The Lands End on a Motorcycle

Adam Walter Reports

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Peter Browne captures Adam climbing Laneskin on his Yamaha XT

As a biker, one of the most talked about aspects of the any LDT is the weather and so I have to start there.

What absolutely perfect weather we had for the Lands End trial this year. Not a drop of rain and temperatures barely even down to 10 degrees C during the night, over Exmoor! For the first time ever I didn’t get cold! Chilly, but not cold. And staying dry the whole time was a revelation.

So, for the sections (the second most talked about aspect)

The dryness (back to the weather, sorry!) meant that there was plenty of grip almost everywhere this year, aside from the suspiciously wet and claggy Crackington… This was to be the only section that tripped me up this year, although that was more from sliding side to side than lack of grip. Duncan Stephens caught a great photo of where it all went wrong for me.

The organisers gave us class B participants a very nice surprise at Bishops Wood this year

Our restart wasn’t on the dreaded slab. If they could repeat this next year, when it’s bound to be wet and slippery, that would be appreciated.

As for timings

We kept finding ourselves ahead of time this year, but that was a bonus at the end given we started almost 2 hours behind bike number 1 and were wanting to get home (it’s a long event to endure no matter how you look at it). Not being able to hand your control card in early at Wisley Down is a slight irritation – is that designed to stop you having a nice long nap if you get there ahead of schedule?!

As always, huge thanks to everyone involved in putting on this event.

Your time and effort is very much appreciated.

Adam Walter – 113

Lands End Stuff

A Collection of Links to Videos, Photos and as much other stuff as I can find

Blue Hills 1 and Old Blue Hills Click Here to find an Individual Video

Blue Hills Click Here to find an Individual Video

Hoskin Click Here to find an Individual Video

Crackington Click Here to find an Individual Video

In Car and On Bike Click Here to find an Individual Video

Comments, Corrections, Criticism & Concerns are all welcome. Click on the Header to this post and page down to Leave a Reply and that’s also the place to tell us about your trial.

Storm and Tempest on the way to Lands End

Mainly a collection of embeds and links at this stage while I work on a proper report

In Car in Class 0

Blue Hills 1 by Tony Curtis

Blue Hills 2 Videos by Norton Selwood, Tony Curtis, Nigel Yed & Rich Estlick

Laneskin by Phil Parker

Blue Hills 2 by Nigel Yed

In Car with Mark and James Smith

Crackington by Libby Seldon and Tony Curtis

under_construction

Comments, Corrections, Criticism & Concerns welcome:-

Team ADA’s Lands End

By Adam Walter, Class B

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Team ADA happy at the top of Blue Hills

Team ADA went partially back in time for the Lands End trial this year. I kept with my trusty, modern Yamaha XT 225 (Serow) but Dad opted for his 1959 Greeves 197 which he used a few times on the trial in the early to mid 80s. Adrian, meanwhile, chose to tackle the trial on a Honda SL175. I think the aim was to spice things up a little.

The second thing I noticed on the way to Bridgwater from Plusha, after the first which was plenty of blue smoke coming from Dad’s Greeves, was the slower pace we’d be travelling at this year. That being said, we managed to keep pretty well to time throughout the whole trial. The only holdup was at Hackmarsh, if my memory serves me correctly, which opened about an hour late for some reason. Still, it was a chance to have a bit of banter with the other riders.

Continue reading “Team ADA’s Lands End”

Dry Lands End

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Lands End Class 0 Report

Both the weather and sections made this a challenging Lands End for Class O entrants. The night consisted of mild weather and relatively straightforward sections. Come the dawn came rain, wind and tough sections. In particular there were two formidable long forest tracks near Bodmin replacing the taped chicanes of previous years. Amongst the cars Mike Greenwood denied MCC President Jonathan Laver his second Class 0 award by a mere 0.1 of a second. Trevor Gibb was best motorcycle and nine BH Tin and six Copper medals were awarded.

Read More …….

MCC retain their Gold Reserves after a tough Lands End

It was a tough Lands End. Competitors had to contend with heavy rain, high winds, a heavily doctored Crackington and a flooded Blue Hills One. The result was a mere seven Golds in addition to the Class Awards.

Click Here for the Full Report