Isle of Wight trials riders take on New Year Shield in rain and hail

Despite the recent heavy rain, water levels were at a good height as riders assembled — but as the trial got underway, more bad weather swept in, with riders having to contend with torrential rain and hail at times. 

The first hour of the trial ran quite smoothly, until the heavens opened, then water levels quickly rose, with riders deceived by the depth of the brook and its submerged logs. 

A couple of riders struggled, with organisers taking only five sections' results as others closed due to the appalling conditions. 

It led to the Isle of Wight Motorcycle Club committee taking the decision to treat the competition as a practice trial — and not count it as a Winter Championship round.

The experts class only had one competitor after James Stay suffered pre-trials mechanical issues, but it did not stop Tom Richards putting in a brilliant ride worthy of the win, losing only 16 marks. 

In the youth experts, Alfie Haydon managed to pilot his machine around the course dropping 32 marks — a creditable effort in the treacherous conditions.

Adam Morgan took the win over Daryl Biles by three marks, with a score of 15, in the intermediates, Sections 3 and 5 proved decisive, with Morgan in a league of his own. 

In the youth intermediates, the experienced rider in the class, Freddie Death, took the win. 

In the over-50s, Simon Newnham took a comfortable win, with 27 marks dropped, over John Coombes and Andy Scott-Jackson who tied for second.

In the British C, Calvin Wright struggled in horrendous conditions trying to hang on and pilot his 'tank' of a bike through the streams, while Ben Ashcroft was the sole competitor, losing 32, in the open C event.

Meanwhile, in the youth novices category, Connor Shaw showed his improvement — losing only 47 marks, and Blake Buggy, on his electric bike, got back to winning ways in the youth beginners — taking a narrow win and one to remember.