Julian Bishop Boxing Day Trial @ Bixhead, 2024
Final ResultsAnd Supplementary Regulations.
For Other Years click on the year below
Previous Winners of Trials at Bixhead (Majority held on Boxing Day.)
2024 Jake Evans-Luter
2023 Kurt
Brain
2022 Ben Bowkett
2021 Thomas Moss
2020 Covid19
2019 Thomas Moss
2018 Thomas Culliford
2017 Simon Welch
2016 Thomas Culliford
2015 Ben Bowkett
2014 Ben Bowkett
2013 Kurt Brain
2012 Ben Bowkett
2011 Ben Bowkett
2010 Jake Evans-Luter
2009 Ben Bowkett
2008 Jake Evans-Luter
2007 Ben Bowkett
2006 Barry Husband
2005 Rob Breakwell
2004 Steve Saunders
2003 Rob Breakwell
???? ?
I haven't delved into the archives for pre-2003. But we have a video of when it was used back in the 80's. ed. (And I think I remember finishing my milk delivery job early to observe in 1969'ish. ed.)
Words by Ed.
Page index: Info,
Press Report,
Marshals,
Snippets,
Video,
Section Statistics,
Bike Stats,
Club Stats.
Info
Tree diseases
Forestry venues need extra care. Make sure you bring a clean bike and kit to avoid transferring any of the tree diseases that could be transported from other areas. Likewise, clean your bike and kit after the event before going elsewhere. Advice from FE.
Provisional Results (Version 2 - Scores and bikes corrected {Now with Sec variations and potential awards}) are now linked on the right. please have a look through and check your scores. if you think there may be an error, or I may have made a typo then feel free to email and ask me. I'm happy to check. admin@wgdfmcc.org.uk
More updates, with stats and some pics later...
More about Julian here.
Ben's Press Report
2 rides 16 years apart and 15 marks lost were the numbers behind the story of the winning ride at the annual West Glos & Dean Forest MCC Boxing Day Trial but it was a memorable event for many more reasons.
Welshman Jake Evans-Luter returned to the Bixhead venue in the heart of the Forest of Dean for his third win since his first, back in 2008, and once again proved a convincing winner ahead of Horsham's Jack Taylor and North Berks' Thomas Hawthorne.
The only section Jake couldn't clean was section one, but losing only one 5 and only 3 over the 3 laps of the final 3 sections put plenty of space between him and the remaining podium spots. Off the podium, Joe Bendall was the best of the rest of a gaggle of riders who were all within 10 marks or less, bookended by his brother Henry on his now annual trials outing at Bixhead. Youth B rider Edwyn James threw everything his 125 TRS had, and more to secure a very creditable finish on the top route.
The club/expert class also had a clear winner, Dan Bishop, who headed an experienced pack including Joel Mitson, Dan Sanders, and Kevin Nolan, with former Boxing Day Trial winner Rob Breakwell not far behind.
Club class winner Graham Wignall was another clear class winner, with 125cc rider Harry Bishop second. Harry was part of the team which marked the course out, including his dad and clerk of the course, Ben. The trial is run in memory of Dan's, Ben's, Joe's and Rachael's dad, Julian, who passed away four years ago. He was clerk of the course for this event for many years, and his wife Clare was officiating on Boxing Day too.
Multi-Western Centre Trials Champion Simon Welch has probably not ridden the Sport+ route in his life but he stepped down to this route so he could ride the two stroke twin cylinder Royal Enfield 250, alongside brothers Matthew (Royal Enfield 500) and James (Fantic 125) in a unique “875” combination of bikes which kept dad Tom busy in the run-up to the event. Motocrossing brothers Brad and Dan Thornhill once again swapped start gate for begins cards at this event, with Brad taking second place and Dan let down by mechanical issues.
The Bendall brothers' dad Alf took the win in the sport class, just ahead of Mike Ellis on his BSA C15, and Colin Jones. The youngest of the Welch family entrants, Alex and Ellyn got round the very demanding course and sections which claimed some 18 non-finishers overall.
The club wishes to thank all observers, and Forestry England for their continued support.
- Provisional Results:
- Expert
- Jake Evans-Luter, Beta Evo 300, 15 marks lost
- Jack Taylor, TRS OneRR 300, 34
- Thomas Hawthorne, Sherco STR 300, 43
- Club/Expert
- Dan Bishop, Gas Gas TXT 250, 17
- Joel Mitson, Beta Evo 300, 27
- Dan Sanders, Sherco ST-F 250, 33
- Club
- Graham Wignall, Vertigo RSR 250, 18
- Harry Bishop, Beta Evo 125, 27
- Steve Clift, Gas Gas TXT GP 300, 32
- Sports+
- Simon Welch, Royal Enfield Turbo Twin 250, 16
- Brad Thornhill, Beta Evo 200, 30
- Thomas Smith, Scorpa SC-F Factory 300, 71
- Sport
- Alf Bendall, Gas Gas TXT 250, 14
- Mike Ellis, BSA C15T 250, 17
- Colin Jones, TRS One RR 250, 28
Marshals
Thanks for all your help, we really appreciate it. It is very noticable that some riders gave up the chance of a ride to help the sport and their fellow riders. Chief Marshal Darren Thomas.
Snippets
Those past a certain age will remember that Jake is not a new winner having wins spanning 16 years, a record previously held by Ben Bowkett with a 15 year span. If our records were complete then we might find Steve Saunders toppling Jake. (Has anyone got some of our old results sheets? Mr Pye? Steve? Anyone?)
It was great, and entertaining, to see some superb classic machinery out. How often do you see bikes like that in events with a serious reputation like the Bishop's Boxing Day. (Check out the makes ridden today.)
Speaking of old kit, scroll on down and check out Ben's video for some hilarious antics from the old bikes and some of the old riders - And older (Oops! I mean more experienced, obviously.) marshals!
Video
WG's Roving Reporter Ben Falconer's Video. Don't finish counting crashes until the end, you may be quizzed on this later.
Section Statistics
| Section | Score Incidence | Tot | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | Marks | Avg |
| Expert | ||||||||
| 1 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 72 | 2.4 |
| 2 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 50 | 1.67 |
| 3 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 1.43 |
| 4 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 54 | 1.8 |
| 5 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0.63 |
| 6 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0.23 |
| 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 77 | 2.57 |
| 8 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.1 |
| 9 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 79 | 2.63 |
| 10 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 72 | 2.4 |
| 11 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 1.27 |
| 12 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 81 | 2.7 |
| Rte Tot: | 162 | 44 | 27 | 69 | 58 | 0 | 595 | 1.65 |
| Club/Exp | ||||||||
| 1 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 55 | 1.08 |
| 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 37 | 0 | 197 | 3.86 |
| 3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 33 | 6 | 0 | 149 | 2.92 |
| 4 | 36 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0.51 |
| 5 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0.9 |
| 6 | 41 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0.31 |
| 7 | 41 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0.24 |
| 8 | 34 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0.55 |
| 9 | 41 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0.37 |
| 10 | 31 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 0.76 |
| 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 112 | 2.2 |
| 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 39 | 0 | 223 | 4.37 |
| Rte Tot: | 299 | 84 | 49 | 80 | 100 | 0 | 922 | 1.51 |
| Club | ||||||||
| 1 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 155 | 2.28 |
| 2 | 53 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 53 | 0.78 |
| 3 | 61 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0.19 |
| 4 | 20 | 18 | 6 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 121 | 1.75 |
| 5 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 155 | 2.25 |
| 6 | 45 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 56 | 0.81 |
| 7 | 31 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 0 | 141 | 2.04 |
| 8 | 16 | 13 | 35 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 102 | 1.48 |
| 9 | 45 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 0.87 |
| 10 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 0 | 203 | 2.94 |
| 11 | 34 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 77 | 1.15 |
| 12 | 9 | 20 | 9 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 133 | 1.99 |
| Rte Tot: | 344 | 123 | 113 | 140 | 100 | 0 | 1269 | 1.55 |
| Sports Plus | ||||||||
| 1 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.25 |
| 2 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 41 | 1.78 |
| 3 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 50 | 2.27 |
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 1.78 |
| 5 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0.52 |
| 6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | >40 | 1.74 |
| 7 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 1.04 |
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 2.23 |
| 9 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 1.12 |
| 11 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 65 | 2.32 |
| 12 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 86 | 3.31 |
| Rte Tot: | 126 | 38 | 48 | 38 | 39 | 0 | 443 | 1.53 |
| Sports | ||||||||
| 1 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 60 | 1.36 |
| 2 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 61 | 1.42 |
| 3 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | >40 | 0.93 |
| 4 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 114 | 2.65 |
| 5 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 95 | 2.26 |
| 6 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 0.69 |
| 7 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 76 | 1.81 |
| 8 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 32 | 0.76 |
| 9 | 37 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0.33 |
| 10 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 92 | 2.09 |
| 11 | 36 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0.35 |
| 12 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 74 | 1.64 |
| Rte Tot: | 278 | 60 | 32 | 83 | 66 | 0 | 703 | 1.35 |
Bike Statistics
| Make. | Qty |
|---|---|
| Beta | 26 |
| Gas Gas | 17 |
| TRS | 16 |
| Montesa | 7 |
| Vertigo | 6 |
| Scorpa | 3 |
| Sherco | 2 |
| Royal Enfield | 2 |
| Yamaha | 1 |
| Velocette | 1 |
| Fantic | 1 |
| BSA | 1 |
Club Statistics
Let's face it, those of us straddling the border in the WG Club don't have so far to travel so that why we're top.
| Club. | Qty |
|---|---|
| West Glos & Dean Forest MCC | 27 |
| Gloucester & Cotswold MC | 8 |
| Stroud Valley MC | 6 |
| North Berks. MCC | 5 |
| Swindon + District MCC | 4 |
| ACU Limited | 4 |
| Kingswood MCC | 3 |
| Wilts Border MC & LCC | 3 |
| Cheltenham Home Guard MCC | 3 |
| South Shropshire MCC | 3 |
| Hookwood Trials Club | 3 |
| Llandrindod Wells & District Motor Club | 2 |
| Redditch MCC | 2 |
| Wye Valley Auto Club | 1 |
| Horsham & District MCC | 1 |
| Normandy MCC | 1 |
| Exmoor Motor Club | 1 |
| Earl Shilton Trials Club | 1 |
| Dudley & District MCC | 1 |
| The Motor Cycling Club | 1 |
| Caerphilly & District MC & LCC | 1 |
| Alton & District MC & LCC | 1 |
| Mendip Vale MC & LCC | 1 |