R o W • R U N R EP o R T S • EV EN T S

DECEMBER 2014 NO. 436
Ro W • RUN REPo RTS • EV ENTS
Trail
EDIToR
Greetings!
WaNTED:
RUN REPORTS
RIGHTS OF WAY • NOTICES
BIKE & RIDING GEAR REVIEWS
COVER PHOTOS
Time to dust off Santa’s outfit and make sure friends and
family know what you want for Christmas (last minute
now). A pair of boots, crash helmet, gloves - maybe
waterproofs, or optimistically a NEW BIKE.
Thanks to the hard work put in by our RoW people and
others we will still be riding pretty much all of the lanes
that we rode this year. Quite an achievement with all
those po-faced miserable Nimbys and green-tinged
misguided antis. Now what should we be doing next year
to make life even tougher for them? Good ideas to me at
editor@trf.org.uk of if you have, or can make, the time,
get yourself to the TRF Conference ‘The Way Forward
2015’, see page 4.
There is a lot of time between now and then so go forth
and enjoy!
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year,
Fred Ellison
Editor
YOUR VIEWS ON TRAIL RIDING
RELATED TOPICS
or anything you feel
would be interesting
CoVER PHoTo:
“Trail Riding
in Legoland” On a recent family
visit to Legoland Fred and I were
amazed to find that the TRF had got
there first! Hazel Ellison
COPY DEADLINE:
1st Tuesday of the Month
All contributions to THE EDITOR
Fred Ellison, Sheepcote Farm,
Moor Lane, Wiswell, Clitheroe
BB7 9DG editor@trf.org.uk
BMF Discount Code 2015: TRF15A674
Contents
3
5
7
7
8
13
21
STANAGE POLE
NOTICE BOARD
NATIONAL RIDES
TRF SHOWTIME
LANE CLEARING FOR BEGINNERS
MID WALES TRAIL RIDING HOLIDAY
CHANGING FROM ROAD RIDING TO OFF ROAD
Web Edition created by Ellison Printing t. 01254 883208 www.ellisonprinting.co.uk
Robin Hickin
Interim Managing Director
Even the ultimate trail bike sometimes lets you down
Well most of you will be aware of the
To ensure that the TRF moves forward in the
resignation of Jack Knight our Managing
next year and beyond I have taken on board
Director over the last year. I would like to thank
some of the concerns raised by you in the last
Jack
for
all
the
hard
work
that
he
has
put
in
few months and am proposing to hold a TRF
R?":'18"'4.16$71"'1&76.'%6<"'0/$"16$"0'."10'3/4'B/5:@'
over the last year and prior to that as
Conference on the 25th January 2015. This
Marketing Director for the TRF. Thank you Jack.
conference will be in two parts, firstly to listen
to you as members and secondly to take on
As a result of having no MD at this time I have
board
your concerns and recommendations as
offered to stand in as interim MD while a
to
how
you want the TRF to move forward in
suitable replacement is found. To that end I
the next few years.
have offered to hold the position of Managing
Director for the TRF until our 2015 AGM,
should you wish to elect me that is, at the
reconvened AGM 25th Jan 2015.
Further details of how to book a place at the
Conference/AGM are both on the Web Site
and contained in this edition of Trail.
The reconvened AGM will complete the
agenda from 12th October, with the election of
directors for the coming year.
Robin Hickin
Interim Managing Director
KEEP TO THE LEGAL ROUTE AT ALL TIMES
TRAIL December 2014
2
Trail Riders Fellowship
RECoNVENED aGM
10.30 am 25th January 2015
Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ
Agenda
1. Present
2. Apologies
3. Introduction Robin Hickin
4. By special direction of the Chair of the meeting:
To adopt the Memorandum & Articles of Association, TRF Limited, dated 2010/11/20 and
lodge these with Companies House as adopted, within 15 days of the passing of this
resolution. (copy available in members area of TRF website)
5. Election of Directors
Current Nominations
Directorship
Proposed Director
1
Technical & ROW Director
John Vannuffel
2
Membership & Comms Director
Mike Irving
3
Marketing & IT Director
Mario Costa-Sa
4
Finance Director
John Gardner
5
Managing Director
Robin Hickin
Any further Nominations for directorship of the TRF Ltd need to be notified to the interim MD
by the 1st of January 2015 duly proposed and seconded.
6. To review the amended Memorandum & Articles of Association during 2015, and having
consulted and then having agreed changes at Board level, any agreed changes to be put to
the 2015 AGM in accordance with the notice requirements.
7. Time, Date, Place of next meeting
November 15th 2015
Venue TBC
Reconvened AGM to be followed by
TRF Conference, The Way Forward 2015
3
The Way Forward 2015
PRoGRaMME
Directors Forum 1
11 am-11.45am
Each director to hold their own forum
based on their current responsibilities held.
Directors Forum 2
12.00pm-12.45pm
Each director to hold their own forum
based on their current responsibilities held.
Lunch 12.45pm-1.30pm
Feedback from Forum(s) 1.30pm-2.30pm
Each Directors Forum will be allowed
10 minutes to feedback the salient points
from their deliberations.
Open Forum to discuss
issues raised in
Directors Forum
Managing Director
2.30pm- 4.00pm
Summary & Conclusions 4.00pm-4.30pm
Directors each having 5 minutes to
summarise the way forward.
✄
To book a place at the TRF Conference, The Way Forward 2015 please either email your
intention to attend to md@trf.org.uk include your name, membership number and Local Group or
complete the slip below and send it to:
TRF Managing Director, 42 Model Village, Long Itchington. Southam, Warwickshire CV47 9RB
I wish to attend the TRF Conference The Way Forward 2015, 25th January 2015
Full Name(s)
................................................................................................................................................
Membership Number(s)
................................................................................................................................................
Local Group
................................................................................................................................................
If you have any specific questions you would like to be answered by the directors please include
them with your booking
TRAIL December 2014
4
THE TRF,
SINk oR
5
SWIM?
The last few months for the TRF have been up and down. As far as our mission
goes in maintaining the right to ride the Green Lanes of our heritage we’ve won
a few notable battles (for now) and we have lost a few (hopefully not forever).
Every time we win one though the “other side” open up another two or three
issues, splitting our meager resources still further until we get to the point where
we cannot cope and we let some slide. Looking back through our records it is
clear that where we put up a structured defense we win more than we lose.
Where we do not put in enough effort invariably we lose and this is my point.
The resource I am referring to is not money its time and its effort and how we
use it.
Some one emailed me a few weeks ago chastising me for referring to the “Other
Side” as if this is a war. It is a war, a war of attrition and there are two sides
and the so called “Other Side” want us off the lanes anyway they can. They do
it “en mass” like the recent assault on the DeRegulation Bill which is being forced
to a Stakeholder working group and in the past NERCA where at single stroke
they took a lot of lanes away from us. Or they snipe one lane at a time, dotted
around the country, winning most as they slip by unnoticed or worse still only
noticed at the last minute so the response it is hurried and ill conceived.
The solution lays in the difference between the two sides. The “Other Side” has
a small nucleus of well-organised and connected individuals. They are
passionate and dedicated to their cause, Eliminating Recreational Motor Vehicles
from the Green Lanes. Just as riding the lanes is our hobby, theirs is to close
them to us. The difference being is most of us want to use the little spare time we
have to ride them and the fighting for them is left to a few. Remember earlier in
this article I said those we fight for we generally win and those we don’t we lose.
We have a knowledgeable and skilled nucleus but we only work with a few of
you in a disjointed and reactionary way. Imagine if we could get 3 or 4 members
from each group working together with good communication and connections,
pooling ideas and information. We would multiply our successes exponentially
and really put the “Other Side” on the back foot and scrabbling around for
ideas. The ironic thing is that I actually think that we already have those people
out there in the groups and winning battles. We just need to link up and combine
our resource and the losses will begin to fade away. Generally speaking the law
can be used for keeping the lanes open but better still timely intervention can
and does avoid the need to go legal.
We can change this by working closer together with inspired ROW and PR
leadership. The upcoming TRF Conference “The Way Forward 2015” 25th
January 2015, immediately after the reconvened AGM is where it starts and I
urge every Group Officer and those members that want to help keep our
heritage of Green lanes to be there.
Mike Irving
Communications Director TRF
TRAIL December 2014
6
NoTICE BoaRD
TRF
CONFERENCE
RECONVENED
AGM
10.30 a.m.
25th January 2015
Heritage Motor Centre,
Gaydon, Warwickshire CV35 0BJ
BMF
DISCOUNT
CODE 2015
TRF15A674
This may be used by members to receive
discounts on advanced tickets to any BMF
Shows and to receive discounts on
insurance, travel, breakdown cover and
other BMF member benefits
7
THE WAY
FORWARD
2015
25th January 2015
(following the AGM)
Heritage Motor Centre,
Gaydon, Warwickshire CV35 0BJ
To book a place at the Conference
please either email your intention
to attend to md@trf.org.uk include
your name, membership number
and Local Group or print out and
complete the slip on page 4
RIBBLE
VALLEY TRF
Present meeting venue is due to
close before Christmas. Please
contact Tommy O’Kane
07800 779571 for further info.
Denbighshire
& Dee Valley
off Road
Vehicle
Working Group
I have attended 2 meetings on behalf of the TRF
re various problems: illegal activity, responsible
use, resident complaints on UCR s/Byways and
maintenance etc.
Denbighshire County Council have been using
traffic monitors to ascertain: number of riders,
4x4s, hours of use on 3 routes, one of which is
llegal, to build up a picture and find solutions.
The group includes DCC Personnel, Police,
Natural Resources, LAF, Welsh Minister, Land
Owners, Tread Lightly and Local Councillors.
One of the requests for assistance was for the
Alti y Badi which was provided by a crew
from North Wales TRF who cleared blocked
drainage channels. To move forward more
volunteers are needed to help with various
projects in the area which will be extended out
in future to adjacent councils.
I have previously indicated Council budgets are
under the most severe pressure experienced for
many decades and there is very little budget
available to fund works to maintain these
roads. So if they need repair, to reduce
pressure from locals to close them to save costs,
users will need to help step up to the mark. In
the past a 4x4 group contacted the landowner
and undertook work to cut the hedges which
was well received locally at the time. The
problem reported by the community was that
due to the rutting on the soft ground by
vehicular use, and the level aspect of the track,
surface water ponds in the track and in wet
weather pedestrians tend to have to wade
through the water, which is not ideal in walking
boots. Having moved planning as close as it is
possible to get, I think it is for the TRF and 4x4
users to offer to move the material and work
out how they can do it. If I ask the roads team
to hire in a JCB there is almost no point
involving volunteers in the work, but it is also
unlikely they will fund this.
If vehicle users are looking to raise a positive
profile in the communities where they enjoy the
unsurfaced highway network then completing
works like this would be helpful to counter the
often negative attitudes to vehicle users.
Llanarmon has several of the most popular
unsurfaced roads in the Clwydian Range and
whilst the attitude to recreational off-road
vehicles are not as extreme as those in
LLangollen, we do get infrequent calls to ban
4x4 and trail riders off the un-surfaced lanes
in the area by residents and equestrians. I am
not singling out the TRF for any criticism here.
They clearly did a good job at the Allt y Badi
on the grips and it may be that a Landrover
club should step up to the mark on this one as
a 4x4 and trailer would be of greater use at
this place. It is really now a matter for users to
coordinate who can do it.
Speaking to a number of users shows a large
percentage are from outside the area but use
the Welsh network around Llangollen and are
unaware of the local issues as there have been
a number of meetings in the area trying to close
the network down.
Therefore any volunteers to help with projects
please contact me to keep the network open or
risk closures!!
Aleck Coulson, West Midlands TRF
flights1234@gmail.com
TRAIL December 2014
8
News
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rings.”
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Devon TRF Axe to Exe Event – Spring 2015
No change of venue for our sixth guided trail riding weekend in April 2015. We will again be using
Castle Brake Holiday Park based in Woodbury in the heart of East Devon, chosen for its ideal base
with over 240 legal lanes between the rivers Axe and Exe.
To check the site facilities available go to - http://www.castlebrake.co.uk/index.html
Riding will take place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th April 2015
We endeavour to cater for all riding abilities. The riding starts and finishes at Castle Brake.
An entry of 50 riders (plus 10 reserve) in which all accepted will get to ride.
The cost of the weekend includes £45 for the Devon TRF Group fighting fund
Staying and sharing in fully equipped Holiday Homes, accommodation will be available from 3pm
th
th
Friday 17 through to 10am Monday 20 April, with a full English breakfast on Saturday and Sunday
mornings, Hot Fork Buffet on Saturday evening, followed by a night of chat and bar facilities.
Cost for all this per person; is £164.00
Camping Grass Pitches also available at £119.00 per person
Hard Standing Pitches at £129.00 per person
These prices have risen due to site and catering charges. DTRF has contained costs to minimise the effects.
Any cancellations prior to 2
nd
April 2015 will get a full refund, thereafter will receive £45 only.
For more information or to book a place contact by email to:
a2e.devon.trf@gmail.com
ALL MOTORCYCLES MUST BE ROAD LEGAL.
RIDERS must present current membership cards at registration
Before you ride, you will be asked to declare that: •
•
•
•
You are physically and mentally fit to participate and are competent to do so.
You understand the nature and type of event and the risks involved and agree to accept these risks
even if such risk may involve negligence on the part of the organisers/officials.
You will not seek to claim against the TRF, their organisers or officials, the landowners, or other
bodies or individuals connected with the event in respect of any damage to your property regardless of
the cause, including any damage caused by the negligence or breach of said bodies or persons.
Your motorcycle is road legal and effectively silenced.
RIDERS OF NOISY MOTORCYCLES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE.
FUNDS RAISED GO DIRECTLY TO ENSURING THAT AS MANY DEVON GREEN LANES REMAIN OPEN AS POSSIBLE.
TRAIL December 2014
10
It all started around 56 years ago when my Father Brian
discovered trials riding as a weekend pastime. Having
had many road bikes from a young age and as his main
form of transport, it was a natural progression to get
some off tarmac skills on his BSA 350. Other bikes soon
followed, Greeves followed by a Triumph Cub which he
entered the Scottish 6 days on in 1962.
His first taste of trail riding over 50 years ago was on a
250 Velocette MOV (whatever that is) it apparently
sported luxury extras such as girder forks and a rigid
frame. This was followed by a couple of Triumph Cubs.
Today Brian is 82 and the proud owner of a few vintage
motorcycles including the Coventry Eagle featured in our
picture. His current trail bike is a Yamaha Serow
(sometimes refered to as Japanese rubbish). He is lucky
enough to still be physically fit enough to ride it but
doesn't ride too often these days.
It was sad to see the disbelief shown on my dad’s face as
I notified him of the various lists of lanes now closed that
he had used for so many years. I quote from a note he
wrote “I value the lack of competition. The pleasure of
riding respectfully down country lanes stopping and
listening to nature, contemplating the panorama of
Derbyshire countryside is now my favourite pastime”.
In fact, the recent closure of Stanage (long causeway) has
ruined a long standing tradition of pole grabbing. It has
been the family tradition for many years to stop at the
pole on this lane and grasp it with both hands. We all
did it. Brian made Steve and myself promise to do it for
him if he was not able to, or not around anymore to do
it for himself. Sorry Dad, PDNPA and a few ramblers say
we can’t do that anymore.
It was inevitable that his first born Son, Stephen, took to
trials from a very young age and competed on his DOT,
and then a Bultaco (that would never start) and later on
a Montessa. His first experience of trail riding was when
he was 16 years old when he bought a moped. A Garelli
Tiger cross. I should mention that it is the MK1 version
made in 1972 (he’ll not let me forget it). He still owns the
Garelli and it is now in a ‘better than new’ state. Steve
has been trail riding for over 40 years. In fact he joked
whilst having our photo taken that he actually first rode
Leys Lane back in 1973 on his Garelli.
11
ov
of
by andrew Richardson
ver 120 years
Trail Riding
TRAIL December 2014
12
CoPY FoR
TRaIL
Copy DEADLINE:
The first Tuesday of the month.
Copy:
Via email, typed or handwritten
(please try to make it legible!) to:
The Editor, Sheepcote Farm, Moor Lane,
Wiswell, Clitheroe BB7 9DG,
email: editor@trf.org.uk,
fax: 01254 887999.
photos:
Digital via email on CD or DVD;
scanned originals (high resolution
300dpi jpeg or tiff); or posted originals
(please include an s.a.e for return).
We prefer you not to include your
photos in ‘Word’ documents, if possible
please send images separately.
CAptIoNs:
Please caption your photos!
EmAILINg:
It is best not to place too many images
on one email document.
WORRIED ABOUT YOUR
SPELLING? DON’T HAVE A
COMPUTER?
Don’t let this put you off, send it in and
we’ll sort it out, handwritten or otherwise.
Photographs submitted for publication may also be
used for other TRF purposes.
13
Whereas I get on really well with my brother, we
go to the pub together and ride bikes together, he
is unfortunately really annoying on a motorbike.
The problem is that he is a naturally talented rider,
on the other hand I have always had to work at
being anywhere near to his ability. Any
competition between us usually results in me being
stuck and him bunny hopping his bike around me
with a shout of “you’re in the way”! I recall on
one occasion I’d fallen off and he rode over me
and my bike. He said afterwards that it was the
only grip he could find at the time. Thanks Steve !
Currently Steve rides a Gas Gas 250 and
continues to do so in an annoying manner.
I’m the youngest with a little over 30 years of trail
riding. My Dad made me my first bike out of bits
at the age of six. I don’t remember too much about
it except it looked suspiciously like a Honda C50.
I went on to have various trials bikes such as a
Montessa 50 and a Honda TL125. My first go at
trail riding was also when I reached 16. We lived
near Ringinglow in Sheffield which is yards from
the Houndskirk Byway. I rode it on my Suzuki
TS50 ER in 1982. My next trail bike was a Honda
MTX200R which I owned for 17 years. Since then
I’ve mainly owned KTMs and Yamaha WRs.
Currently I am awaiting delivery of a KTM 350
excf.
There are so many great trail riding times to
mention, we’ve laughed, fallen off, got stuck,
broken down and then laughed some more, and
we still do. Just on fewer lanes these days. Steve
and I travel in a van and trail ride in places such
as Wales or the Isle of Man. These are places
where people still recognise the great enjoyment
that trail riding brings to people like us. They are
happy to have us and the money and jobs that
trail riding tourism brings to their area all year
round. Maybe we can get our local authorities in
Derbyshire to wake up to the same idea and give
us back enough lanes to help local business and
give back my friends and family their right to ride
a fair and reasonable amount of lanes once
Wiltshire Trail Riders Fellowship
WESSEx WaNDERER WEEkEND 2015
May 16th and 17th 2015
A weekend of guided rides for national TRF members hosted
by the Wiltshire TRF Group
Wiltshire TRF is pleased to announce that the Wessex Wanderer weekend will be held on the
weekend of Saturday 16th and Sunday 17h May 2015. An invitation is extended to national TRF
members to join us for a weekend of guided runs led by local run leaders in groups with a
maximum size of 6 riders.
In 2015 we will be moving our base to a new location in the Pewsey Vale, with improved facilities
for campers and an excellent range of beers and food.
Further information and a booking form will be published in the February issue of Trail and posted
on the national TRF Forum.
To INFINITY aND BEYoND
Sarn Helen steps. Photo from James Higgs
TRAIL December 2014
14
Somerset TRF
Charity Fundraiser
for The Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Many of you will have experienced Somerset
TRF ride days open to all, in the Exmoor forests
thanks to an arrangement with a local
landowner. We also have club only events for
members and guests on the same sites. It was
with these in mind that I tentatively suggested
to the landowners that we might use the
construction site of their proposed water park
near Weston Super Mare. The project will
ultimately cover some 50 acres on the Bleadon
levels and will be built using waste soil brought
in from other nearby construction projects to
make banks for the 3 lakes that will be pump
filled from the nearby River Axe. It was the
100,000 tonnes of soil piled into large heaps
and rows that caught my eye, and as it turns
15
out, one or two STRF members nearby.
Two of us went up on foot for a recce and
concluded the 30 acres would be just perfect
for a club day with a variety of heap sizes and
soil types as well as some crushed stone piles
and a shallow flooded area.
After a bit of discussion all was agreed and as
is the norm for the forest sites we use, I brought
up the question of payment. The landowner
was happy for us to use the site for free but
suggested that a small contribution towards the
Cystic Fibrosis Trust would be nice. He and his
wife have been quite phenomenal fundraisers
for the charity since one of their daughters was
diagnosed with the condition over 20 years
ago.
Hugh Loxton
The idea of a proper charity event sort of
mushroomed after a chat with others. I felt we
could do this really well and with the right
publicity, build a few bridges with those who
see us as irresponsible hooligans. We
discussed it at the next club meeting, a
donation per head was suggested along with
a contribution from club funds and the event
was posted up on the forum.
Knowing that much of the soil there was waste
with a few lumps of stone or concrete and that
there were two main tracks that had been
constructed using crushed stone, Ian Gale and
myself gamely volunteered to test the site for
suitability the day before. Armed with bolt
croppers and polythene marker tape, we
removed or marked off numerous pieces of
steel rebar and marked off non available tracks
and areas of the field planted to wheat as well
as a large ditch across the centre that was not
visible behind some tall scrub. After that it was
a case of creating a few tracks through the
scrubby growth exiting some of the dead ends
on the site and testing some of the 30 foot high
hill climbs and falling off on some of the easy
10 foot ones! Ian gamely tested the water depth
and found that if you lay down, it would come
up to your neck. Parts of the site were
reminiscent of the rutted areas on the Welsh 2
day we both did earlier this year and with the
underlying soil being heavy clay the earlier rain
had made more recently levelled areas very
TRAIL December 2014
16
greasy. However, most of the site had a covering of rough
mown grass and the recently tidied subsoil heaps had
plenty of grip. There was also a large grassy mound of
topsoil covering about 2 acres that we designated as a
perfect area for some of our newer converts to trail riding.
With a large plateau on top, uncluttered run off areas and
varying grades of slopes it was ideal for building
confidence.
We had plenty of interest from our forum so we were
expecting around 40 or so riders. Ian and I arrived on site
by 9am to find our chairman Martin already there with
the tents and barbecue. By the time we had made the first
teas, riders were already arriving in numbers. We gave
them a quick briefing on safety and site layout and let them
get on with it. I was a little unsure if people would enjoy it
but needn't have worried. As the first riders returned for
bacon butties and coffee, the feedback was excellent. We
had quite a few guys new to off roading and they were
really happy. The grassy topsoil heap at well over 30 feet
seemed to be the focus of attention with lots of different
climb routes onto the top being the days challenge,
regardless of experience. This seems to be the norm for
our open ride days, give people a good hill climb and that
will keep them entertained all day. As I rode around later
in the day, there were tracks visible all over the site, but it
was clear that people preferred the heaps and tracks
where there was little or no vegetation!
By the time we packed up around 4pm, some 58 muddy
riders had generously contributed. We'd had mostly trail
bikes, one quad, a trials bike and two sidecar outfits. We
also had 3 or 4 junior crossers, who certainly made up
with stamina any shortcomings in skill. We'd also had at
least a dozen interested passers-by enquiring about our
event, useful for promoting the TRF. As far as I know, there
were no complaints either.
Our host arrived as things wound down and was
absolutely thrilled to receive a cheque for £800 which will
make a significant difference to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Somerset TRF would like to thank our hosts, Messrs A and
R House, our members and their guests who made the day
so pleasurable.
We look forward to seeing you at our next Exmoor
ride day.
17
TRAIL December 2014
18
Part 2
DEVoN’S
FINEST
appreciating what you’ve go
by Sean Comber
19
Posing i
a TRILoGY
ot….
in a lane above Alfington
Day 2
Saturday dawned bright and warm again with a bit of low cloud waiting
to be burnt off by the early Autumn sun later in the morning. Today as
usual I had a massively ambitious 120+ mile ride planned. Gary and
Alan who were possibly going to pitch up today did not make it so it was
down to the four of us to crack on south again to take in as many lanes
as possible between home, Honiton and Sidmouth, covering all points
west of the Otter river. Today, as part of the ‘sharing the love’ philosophy
I moved onto and fired up the Serow, my faithful friend, a constant
companion, my rock. She’s easy to ride, light enough, will climb anything
and never breaks down…… (fingers crossed). Ed: Obviously Love should have married her. We limbered up on one of my favourite lanes
at Colliton as per the ride the day before passing Hembury Fort and
riding down a pleasant stony lane to Curscombe Farm. Devon is littered
with hill forts including nearby Killerton and Cadbury; Hembury dates
from the 4th or 5th millennia BC so even older than Eddie….little survives
beyond a faint ring of embankments around the top of the hill, but is very
pleasant in spring when the bluebells are in bloom amongst the beech
trees dotted around. Passing under the A30 and railway line and over
the river Otter we rode up the lovely gentle climb at Alfington which I
only discovered earlier in the summer and it allowed us to cut out riding
through Honiton. Pausing near the top for a quite drink and a comfort
break, we enjoyed the high pressure, hazy view across the Otter Valley,
west towards Exeter and beyond.
We were about to enter a series of lanes which would keep us mostly off
tarmac for the next hour. They are concentrated around Ottery St Mary
on the west side of the river valley running along East Hill ridge south
towards Sidmouth. There are a number of UCRs running off the western
edge of the escarpment and we bounced down one stony track and rode
up another semi technical climb back up onto the ridge before crossing
over and riding down through the woods near Core copse which was a
lovely descent through a Forestry Commission coniferous forest down
over flinty, loose stones which was fun, but would probably have been
even better to ride up. It was a lane I’ve seen before, but never got to
ride, so it was another ticked off my “to do” list. We looped back around
through the pleasant east Devon village of Sidbury and back up onto the
ridge road. A few hundred yards and we were back dropping off on the
west side on another steepish, loose stony track and into the Otter Valley.
Next on the itinerary was Tipton St John, and out to Combe where we
started up a simply dotted UCR, which is by experience less well defined
shall we say than one on the 1:50,000 map bordered with solid black
lines.
These lanes are typically narrow and nadgery, and this lane indeed fitted
this definition. After a bit of a stony climb the lane disintegrated into a
very steep and narrow challenge with obvious wash out erosion from the
hideously wet Winter we endured here, with one side having been
TRAIL December 2014
20
2'&%31*/)(!#!9&7!03$&/!5*0!01)4!5(!'*-!)&#4&'/!-10!01!;1!417&%&'!/#34!"!,-&7!76&'&!"!7#/!;13-;>!U17!$34!$1'-3-;!#-4!&gouged out by flowing water to a depth of at least 3 feet,
thus generating a cavernous gully awaiting unwary
#-106&'!M!)#-&/!3-01!B3201-!C0!k16-!#-4!'14&!4*&!/1*06!01!0#,
travellers. Someone had already started to repair the lane
with dumpy bags full of hardcore allowing options
R#4'#$!a#(8!06&!93'/0!5&3-;!#-!3-0&'&/03-;!4'12!3-01!#!/0'&#$.
regarding which line to take. Eventually half way up we hit
an impasse. The lane was impassable and the only option
3-%1)%&4!#%1343-;!06&!/+1*'&4!'*0!#-4!+#'&9*))(!+3'+*$-#%3;#0
was to ride up a steep incline up and around a tree. I
stopped to survey the situation. The incline was steep but
3-01!06&!/0'&#$.!J#%3-;!/0#'0&4!063/!2'1+&//8!C3$1-!213-0&4!1
not impossible and as long as we carried some momentum
we’d be OK, too little ummphh and we’d topple over into
#-4!-#''17!01!'34&!7#/!3-!9#+0!-17!'34#5)&!/1!"!'&0'3&%&4!06&!C
the gully gouged out by the rain erosion. To provide some
support, Lawrence stood beside the drop off as I aimed the
7&!#))!/3$2)(!4'122&4!417-!06&!'*0!3-01!06&!/0'&#$8!#)$1/0!4
Serow up the 45 degree incline and ‘gunned it’. This may
sound impressive should I be riding a KTM of over 400cc,
7&:%&!6#4!#!;114!/*$$&'!#90&'!#))!#-4!'14&!#)1-;!06&!5&4!#but on the Serow ‘gunning it’ means twisting the throttle a
bit more than usual, the decibels increase to slightly above
a whisper and progress not exactly blurs, but moves along
at a slightly more brisk pace. The Serow dug in and made
excellent progress but I noticed I clouted a truncated tree
root on the left hand side and having made the climb,
stopped and noticed my gear lever bent into a very artistic
and jaunty angle. I parked up and walked back to assist
the others to ride up. Lawrence cruised up, and as usual
Simon’s Suzonda found grip as the mellow twin plonked its
way up, but also caught the same root stump, strategically
placed at a height designed to catch out bikes ridden by
short arses. Eddie was last up and again whammyed it at
the bottom of the climb, but unfortunately spun out and
dropped the bike having lost grip on a cut down tree stump
we had to ride over before ‘gunning it’. Experience is one
thing, the inner enduro expert/child is another, even for
septurians! Picking himself up, he too made the climb look
easy as in fact it did in the video I took. Annoyingly, video
rarely makes things look as severe as they are…… or it
shows the terrain as it is, rather than how we see it in our
minds…..
We set off again with the washout on our right which unless
you were a complete numpty with zero momentum was
easy enough to avoid. Somehow Eddie managed to tick all
of the above and binned it in the gully! He and Simon
extricated the bike and caught me up at to the top of the
lane where it split, deciding that it would be the best place
for Simon and I to straighten out our gear levers so we could
access something other than bottom gear. Finding a decent
bracing bar (lump of wood) combined with a 24mm KTM
rear wheel spanner my gear lever bent back into a similar
position to previously and a quick ride up and down the
21
Lawrence making it look reasonably eas
B13/"%0"(:1<*%2(*+(E$$<(/"1'$%1;E5("1'5
<&!/&0!199!#;#3-!7306!06&!7#/61*0!1-!1*'
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0&$2&'#0*'&/!6#4!&X+&&4&4!MI!4&;'&&/!K
#-4!#'$1*'!$&#-/!5)114(!610>!<&!7&'&!
=7'&/0)&:!63/!;&#'!)&%&'!5#+,!1-01!63/!53,&.
2'1%34&!26101;'#263+!&%34&-+&!19!=06&!$#
Lawrence makes his way along the sunk
-!06&'&!#/!30!7#/!$&-0#)>!d12/!-1!1-&!
-b1(3-;!06&!/*-/63-&!7&!43%&4!417-!
,&!3-!#!9&7!)#-&/!#'1*-4!d00&'01-!#-4!
.!R#/0!03$&!1*0!06&!4'12!3-01!06&!/0'&#$!
03-;!#!0'&&!06&-!4'1223-;!-&#'!%&'03+#))(!
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C&'17!9'1$!06&!%&'03;3-1*/!4'12!#-4!
Matching pair of bent gear levers!
4'(!#90&'!#!$1-06!19!#)$1/0!-1!'#3-8!
-4!1*0!3-01!06&!-&X0!)#-&.!!
sy
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ken stream bed
One for the ladydees...
TRAIL December 2014
22
Me and Simon above Sidmouth
Eating ice cream again (and showing more
flesh), this time at Branscombe
23
following lane confirmed I could select all
the appropriate ratios. Simon decided to
change his lever for a spare in his kit –
smart arse! By now temperatures had
exceeded 20 degrees Celsius which in
anyone’s money is warm and if in helmet
and armour means very hot! We were
‘treated’ to Simon stripping to the waist in
order to ‘wrestle’ his gear lever back onto
his bike. To provide all of the female readers
of Trail an ‘eyeful’ I provide photographic
evidence of ‘the man’, for any red blooded
male, please look away now!
Still, at a year shy of 50, to be considered a
hoodlum is a badge of honour. The view
was, as always, stunning. The sea was like
a sheet of glass I kid you not. Boats, kayaks,
jetskis cut perfect vees’ with their wake
across the quiescent sea surface, and for
one of the few times I wished to be on the
sea rather than on a bike. Looking over the
hedge as the Loddon Vale posse admired
the view I could not help notice the farmers
gathering their crops in this case another cut
of hay as Autumn slowly but inexorably
closed in around us.
Where we bent or replaced gear levers I
realised that the lane we’d just come up was
one I’d seen previously a few times but told
by run leaders not to go down there as it
was mental! Oops no one ever said I knew
where I was going! Now mid morning and
enjoying the sunshine we dived down
another 2 lanes into Tipton St John and rode
due south to take in a few lanes around
Otterton and Ladram Bay, the first being an
interesting drop into a stream. Last time out
the drop into the stream involved avoiding
the
scoured
rut
and
carefully
circumnavigating a tree then dropping near
vertically into the stream. Having started this
process, Simon pointed out the rut which last
time was too deep and narrow to ride and
was in fact now rideable so I retrieved the
Serow from the vertiginous drop and we all
simply dropped down the rut into the
stream, almost dry after a month of almost
no rain, we’ve had a good summer after all
and rode along the bed and out into the
next lane.
Having enjoyed a drink and a few energy
bars we remounted and rode into Ladram
Bay, a place probably unknown to many but
a fantastic natural feature of red sandstone
pillars jutting out of the bay. Other countries
would probably made a lot of them, but
here in Devon, we build a café, stick in a
caravan site and leave it up to the public to
find it. We followed our tracks north, once
more riding through North Star (how on
earth did it get that name) and back to
Northmostown, not exactly north most town
of anywhere particular really, other than
before you get to Newton Poppleford, still,
hell, if you’ve got it flaunt it! I was now in
vaguely familiar territory and knew the boys
would enjoy the slightly technical (in
Summer/early Autumn) ride up and around
Bulverton Hill and into the back of Sidmouth.
We hit the garage for lunch at the busiest
15mins of the year and grabbed sarnies
and gas whilst Simon visited his parents. He
arrived back before we’d paid for the fuel,
still the chap on the till did not seem
flustered, hey, TID, ‘This Is Devon’, relax
dude! As I ate my prawn mayo sarnie –
yummy! Simon had arrived back and
immediately got deeply involved with a
young lady in distress with a VW which had
refused to open its filler cap. After much
fiddling and after Simon’s ineffective
interference it got bodged open – maybe he
should have taken his top off again – East
Devon birds go crazy for pastie, short
We rode up the classic old coast road to the
lookout point overlooking Sidmouth, which
is always a bit awkward as it ends up as a
footpath at the viewpoint and you can
guarantee a few queer looks if you ride
bikes up there on a Saturday when walkers
are out and about. Still it is a legal right of
way, still one feels there should be better
signage to avoid legal trail riders
reputations being trashed as ‘hoodlums’.
TRAIL December 2014
24
Thames Valley 50 somethings I told him….
From Sidmouth we headed east for a road run
(for a Serow that is) to Branscombe and a series
of half a dozen lanes including a nice climb up
past Gays Farm. Before that we hit the beach
at Branscombe for an icecream – well it would
be rude not to, wouldn’t it! The first lane is an
interesting one, a tarmac road down to Edge
Barton and just before reaching the posh manor
you dive off to the right through a field with a
warning about a bull in the field. At the bottom
of the field the lane becomes hedged and
eventually turns into the manor’s drive.
At the beach, again there were plenty of late
Summer/early Autumn visitors, even older than
your average TRF riders age (ahem) enjoying
the warmth of the pre equinoxal sun. Ice creams
all round and even Eddie had learnt how to
keep his ice cream in his cone and we lazed on
the beach and chatted away time. Does life get
better than this? Looking across east to the chalk
outcrop towards Beer head or west to
Branscombe Ebb, the sea glassy calm, gulls
becalmed on the water, the surface only broken
by the odd shoal of sprats or sandeel being
chased by iridescent mackerel lurking under the
surface. We’d have laid there on the shingle for
the rest of the afternoon if it was not for their
leader seeking to drive them on – they’ve come
to ride lanes I said – get yourselves in that
saddle! Upon looking to leave, the owner of a
rusty DRZ400 with dodgy road looking tyres
came for a chat. Knowing a Devon TRF member
and saying hi, we chatted for a time before
hitting the trail. A DRZ400 in Branscombe,
never, ridden the local lanes…. I don’t know –
what ever next? We cruised out of the village
and up the aforementioned lane past Gays
Farm, a decent climb with a couple of hairpins
and loose rocks to keep us honest. At the top
we opened one gate and entered a narrow lane
running down through a copse and which has
been extensively repaired with the help of
Devon TRF graft, in particular Chris Cole who
can be thanked for getting the lovely lane reopened. Riding another poorly signed lane
across a well manicured apron of grass brought
us back out on the A3052 and now we were
heading north. A brief stop to remove yards of
binder cord from Simon’s back wheel we rode
another nice UCR/BOAT in Morganhayes
Covert (the origin of these names must be
fascinating) and onto Colyton. A small UCR,
unsigned was suggested to cross a field through
a 5 barred gate. I’m always a bit reticent of
taking off across fields, but putting faith in my
map and riding down the hedge line we arrived
at a lovely ford across the River Coly, currently
at very low flow what with the good Summer
just past. I then remembered riding the lane a
few years ago when as Loddon Vale I had a
/!R1441-!S#)&!"!6#4!#!7&&,&-4!417-!3-!E&%1-!5&3-;!/617$(!5'106&']3-])#78!L#+:/!$#0&!#-4!9&))17!E&%1-!BFT!$&$5
25
weekend down in Devon being shown around
by Pete Bull and on that day my brother-in-law,
Mac’s mate and fellow Devon TRF member
Steve.
The next half an hour or so was pleasantly spent
in the ….hayne lanes, Rockerhayne,
Hamberhayne, Blamphayne, Streathayne,
Downhayne, Hooperhayne, the list goes on and
on….the hamlet namers obviously were either
(a) the same family or (b) rather unimaginative.
The lanes are long, easy and always enjoyable.
We looped around all of them using the most
efficient route possible, which for me, may not
be that logical, even though it may have seemed
like that at the time. The boys, the poor little
lambs were feeling a bit tired so we cut out a
loop around Membury and made towards
Honiton picking up a few lanes into the east side
of Honiton. The penultimate one was quite
overgrown and broken ground under tyre,
bouncing down the hillside, tucked between the
hedgerows sprouting vicious brambles hell bent
on lacerating our faces. A final blast up and
over Hembury Fort, much more interesting
riding up than down earlier in the day and
having a go on Simon’s turbine smooth
Suzonda on the last lane of the day at Colliton
was a very mellow finish to the day. Cold beers
all round and a trip down the road to the rather
excellent local Chinese rounded off a perfect
day. To be continued...
Joining Leaflets
-!#'1*-4!5(!c&0&!a*))!#-4!1-!06#0!4#(!
& Dispensers
5&'!C0&%&.!!
Eddie crossing the River Coly
Have you got
yours yet?
Herts TRF have
already placed
more than 50 in
local dealers
To order your
supply contact
print@trf.org.uk
TRAIL December 2014
26
DI S PL aY aDV ERTI S I NG
27
1/4 PaGE
£72
1/2 PaGE
£132
FULL PaGE
mEmBER
CLAssIfIE
WANTED spare or damaged seat for Honda CRF2
down to a lower seat height. Trevor Birkbeck 07836 3
658486.
Members Classifieds: Bikes, Riding Gear
CHARGE Enclose membership number. ALL
Advertising to be paid for - £1 per line, £5 minim
all classifieds with payment if applicable to THE ED
Farm, Moor Lane, Wiswell, Clitheroe BB7 9DG. Tel:
Fax: 01254 887999 editor@trf.org.uk
£248
ACCommoDAtIoN
HOLIDAY LODGES IN MID WALES (owned by
suited for motorcycle enthusiasts. Large site with sa
standing for bikes and trailers. Utility/boot room in a
workshops for those essential repairs. Self catering
grocery supplies and home cooked meals delivere
Excellent rates for TRF members. See our websi
revivals.co.uk or telephone 01597 840308 for
information.
Contact Fred Ellison
RIDE LIMOUSIN BIKERS B&B CENTRAL FRANCE
hire holidays in the Limousin. We provide everything y
trail bike tours, self guided and GPS hire also
www.ridelimousin.com or call on +33 (0)9 53 50 86 4
01254 823893
editor@trf.org.uk
See the TRF on Bikechannel Sky & Virgin &
YouTubehttp://youtu.be/8iT9cTpslq8
Rs
EDs
230 for me to cut
342312 or 01765
r etc FREE OF
L Commercial
mum. Please send
DITOR, Sheepcote
: 01254 823893
N
member). Ideally
afe, secure, hard
all, fully equipped
g or provision for
ed to your door.
ite: www.radnora brochure and
E Fly ride trail bike
you need! Guided
o available. Visit
49.
TRAIL December 2014
28
WHERE TO FIND THE GROUPS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
Cornwall
Devon
Somerset
Dorset
Isle of Wight
Southern
Axe Vale
Bristol
Wiltshire
Loddon Vale
South London & Surrey
Sussex
Kent
Hertfordshire
Essex
Suffolk
Norfolk
Cambridge
Oxford
Gloucestershire
South Wales
Mid Wales
North Wales
Worcester
Black Country
West Midlands
South Northants
West Anglia
East Midlands
Peaks
High Peaks & Potteries
Derbyshire & South Yorks
Lincolnshire
East Yorks
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
Manchester
Lancashire
Ribble Valley
West Yorks
Cumbria
Teesside & North Yorks
Northumberland
South West Wales
Virtual Peak
South East Wales
41
39
40
37
36
35
23
22
25
24
21
27
26
28
19
10
9
6
29
4
2
17
18
16
3
1
33
29
8
7
34
32
31 43 30
20
44
42
38
5
1415
11
12
13
GROUPS
AXE VALE David Clegg, Tel: 01275 373652 (Home),
Mob: 0793 1220895. dccjej@talktalk.net 2nd Tues, 8pm,
Windmill Inn, Nore Road, Portishead.
BLACK COUNTRY John Oseland, Tel: 01902 656011
1st Tues, 9pm, The Longford House, Watling Street, Cannock.
BRISTOL Glenn Summers, Tel: 07708 407061
4th Mon, 8pm, Portcullis, 130 High Street, Staple Hill,
Bristol BS16 5HH.
CAMBRIDGE Tony Lacey, Tel: 07753 820520
tonylacey2002@gmail.com 1st Thurs, 8.00 p.m., The Seven
Wives, Ramsey Road, St. Ives PE27 5RF.
CORNWALL Adam Hedley, Tel: 01579 349217
3rd Thurs, 7.30 - 8.00 p.m., The Borough Arms, Bodmin.
CUMBRIA & CRAVEN Roger Harris, Tel: 01539 725198
2nd Tues, 7.30pm, The Bluebell, Heversham - 1 mile N of
Milnthorpe on the A6.
DERBYSHIRE & SOUTH YORKSHIRE
Bob Morley, Tel: 07836 680323 bobmorleycbs@gmail.com
2nd Tuesday, Clowne Community Centre, Recreation Close,
Clowne, Derbyshire S43 4PL.
DEVON John Heal, Tel: 01626 366860
2nd Tues, 8pm, The Dolphin Hotel, Station Road, Bovey
Tracey, TQ13 9AL.
DORSET W. John Williamson, Tel: 01929 553640
Mob: 07850 727873 1st Tues, 8pm, Royal Oak Hotel, Bere
Regis, Dorset BH20 7HQ.
EAST MIDLANDS Clifford Austen, Tel: 07789 483600
2nd Wed, The Clock Warehouse, London Road, Shardlow,
just off the A50.
EAST YORKSHIRE Martin Hutton, Tel: 07985 151185,
martin@securerail.co.uk 2nd Tues, 8pm, The Bay Horse,
Market Place, Market Weighton, YO43 3AN.
ESSEX Cliff Eaves, Tel: 07515 330423
2nd Wed, The Wheatsheaf, Maldon Road,
Hatfield Peverel, Essex.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE James Osborne, Tel: 01531 822728
1st Wed, 8pm, Wagonworks Club, Tuffley Ave., Gloucester.
hello@trfglos.org.uk, www.trfglos.org.uk
HERTFORDSHIRE John Fox, Tel: 01462 811654,
foxtm@btinternet.com 2nd Wed, 8.30pm, Shire Park Social
Club, Shire Park, Welwyn Garden City AL7 1GB.
HIGH PEAK & POTTERIES Steve Hyde
Tel: 07931 728956. 2nd Thurs, 8.00pm, The Black Horse,
381 Leek Road, Endon, ST9 9BA.
ISLE OF WIGHT 1st Wed, 8pm, The Eight Bells Inn,
Carisbrooke, Newport, IOW.
KENT Steve Neville Tel: 01474 742705
2nd Tues, 8.30p.m. for 9pm, The Anchor & Hope, South Ash
Road, Ash (Nr Sevenoaks), Kent TN15 7ER.
LANCASHIRE Keith Westley, Tel: 01704 893215
1st Tues, Farmer’s Arms, Bispham, Parbold.
LINCOLNSHIRE Joss Bourne, Tel: 07743 826930
600jossxr@gmail.com 2nd Tues, 8pm, Woody’s, Woodland
Waters, Willoughby Road, Ancaster, Grantham NG32 3RT.
LODDON VALE Candice Wastell,
2nd Tues, Swan Inn, Basingstoke Road, Three Mile Cross,
Reading, Berks RG7 1AT. joinus@lvtrf.co.uk
MANCHESTER Phil Kinder, Tel: 07809 647293
2nd & 4th Mon, 8.30pm, The Sycamore Inn,
4 Stamford Square, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6QX.
MID WALES Marianne Walford, Tel: 01686 430522
marianne@trailrides-wales.com Last Thurs (exc Dec), 7.30pm,
The Angel Hotel, High Street, Llanidloes, SY18 6BY.
NORTHUMBRIA Nic Gilbert, Tel: 07940 133871
1st Wed, 8pm, The Staffs Club, Blaydon, NE21 4JB.
NORTH WALES Neil ”Timpo” Thompson, Tel: 07980 555874
1st Wed, 8pm, The Griffin Inn, Mold Road, Mynydd Isa,
CH7 6TF. Ref SJ 257 638.
NORFOLK Terry Reeve, Tel: 0771 5013 665,
info@norfolktrf.org.uk 2nd Wed, 8pm, White Horse,
Trowse, Norwich.
OXFORDSHIRE Bill McIntyre, Tel: 07731 664482
oxford@trf.org.uk 3rd Thurs, 8pm, The Gladiator Sport &
Social Club, 263 Iffley Road, Oxford, OX4 1SJ,
next to Ridgeway VW Garage.
PEAK DISTRICT Alan Gilmore, Tel: 01332 553246
1st Thurs, 8pm, The Joiner’s Arms, Church Road, Quarndon,
Derby.
RIBBLE VALLEY John Sinnett, Tel: 07980 558405,
johnsinnett@btinternet.com
2nd Tues, 8.30pm, Brown Cow, Chatburn, Clitheroe (off A59).
SOMERSET Colin Blackburn, Tel: 01984 640987,
colin.blackburn2@btinternet.com 2nd Thurs, 7.30pm.
The King Alfred Inn, Burrowbridge, Bridgwater,
Somerset TA7 0RB.
SOUTHERN Colin Lindstrom Tel: 07818 404240
3rd Thurs, 8pm, Southampton & District MCC, Cranbury
Centre, Cranbury Road, Eastleigh, Hants SO50 5HT.
SOUTH LONDON & SURREY Steve Sharp, 0208 773 4204
4th Tues, 8.30-10.30pm, Ripley British Legion, 25 Rose Lane,
Ripley, Woking, Surry GU23 6NE.
SOUTH NORTHANTS Andy Gerrard, Tel: 07803 600571
2nd Monday, 9pm, The Old Sun, 10 Middle Street, Nether
Heyford, Northampton NN7 3LL.
SOUTH WALES Christian James, Tel: 01446 410073
1st Thurs, 8pm, Ty Nant Inn, Morganstown, Nr Radyr CF15 8LB.
SOUTH EAST WALES Gareth Watts, Tel: 07791 149494,
wattsatllan@aol.com 2nd Wed, Hafodyrynys Hotel,
Hafodyrynys, Crumlin NP11 5BE.
SOUTH WEST WALES Terry Brooks, Tel: 07910 050001
Last Tues, Corner House Pub, Commercial Street, Ystalyfera,
Swansea.
SUFFOLK Richard May, Tel: 01787 374073
Last Wed, Manger Pub, A134 Sudbury Rd, Bury-St-Ed.
SUSSEX Andrew Wardrobe, Tel: 07414 529298
Last Thurs, Ashington Social Club, Rear of Red Lion, A24,
9 miles North of Worthing.
TEESSIDE & NORTH YORKS Leo Crone, Tel: 01325 463815
(office hours only) www.nytrf.co.uk 3rd Tues, 8.00 p.m., The
Three Tuns, 54 Market Place, Thirsk, N. Yorks YO7 1LH.
VIRTUAL PEAK GROUP
Paul King, kingy@virtualpeaks.co.uk Tel: 07966 289778
This is a virtual group at www.virtualpeaks.co.uk
WEST ANGLIA Geoff Groom, Tel: 07929 275465,
ggroom1@btinternet.com 1st & 3rd Thurs, Scott Bader Social
Club, opp. Parish Church, Wollaston, Wellingborough.
WEST MIDLANDS Simon Reid, Tel: 07912 303083
1st & 3rd Wed, Wilmcote Mens Club, Stratford on Avon.
WEST YORKSHIRE Andy Porter, Tel: 07562 978604
chair@wytrf.org.uk. New member’s contact: Howard Smith
rides@wytrf.org.uk 1st Thurs RoW 6.30 pm, Main Meeting
7.30pm, Cue Gardens, Stadium Mills, Stadium Road,
Bradford BD6 1BJ.
WILTSHIRE Jim Cairnduff, Tel: 07840 352996 1st Tues,
8 p.m., The Fox & Hounds, Nursteed Road, Devizes SN10 3HJ.
WORCESTERSHIRE David Walters, Tel: 07767 204730
1st Tues, White Hart, Fernhill Heath, Worcs.
TRAIL December 2014
30
TRF oFFICERS & CoNTaCTS
Managing Director:
Jack Knight
07854 593323 md@trf.org.uk
30 Braunston Road, Knossington, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8LN
Financial Director:
John Gardner
01695 622792 finance@trf.org.uk or
john.gardner119@gmail.com 119 Hallbridge Gardens,
Up Holland, Skelmersdale WN8 0EP
Technical Director &
RoW Officer:
Robin Hickin
01926 814164/07890 550847 row@trf.org.uk
42 Model Village, Southam, Warwickshire CV47 9RB
Membership Director:
Mario Costa-Sa
07721 480000 mario@trf.org.uk
Communications Director:
Mike Irving
07860 813578 communications@trf.org.uk
‘Meadowlands’, 38 Meadow Lane, Earith,
Cambridgeshire PE28 3QE
Membership Secretary:
Debbie Hutchinson 07966 438907 memsec@trf.org.uk
Marcliff, Bakers Hill, Exeter, Devon EX2 9TE
Treasurer:
Arnold Brewer
01865 741410 treasurer@trf.org.uk
2 London Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7PA
Editor:
Fred Ellison
01254 823893 Fax: 01254 887999 editor@trf.org.uk
Sheepcote Farm, Moor Lane, Wiswell, Clitheroe BB7 9DG
PR Officer:
Richard Simpson 07812 402021 pr@trf.org.uk
I. T.:
Adrian Allen
web@trf.org.uk
Webmaster:
James Osborne
webmaster@trf.org.uk
Equestrian Events Liaison:
Mark Holland
01989 565249/0845 3308892/07941 427774 (mob)
equestrian@trf.org.uk Corn Farm, Devauden, Chepstow NP16 6NS
STaTIoNERY & LEaFLETS
Display Equipment:
Brochures:
Mike Irving
Fred Ellison
07860 813578 communications@trf.org.uk
print@trf.org.uk
REGIoNaL RoW aDVISoRS
North RoW Contractor & Legal Advice
Derbyshire & Peaks RoW Contractor
Wales RoW Contractor
South West RoW Contractor
South East RoW Contractor
East & West Midlands
Alan Kind
hodology@me.com
David Giles
gilesdavid@talktalk.net
Tim Stevens
bobweight@byconnect.com
Dave Tilbury
southandsouthwest@trf.org.uk
John Vannuffel southeastroads@trf.org.uk
Robin Hickin
row@trf.org.uk
TRaIL MaGaZINE aDVERTISING
Display Ads: For Advertising Rates please contact Fred Ellison, 01254 823893 editor@trf.org.uk
Members Classifieds: Bikes, Riding Gear etc FREE OF CHARGE Enclose membership number.
ALL Commercial Advertising to be paid for - £1 per line, £5 minimum. Please send all classifieds
with payment if applicable to THE EDITOR, Sheepcote Farm, Moor Lane, Wiswell, Clitheroe BB7 9DG.
Tel: 01254 823893 Fax: 01254 887999 editor@trf.org.uk