It seems literally nothing could keep Ulster & Irish motorcycle trials riders from taking part in The Terry Hill Trial, Round 5 of the Irish Championship on Slieve Croob on Saturday, 25th January.
The event was hosted by the Temple Motorcycle & Athletic Club, who pulled it all together with great help from John Heenan, Gareth Jones, and a course-building team with strength and determination in their hearts. Reconstruction and repair work to the carefully laid-out trial course had to take place amid the coldest and worst of conditions, forcing them to create a new section to replace a frozen one after Storm Eowyn had finally passed. Not before leaving a trail of destruction on the battered, icy landscape of the mighty Slieve Croob.
The turnout of more than 40 riders was impressive given the conditions they faced. Storm Eowyn had not yet entirely left the Island of Ireland, and riders were in their vans dodging fallen trees and debris to reach Slieve Croob before intentionally dodging rocks, rivers, and boulders on their bikes on Croob itself to avoid point gathering.
An eerie calm after the storm greeted competitors on arrival as windy, wet conditions gave way to frozen, icy terrain. Facing Slieve Croob on a good day is no mean feat, but after it had been blasted by high-speed, low-temperature gusts that left the land frozen and glistening, flattening trees and windbushes in its path and tearing down markers and flags, to still see the diehard riders and observers pepper the mountainside and get on with the trial is a tribute to their commitment to the sport.
Victory favours the fearless, and Team Ireland member Stuart McClurg took 1st place in the elite class with an impressive 9 points; Scott Callaghan came in 2nd with 41 points, leaving Sean Doyle in 3rd place only one point behind on 42.
The expert class saw Banbridge rider Stuart Hanlon ride away with 1st place and a total of 43 points on the day. Robert McCrory could not have been closer in 2nd place with 44 points, with Andrew McCrory taking third place with a score of 58.
The Semi Expert Class was won by Mark Harris with a serious score of 28, Aaron Smyth scooped up 40 points in all, and 51 points gave Phillip Harris third place.
The relentless enthusiasm for the sport displayed by riders, course builders, observers, and club members must be admired and commended.
The level of motorcycle trials riders across the Island of Ireland never fails to impress; it is difficult to decipher if they are born to ride or simply not prepared to be stopped by Mother Nature or the conditions she throws at them.
Stephen Pyper won the Clubman Class with an exceptional score of 17; Ross Pyper came in a determined second with 34 points, and Warren Hendy gathered up 47 points to take third place.
No. 219 Gary Johnston was the winner of the Sportsman Class, gaining an outstanding 7 points on the day with Ian Cochrane hot on his heels with only 8 points picked up, giving him 2nd place. Ollie Holland took third place with an equally stellar 11 points across the course.The Youth A Class was won by Ben Allen, who finished up on 67 points, with Ollie Reid taking part but forced to retire in Youth B. Understandably, due to conditions, the youth classes were lacking competitors on this occasion, so it was particularly hardcore of Ben and Ollie to get on their bikes and face the elements. No doubt future Team Ireland members in the making.
To the course team, John Heenan, Gareth Jones, Craig Allen, David Gault and Alan Young an immense thank you! Also Barry McMillen and Russell Houston for all their help with the scoring system.The land owners and of course observers: Che & Ellie McStay, Ken Clarke,
Jimmy Dickey, Tim O´Neill, Mark Scott, Phil Allen, Mike Crothers, Ross & Sandi Kane, Stuart Reid & David Gault.
The Temple Motorcycle & Athletic Club Thank all who took part in the Terry Hill Trial and wish all the riders every success in the remaining rounds of the 24/25 Irish Championship.
Photography By Earl Boyd.
