MCC 95th Exeter Long Distance Trial 2025
- SuziePrevett
- Apr 13
- 14 min read
Brrrrr! This was my third and Kelvin’s fourth Exeter Trial, and it was going to be a cold one, but at least it was looking like it’d be dry!
On the Friday morning we woke up late knowing that there’d be no sleep until Saturday night, or at least maybe just an hour or two between the trial end on Saturday and dinner on Saturday evening. I soon received a call from our friend Steve offering to pick us up from the finish location at the Passage House Hotel, and give us and our bikes a lift up to Yeovil, just a stones throw from Haynes Motor Museum. Whoop Whoop! Yes please! Normally we’d ride from the finish point up to Haynes, so this was a lovely surprise, especially given the sub-zero temperatures forecast!
Pulling in to the car park at the Passage House we saw that Andy (5), Mike (6), Pete (13) and Steve (12) had all arrived in their various vehicles, and most were busy prepping bikes and kit. It was lovely to see them. Kelvin (4) took great pleasure in letting the others know we were being chauffeured to near the start! We transferred the bikes in to Steve’s van, making sure we also packed all of our kit…there was a lot of it with all of the layers required, and forgetting any of it would have likely resulted in a more uncomfortable experience!
Before we left, Andy had tried starting his bike, and it’s wasn’t sounding happy to say the least. It was really struggling with any kind of throttle, so LDT task one was a team effort to get the top of the bike apart to then be able to dismantle the carb. Once all uncovered and carb successfully opened, we left Andy, Mike and Pete to some carb cleaning, Kelvin having plucked a couple of strands of wire from the wire brush he had in the van, to poke through the jets. Fortunately, their efforts were fruitful, and we got a message on route to say they’d all see us at Haynes. Phew!
In Yeovil, we met Mo (11) and Rob, grabbed a bite to eat and then all got kitted up at Steve’s mate’s place. I think he thought we were all a bit nuts…we are! Bar Muffs were a definite ‘must’ on this occasion. I could barely get on my bike with all six top layers, and three bottom layers, and bending my elbows to get my helmet on and off was a bit of a struggle and made them feel really heavy. I think my circulation was being somewhat challenged when my elbows were bent, so I’d need to keep that to a minimum!
Arriving at Haynes, it was straight through to scrutineering, which we passed swiftly. The only issue was I realised when I got back to the museum entrance that I hadn’t been given a pin badge, a key requirement to show you’ve passed scrutineering. Doh! I rode back to retrieve my badge, and then handed it in at the ‘sign-on’, together with showing my thankfully successfully renewed ACU trials licence, and MCC membership card. Sorted!
Team ‘Chicken Legs’ (Kelvin, Andy and Mike) and Team ‘The Coddiwomplers’ (Suzie, Mo and Steve with Pete joining us as a first time Exeter trial-er) were all set to go. Team Chicken legs set off first, and a little while later we were off to, Mo leading the way. It was definitely cold, and my bike had a thin layer of frost over parts of it where it’d been sat still for a couple of hours. Inviting! It was good to get going though, and I’d plugged in the battery to my heated top (one of my six layers) and put it on the lowest setting, although it added about an extra KG of weight to my already weighty back pack. At least it’d help to stop me freezing for a short while. Despite the heated top, by the time we got to the Windwhistle test I was quite chilly and the tips of my fingers were numb. Even more-so by the time we reached ‘Underdown’, the first observed section. Also, my battery didn’t last long, even on low, so I may have to rethink my options for future sub-zero trials!
Fortunately, the beginning of the observed sections also brought with it some much needed activity, and from this point on I started to be able to maintain a more bearable body temperature, and my fingers started to thaw out. We made our way carefully down the muddy track to the section, as in some places the track had frozen. As we made our way down the hill, a couple of us in each rut, I was taken a bit by surprise as another competitor came whizzing across the ruts, squeezing down between us all. We were slightly ahead of time as it was, so unsure about the urgency of needing to get to the section start, and he was a good few higher up in the numbers than us, but there we are.
Underdown went well, and it was great to get the first section under our belts. Even with the concentration I remembered to shout my usual “Thank you” to all the marshals as I bounced on by, plus always lovely to have a chat to the friendly start marshals. It’s also favourable on the longer sections like this, especially with a bit of dirt track to get to and from them, as it definitely keeps me warmer. It was then on to Musbury garage where we were welcomed by some very friendly attendants and marshals, the control marshal offering us a chocolate each as we signed in. I’d not had a Curly Wurly in years, so I was very happy. Small things! One chap also lent Mo and I his head torch so we could use the porta loos around the corner. Thank you! Mo was feeling a lot happier on her newly mapped KTM Freeride, which had had some real TLC following the Edinburgh Trial, where it hadn’t been behaving as well. We refuelled bikes and bodies, and set off once again.
Next was Waterloo (OS2), a section I normally manage ok, however not this year! I came around the corner at the bottom on the left, and as I looked ahead, all I could see in front of me was thick, horizontal tree roots. Maybe if it was daylight I wouldn’t have hesitated (maybe), but I did! As I bounced over them I got sent across to the right and in to the bank. Doh! It then took me a couple of strong push offs with my feet to get my little 125cc Scorpa going again, and we were off. The rest was fine, but that was definitely a big fail. The good thing was, everyone else in the team cleaned it, so happy days! Unfortunately, Pete had done a restart when this wasn’t required, so he also failed it, but not out of lack of skill.
Norman’s hump (OS3), incorporating one of the few restarts of the trial and some quite loose ground, went well for all of us and then it was a loop back around and across the ‘hump’ to take on Clinton (OS4). I’m 50/50 on this, having failed once and cleaned it once. I am now two fails and a clean, ha ha! As I came around the muddy corner on the right, I started to head up the hill and managed to get bounced off on to the right bank. I immediately stuck a foot out and footed once off the bank to keep me going in the right direction. Could I have got away without footing?…no idea, but I did foot, and that was that. Fail two of the trial for me. Having failed two of the first four sections, I had a little chuckle to myself…’good start’ I thought. Hopefully I’d end the trial with more cleans than fails, but as usual for me the finishers certificate was the aim of my game, so I’d be genuinely happy if I just made it to the end.
The observed test at Wiscombe park was well lit, although I was definitely cautious as the ground was frosty and I didn’t want to end up sliding too far over the ‘astride’ lines. Steve was a bit braver and I could hear he gave it some welly on his trusty Tricker, which definitely paid off when the results came through!
Next was Rill Path (OS5), and another successful section all round. Then it was the extra challenge of the ice to contend with. I think we’d been quite lucky so far with the conditions given the temperatures, and the rain that had fallen in the days before the trial. However, as we made our way to ‘Stretes’ (OS6), we started descending a hill and came across a cone on one side, so we went to the right of it, as that seemed to be the easiest route. Mo hit some ice, but luckily managed to stay upright. Great save!
We then came across a few other riders, including team ‘Chicken Legs’. Kelvin told me he’d seen the cone and put it there to get people to move out to the right because it was black ice. Andy C, having been leading their team, had unfortunately hit the ice and then hit the deck. Nothing broken fortunately, but definitely a bit of a shake up. Where we came across them half way down the hill, Andy Beveridge (2), one of the travelling marshals and side car driver with passenger Rob, had walked up the hill to warn us of more black ice further down, just before a tightish right-hand bend. Needless to say, we all took it very gingerly down the hill, and I decided to take the left-hand ditch route, which worked well. It was so kind of Andy B to warn us of the upcoming ice. He said they’d hit it and only just managed to make the corner, so well saved again!
We all made it to Stretes, albeit even more cautiously now, and Andy C informed the Marshal of the hazardous ice, suggesting that communicating this to the marshals at Rill Path may be helpful so competitors could be warned to proceed from that section with some caution. It was also added to the What’s App group, for anyone looking at their phone periodically. Stretes itself went well, and again we all cleaned the section, now all very much looking forward to breakfast.
We made it to Greendale farm, and we trundled off to find a table and order our breakfast. It was excellent and the service was super speedy! We had an hour or so to eat, chat, keep warm, and for some who have mastered the art of power-naps…sleep. Following Andy’s icy ‘off’, he was contemplating calling it a day, especially as he’d promised his wife that if it got icy he wouldn’t risk an injury. He decided to continue for now.
We signed off at our allotted time and were kindly warned that after the A30 section, there was a burst pipe in one of the villages meaning it was now sheet ice. Nothing like a bit of tension to ramp up the body heat though, eh?! We set off again after Steve helped Pete to sort out a throttle cable issue. Luckily it was a quick fix and after a bit of a ride including a quick fuel stop before joining the M5, we made it to Tillerton Steep (OS7), this time with me leading the way. I realised quite quickly when leading that my front light had shifted its angle downward a little more, probably from one of my earlier jolts of a bank, so I couldn’t see massively far ahead. Not ideal in the dark on frosty ground, but travelling slowly as we were, it was ok. Fortunately, the forewarned sheet ice had become a little more mushy by the time we hit it, and after leaving the A30 I’d been riding super slow as I was anticipating coming across it at some point. Tillerton was very slippery, but fun in a challenging sort of way. I’m not quite sure how I got up clean, but Steve, Mo and I made it through ok. Last year I remembered I’d ended up having a snooze on the right-hand bank half way up, so was glad I hadn’t repeated that performance! Unfortunately, Pete loving his restarts, did another one just to challenge himself a bit more. Oopsy!
Next was Fingle Hill, one of my favourite sections with its snaking track through the trees, plus it’s nice and long to keep you warm! However, before we made it that far, on the downhill section of road a short distance before it, we hit some more black ice. I had a bit of a slip and tensed up, but luckily instead of braking I headed my bike over to the roadside where I got some traction and my feet down. I had a little stop for a second to reset, and Steve led the way the next mile or so to the section. Fortunately, both Fingle Hill 1 and 2 went without a hitch, although we were warned of sheet ice somewhere on the road following this section. I was riding really slowly, as having hit the ice before Fingle Hill I was wary of hitting more ice. Steve, realising my heebie-jeebies about the ice, took the lead. Luckily, the sheet ice didn’t seem to materialise, but I was really thankful that Steve was leading the way.
Next up was Wooston Steep (OS10a), and we had a quick chat with Chief Marshal Ian, as well as a quick catch up with the remainder of team Chicken legs, Andy having decided to call it a day after Tillerton. The section went well, with cleans all round and even a photographer (KHK Media and his dad) who had braved the freezing conditions to come and photograph a load of nutters riding up a muddy hill in the dark! Thank you!
Tipley (OS11) was the next hill, and one I always find a bit challenging, however it also marked the beginning of the daylight hours of the trial. I always find the dawn brings with it an energy that is much needed after riding through the night, and not only was the dawn breaking on route, it was still dry! Thankfully Tipley went well for most of us, but unfortunately Mo ended up coming to a stop on the section, her first and only fail of the trial. There was just a minor delay afterwards as Mo missed the left turn at the top and had continued along the track for a while, before realising no-one else was there. We’d considered backtracking to find her, but knowing other competitors including side cars would be coming along the narrow track, we thought it best to stay put and just wait. A good opportunity for a quick chat and route check!
Donkey Trot (OS12), just a mile and a half down the road, was also swiftly cleaned. We were steadily ticking off the sections now, and I was very much looking forward to some homemade cake at Ilsington Hall! We parked up, signed in and it was hot drinks and cake all round, once again met by some very cheerful marshals, and wonderful kitchen staff. It was made even better by the fact that they once again had some scrumptious ginger cake. Perfect! It was lovely to have a catch up with all the others off the bikes, but I was definitely feeling the tiredness now I was full of cake and in a nice warm hall. One more push before the end, including the remaining two of the three restarts of the trial for us lot in Class B. Pete had already managed three restarts by this point…his only reason for failures, so once he gets false restarts sorted, he’ll be looking at a gold medal in the future hopefully!
Simms (OS13) is always a bit of a stomach churner for me, mainly because of the crowd of people watching, plus the restart at the bottom of the hill meaning you sit there looking up at what’s ahead! I found it a bit more bouncy this year, and I started to veer over to the right where the slabby rock is, and where I’d seen several people spin-out when I first watched the event in 2022. I tried to bring myself back to the left whilst keeping some momentum so I wouldn’t come to a slippery stop in one of the dips or on a slab. I managed to keep it going, feet up, finally coming to a stop after the section ends. Yey, success! I was so happy to have made it! The only thing I was a bit concerned about was fuel. We all gathered together quickly before getting back to the tarmac, and Sam Cave (19) on his Honda C90 stopped next to us to confirm he was heading in the right direction at the junction. We confirmed he was right, and also enquired as to whether he happened to be carrying any fuel. To our surprise he had a 3L fuel container on the back of the little C90, and was quite happy to give me 2L! How kind was that!! I quickly poured it in, and then we all stopped on the way through Newton Abbott so everyone could get a reassuring extra litre of fuel each to see us very comfortably through to the end of the trial.
Just one more section to go, Slippery Sam (OS14), and again one that I am 50/50 on, having failed last year due to hitting a ‘R’ marker board after going too far right on the restart box. Sitting in the line up, I smiled as I saw a fox in the distance on the field just calmly wandering across the open field, seemingly undistracted by the bikes, so I zoned-out watching it for a bit. Pete had an issue with his brake line getting caught with his nav tower, so he and Steve were trying to free it up again. Fortunately, they managed it just in time! It was soon my turn up the section, and I’d decided to go left on the restart after last years mistake. Having stopped I wasn’t sure of my decision…the right looked far nicer! As the marshal dropped the flag, I restarted with a little too much throttle, and my front wheel got a little bit of air as my bike squirreled away on the slippery rock. I’m sure it moved about far less than it felt it did! Anyway, much to my delight I managed to remain upright, heading in the right direction and past the ‘Section Ends’ without any footing! Woohoo!
The end was in sight, and we made it to the Passage House right on time, managing to all sign off at our scheduled times. It had been a reasonably challenging trial with the slippery rocks, sporadic black ice, and a little more brash due to recent storms, but we were all so pleased to have made it. Amazingly, it was medals all around for the finishers to. Steve’s speediness on the timed observed tests definitely paid off as he earned himself ‘The William Bray Cup’ to add to his ‘Lowe Award’ from the 2024 Edinburgh Trial. Kelvin earned the ‘Class Win’ for class B, Mike and Mo got a silver medal each, with myself and Pete getting a bronze each. I was well chuffed! It had been another great micro adventure with friends. All the marshals we’d met were in good spirits, happy to chat, and we were so thankful that they’d all volunteered to brave the elements so that the event could go ahead. The road book was spot on, timings were really good, and almost every section was open when we got to it. Thanks so much to all involved in putting on these great events, I am so very thankful.
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