HAWKSWORTH

This, to me, is one of the few local events and not one to miss, I had
planned to go and help set out on the Saturday, but I was not able to
get there until late (3.00ish). By this time Graham Miles and John
Dennison had done a lot of the work, helped out by a lad with an
impressive motor, of Range Rover origin. It seems Graham had decided
early to do some himself and had spent two hours winching himself
out of the stream bank after going down sideways. After setting two
sections I went for a wander and got bogged down and needed to be
pulled out.. At this point John Dennison was lost on the far side of
the stream doing what looked like a pre-run for "Camel Trophy".
His motor was not visible, but the engine noise and bush movement
helped to find where he was. This seemed more fun than the trial would
be, this section proved to be worth all the trouble they had setting it.
Time came for me to go and leave the spade work to John, Graham &
Co.

Sunday morning and the weather was "Ace". With my 90" all but
put right except for wings, 1 toddles off. My partner for the day was a

first timer at this, and came dressed as you would expect i.e. white

socks, white shirt, trainers, new light blue jeans, he looked a picture,
just right for muddy Hawksworth, he, he he. After doing a few relative-
ly easy sections, we wandered off down to the bottom end of the wood,
still white.

Most of the sections proved good and very few faults were caused
by hitting sticks. Of late most trails are set with a view to give plenty
of room between sticks and let you make your own mistakes, a system
I far prefer and I am sure so do most other triallers.

Finally I went down to the last section (Johnson's Jungle) and
promptly parked to the side as I do not want to be first, let a few
others break it down a bit. You all know what I mean. After looking
at the section the marshals were shouting for me to go. But I'm not
even in the queue, 1 thought, only to see everyone else had formed a
line behind me. This is where I see my hard top going for a Burton. Ah
well! Best get it over with. Amazingly enough I cleared it, and no
damage.

The afternoon play was just that, it was decided to have a Point
to Point without having to get your motor to the "Point", only your
card had to go. This is where a young man is a bonus, preferably a
fell runner. My man was not quite "Seb Coe", but he tried.

Fifteen sections were sent out on foot and told to get lost, which
promptly they did. We had to find them, 1 think some had S.A.S. camou-
flage training, as I could not find all of them until it was too late. I
managed about 30 sections and the winner got 90 something solely by
running round, I cheated and watched from my motor as John ran him-
self silly (white clothes, ha!) He came back in such a state I was not
going to allow him into the Land Rover, not that he had the strength
to climb in.

Well, all seemed well and very enjoyable by all who took part,
prize giving over and off home. John was told to take some of the mud
back to where he got it from, his reply? Well you can guess.

Many thanks to the marshals, setters out and land owner.

Rod Depledge

Back to List