Dunlop Trial: I've heard loads of bad things about the Dunlop Trial with its over the top sections, riders going home early, verbal complaints, written complaints etc. I even heard "if Ashford MCC messes this trial up again, that's it, no more SE trial for Ashford MCC!" I've never ridden the Dunlop, what was it like? Bloody blinding trial, well done Ashford MCC I'll be seeing you chaps next year. The course consisted of 15 easy to follow sections, these being the kind of sections if I forgot where I was going the markers were so well placed even the likes of me couldn't go the wrong way. The opening two sections were little on the easy side, but section 3 proved to be a little bit on the tricky side. Section three commenced with a camber right to left climb after passing through the start gates. The tricky bit came when i couldn't get the bike to hop the front wheel 1mm to the right between two trees. I gotta say it, I was jumping up and down on them footrests, wrenching the handlebars like a flipping mad man and the bike still didn't move off its line. I must have looked like a workman operating a kango drill the amount of times the handlebars went up and down, so if there is anyone willing enough to show me how to hop, there's a beer in it for yu. Apart from the hopping mad session the remainder of this section wasn't to bad and only needed the minimal of effort to clean it. Sections 4 to 11 have been lost from my mind forever because I was either asleep when I rode them or they had nothing of interest to challenge me. Only three other sections in this trial had me two brain cells bashing together. I'll start with section number 12 with its chalk and water ready mix slop (nice). The bike didn't like it and the scorecard says it all. The section wasn't dangerous; it looked tame, but even with a crispy new IRC rear tyre gripping anything that came within 12 feet of the bike there was grip to be had. If the Observer gave me anything less then a 5 I owe him some serious amounts of cash. The next section along was unlucky number 13, an annoying section after section 12 which had a freaky 40 foot hill climb. No confidence is a serious matter when takerling these types of big bank and a trip to the local AE is definitely on the cards if you get it wrong. Apart from the climb the rest of the section was easily cleanable and had this section been a little earlier in the trial I may have had a good go at its climb. I didn't 'commit' and so 5's were what I expected on laps 1 and 2, but lap three I gave it a go for a pants filling two. Section 14 only added to my disappointing ride and made the trio of bad sections with a simple uphill snake like climb that costs me far to many marks. Section 15 was pay back for the last three sections, I needed the boost to start the next lap. I finished the day happy and very tired. Well-done COC, the observers and a big thanks to the landowner. Click here to see Rob Fleet's review