2025 Allen Classic Trial – FINAL Results
Allen Trial 2025
We have had a few wet Allen’s over the last 30 years. 2025 can go down as a Sunny one, well almost, we did get one sharp shower at Lunch time. A few wet days in the run up and the sections were in fine form for placing one or 2 challenging restarts. Travers looked doubtful earlier in the week when we got a call from the landowner worried that a landslip was threating the track. We had planned a working party to trim the exit track from Burledge so added a visit to Travers to the day. Good news on arrival at Burledge. The hedges had been well and truly trimmed by the local farmer. At Travers the landslip had increased overnight but we felt by keeping tight to the lefthand side, the track was safe for our use. It worked but what will happen over the coming months, who knows. The Track was impassable for about 15 years following a Landslip in 1968. The little loop at the bottom gets you past the 1968 site. We got to use the Tog Hill Challenge as intended this year. Thanks to Storm Burt and an overly concerned PROW Officer, we couldn’t use the gate access to the field last Year. Farmer “John” didn’t want us caught out again. “No problem Pete, don’t worry about the Gate, I will cut you another hole through the Hedge” He did, added some stone to cut and we got the Challenge this year. I thought 10psi would sort Class 8, wrong again. Delighted that at least one competitor in each class cleaned the hill, so the scoring relief mathematics were not needed. May go a little higher up the field next year. If you know Tim in the course opening team, ask him how far he got his Landie on Saturday afternoon.
We certainly found the sweet spot for the restart on Bitton Lane. It clearly demonstrated the widening gulf between class 8 and the other classes, despite a tyre pressure penalty only 3 in class 8 failed yet only 3 class 7 cleaned. Guys hill had similar results on the lower restart and the Upper Restart proved slightly less of a challenge for classes 3,4 and 5. Results show 9 clean sheets across 5 classes, 7 classes in the top 10, well done all, only 1 class going to test times to determine the winner. Class 8 had 4 clean sheets. Paul Merson taking the lead from Jack Selwood in a very close 28.4 against 29.2. Paul also beating all challengers to retain the Allen Trophy for another year.
As always, we are indebted to the Marshals and Supporters of the Allen Trial who help every year.
We couldn’t do it without you.
The Allen Team
Allen Trophy – Paul Merson- Shopland Bob Wood Trophy – Charlie Merson
Henly Trophy – Dave Haizelden
Woodberry Chillcott – David Golightly
Bryan Brothers – Richard Hayward
Renwicks Trophy – Norton Selwood – Beetle
Rumsey Trophy – Carl Talbot – Buckler
Highland Circle – Nicola Butcher – Beetle
Rootes Trophy -John Wheeler – Dellow
Redcliff Trophy – Brian Hampson – Suzuki X90
Gilbert Best Trophy – (Best Bristol) Dave & Ruben Foreshew – Dingo
