2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March
I've been riding since 15 years of age and yet the Jersey Two Day trial really only came to my full radar last year (2013) as a trial I'd like to ride in.
It was through the wonderful and often maligned Facebook that I read about Steve Saunders and Heath Brindley's visit to the Channel Island last year. Yes, Facebook is not all about girls discussing lipstick shades and teen boys rattling on about Rap and Hip Hop. There is a thriving Trials scene on Facebook which is far far far greater than anywhere else on the internet without any sunset rouge make up or Jay - Z in sight.
Heath's photos and the other Trial reports just made this trial sound like the place to be. Steve Saunders travels there each year as well and really enjoys it, so there must be something special about this event.
Back on the UK mainland the gloomy weather which has been been around for months had brainwashed me into thinking that there was no other sky colour other than drizzle grey. I'd forgotten there was a Sun :
It was through the wonderful and often maligned Facebook that I read about Steve Saunders and Heath Brindley's visit to the Channel Island last year. Yes, Facebook is not all about girls discussing lipstick shades and teen boys rattling on about Rap and Hip Hop. There is a thriving Trials scene on Facebook which is far far far greater than anywhere else on the internet without any sunset rouge make up or Jay - Z in sight.
Heath's photos and the other Trial reports just made this trial sound like the place to be. Steve Saunders travels there each year as well and really enjoys it, so there must be something special about this event.
Back on the UK mainland the gloomy weather which has been been around for months had brainwashed me into thinking that there was no other sky colour other than drizzle grey. I'd forgotten there was a Sun :
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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It was Craig Daffin who got me organised for this trial. We were travelling to a trial one day and I mentioned in a moment of bravado that I'd love to ride the the Jersey 2 day.
Well .....48 hrs later Craig sent me a text letting me know that we were all booked. Wow.....hang on ....I don't move that fast ha ha. Anyway, that was me committed. Bye the way, he doesn't usually look that orange. I was just playing with my camera filters :) |
We had just ridden the first S3 round, The Colmore and also the Normandale Phil King round so we weren't letting the moss grow under our feet. It's already shaping up to be a full on year. The Jotagas has been getting some proper use :)
I arrived at Craig's house at 6.30 am on the Friday morning and we were off on our International Factory team voyage ha ha, complete with gleaming bikes, hair gel (who am I fooling ) and Desperados beer (no, we hadn't had any yet).
We arrived at Weymouth ferry port to see the car park at the terminal empty. Oops, what have we done ? We pulled up and a charming lady told us off as we were running very late and the ferry was leaving in 10 minutes. It was apparently our fault that we hadn't checked the website the night before to see that it had changed. Apparently it wasn't their fault that they hadn't contacted us on either of the phones numbers they had for us. After a hair raising 24 point turn on the metal bridge to the ferry we were in, and parked the van on a slippery metal steep slope. The slope was worrying enough but parked above a brand new red Ferrari was a bit worrying. It was on it's way to a new owner in Jersey. Lets hope it arrived in one piece :)
I arrived at Craig's house at 6.30 am on the Friday morning and we were off on our International Factory team voyage ha ha, complete with gleaming bikes, hair gel (who am I fooling ) and Desperados beer (no, we hadn't had any yet).
We arrived at Weymouth ferry port to see the car park at the terminal empty. Oops, what have we done ? We pulled up and a charming lady told us off as we were running very late and the ferry was leaving in 10 minutes. It was apparently our fault that we hadn't checked the website the night before to see that it had changed. Apparently it wasn't their fault that they hadn't contacted us on either of the phones numbers they had for us. After a hair raising 24 point turn on the metal bridge to the ferry we were in, and parked the van on a slippery metal steep slope. The slope was worrying enough but parked above a brand new red Ferrari was a bit worrying. It was on it's way to a new owner in Jersey. Lets hope it arrived in one piece :)
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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The ferry pulled away and started to rock gently. I thought about having some breakfast as I hadn't had anything that morning. I then started to get ill.........
In fact most of the ship started to get ill. We weren't in a storm but there was plenty of chop on the sea and it was sending the boat rolling around. I was as sick as a dog .......on at least 10 separate occasions. Every toilet cubicle was full with reaching men all belching and making the most awful noises, it was quite an experience. Phew !!. |
There was a stop at Guernsey and after then it was plain and calm sailing to St Hellier where we moored and drove off. Luckily, the Ferrari was still intact.
This was first time that I had been to Jersey or any of the Channel Islands. My now deceased Grand Mother had been here and she loved it and returned every year. It was nice to come and see what she had seen.
Arriving in Jersey was like arriving in another World. The sun was shining. It was warm and the skies were clear. Everyone speaks English here and there is a French influence as France is only a few miles away. The locals seem to have an accent with a hint of South African.
The closest place I've been to Jersey that comes close is Cornwall or Devon. It really is a breath of fresh air. The pace of life seems slower. More people were smiling here, you just noticed it :)
This was first time that I had been to Jersey or any of the Channel Islands. My now deceased Grand Mother had been here and she loved it and returned every year. It was nice to come and see what she had seen.
Arriving in Jersey was like arriving in another World. The sun was shining. It was warm and the skies were clear. Everyone speaks English here and there is a French influence as France is only a few miles away. The locals seem to have an accent with a hint of South African.
The closest place I've been to Jersey that comes close is Cornwall or Devon. It really is a breath of fresh air. The pace of life seems slower. More people were smiling here, you just noticed it :)
Photos from Trip Advisor. Jersey 2 day trial 2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
Photos from Trip Advisor. Jersey 2 day trial
Here are some photos I took on the way to the hotel.
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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The Jersey Classic and Modern Trial Club ( www.Jerseytrials.com ) organised a package where you paid £225 each. This included entry to the 2 day trial, ferry crossing with a van as well as hotel accommodation for the 3 nights (Friday to Sunday) with breakfast. It was very good value. We were all put up, in the base for the trial, which was the Shakespeare's Hotel. It was a very pleasant, clean, warm and comfortable hotel. A good choice.
http://www.shakespearejersey.com/
http://www.shakespearejersey.com/
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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Photo taken early one morning from our room, before the sun broke through.
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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Our pleasant en-suite hotel room.
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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Craig settled right in and cracked open a bottle in the room, to settle his nerves for the trial ahead.
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
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Here is a copy of the quality program to have a look through.
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
Then after a freshen up, it was a trip out for a meal and then down to the hotel bar to chew the cud about the next day :)
I'm sorry to admit but these girlie drinks were both mine.
I'm sorry to admit but these girlie drinks were both mine.
2014 Jersey 2 day trial - 8th and 9th March www.retrotrials.com
enough of this waffle !!! - lets see the bike and trial pics
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