Tamar Trial 2026 Entries Open

  By James Shallcross • September 7, 2026

Entries are now open for the 2026 Tamar Trial, to be held on Sunday 11th October.

2026 Tamar Trial – Online Entry

2026 Tamar Trial Regulations (Cars)
2026 Tamar Trial Regulations (Motorcycles)

“Launceston & North Cornwall Motor Club welcomes you to the 79th Tamar Trial to be held on Sunday 11th October 2026 catering for motorcycles, combinations, and cars.

We were delighted to be voted as ‘ACTC trial of the year’ for 2025 adding to the same success in 2019 and 2021, and have extended our efforts this year, we hope, to further enhance the trials reputation for the 2026 event.

The trial has been over-subscribed the last two years – so an early entry to secure a place is very much recommended.

In more somber news, our long-standing course opener and club member John ‘Stan’ Sandercock sadly and suddenly passed away this year and in a tribute, we have a new section this year named after Stan.

The 2026 route will see a few alterations, both the start and finish this year are from The Wilsey Down, with ample parking in the adjacent cattle market car park and we hope logistically this will make things easier for competitors. The favourites are included, and we have a several new hills and some returning hills planned along the route too, as we aim to continue to make the trial appealing to all classes and competitors.

As always, we appreciate feedback and look to improve the event each year based on this. We again hope to lay on a trial that allows all classes and competitors the chance to score well in the results.

We really hope that you are able to join us this year – entries close on Friday 2nd October.”

Start Venue : The Wilsey Down, Hallworthy, PL32 9SH

Kyrle Trial 2026 Entries Open

  By James Shallcross • September 1, 2026

Ross & District Motor Sports Club LogoEntries are now open for the 2026 Kyrle Trial, to be held on Sunday 27th September.

2026 Kyrle Trial Online Entry (CARS)
2026 Kyrle Trial Online Entry (BIKES)

2023 Kyrle Trial Regulations (CARS)
2023 Kyrle Trial Regulations (BIKES)

“Ross and District Motor Sports Club have great pleasure in welcoming you to the 45th running of the ‘Kyrle’. The event will also host motorcycles, with separate Supplementary Regulations applying.

We are grateful to our private landowners for allowing our event to use their land.

A great effort has been put in by Club Members and trials enthusiasts to prepare for the event.

We are committed to a September date, in many respects the wildlife dictating this. We are very keen to try and keep the event on the trials calendar. We are grateful for all entries whether novice, expert or young, also those getting on a little!

The starting venue for this year’s event will be the River Wye Caravan and Camping Park (HR9 6DA) at Symonds Yat. In a change to previous years will be using some of the green lanes of the Wye Valley, intermixed with the classic venues such as Newton Court Woods and Goldsmiths Wood. The finish will be back at our club house in Ross on Wye for a well-earned drink and catch up on the day’s activity!

The event will offer a great variation of observed sections (approx.14) and observed tests (approx. 2), with relatively low road miles. So come along for a great day’s motorsport in the Wye Valley.

IF YOU WISH TO SUPPORT THE EVENT OTHER THAN BY COMPETING, PLEASE COME AND MARSHAL. CONTACT THE CHIEF MARSHAL OWEN JONES ON 07880 730884 OR EMAIL [email protected]

Your organising team

Tom Aubrey, Eddie Clough, John & Julie Tatlow & Owen Jones”

Start Venue : River Wye Caravan and
Camping Park, Symonds Yat West, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 6BY

Taw & Torridge Trial 2026 Entries Open

  By James Shallcross • August 10, 2026

Entries are now open for the 2026 Taw & Torridge Trial, to be held on Sunday 13th September.

CARS : 2026 Taw & Torridge Trial Regulations (CARS)

BIKES : 2026 Taw & Torridge Trial Regulations (BIKES)

ONLINE ENTRY FORM : 2026 Taw & Torridge Trial Online Entry

“We are grateful to Clovelly Estates for allowing their car park and facilities at the Clovelly
Visitors Centre to be used for the start again this year.

We do not promise mud for a trial in September but we do have an abundance of sections in
the spectacular North Devon countryside!

We should have at least 17 sections and a special test in a route of approx. 60 miles. Please
come and have fun with us!“

Start Venue : The Clovelly Visitors Centre, Clovelly, Bideford, EX39 5TL

2025 Final Championship Tables

  By James Shallcross • March 5, 2026

Here are the final championship tables for 2025. Congratulations to all the winners.

2025 Championship Tables (CARS)
2025 Championship Tables (BIKES)

CARS – National Championship Winners
2025 Wheelspin League : Paul Merson
2025 Crackington League : Karen Warren
2025 Navigators League : Natasha Early

MOTORCYCLES – National Championship Winners
2025 Pouncy League Overall : John Reeves
2025 Pouncy League Class : Derek Walter
2025 Red Rose League : Andy Beveridge

Hill Reversing Guide

  By Adrian Tucker-Peake • March 5, 2018

ACTC TRIALS DRIVING – HILL REVERSING GUIDE – ‘BRAKING IT DOWN’

As we state and recognise, motorsport can be dangerous and in our specialism it is often the case that for a car driver having made an ‘almost successful’ climb, the task of safely and confidently reversing his steed back down a slippery, uneven and twisting track when perhaps surrounded by marshals, spectators, trees and banks, can prove daunting. Whilst the car can be relatively stable under power on the ascent, it can prove wayward under the influence of gravity and any loss of control.

ACTC Committee here propose guidelines that may be offered to competitors in the form of best practice to follow, though of course they are not mandatory. It is not possible to allow for every scenario and vehicle type, but the following is the reversing process to adopt in typical trialling circumstances.

These guidelines aim to accommodate the different behaviour of ‘Older’ cars (likely to have a 4 wheel handbrake and no steering column lock) and the more ‘Modern’ ones (likely to have servo brakes and power steering for example). We can ‘Brake Down’ the principles here through the summary A.B.S. – in this case Awareness, Braking and Steering.

1. Preparation

Awareness:

  • ensure you have good side and rear visibility around your car from the driver’s seat
  • ensure the reversing light is powerful and aligned for any night-time action
  • brief your passenger if a novice, on procedure for hill failures and exit routes

Braking:

  • give your footbrake and handbrake good firm ‘function’ tests both before and during the trial in safe places, such as at controls and waiting in queues
  • consider installing a hydraulic handbrake – more powerful and reassuring, and there’s plenty of advice out there

Steering:

  • wrap a yellow tape band around the steering wheel rim at the straight ahead spot

2. Stopped on a Section

Awareness:

  • listen to the marshals’ instructions
  • take a good look around and behind you for any obstacles or people, check mirrors
  • keep your passenger seated in the car unless otherwise instructed

Braking (Older) :

  • apply the handbrake firmly
  • switch off the engine and engage reverse gear

Braking (Modern) :

  • apply both footbrake AND handbrake firmly
  • leave the engine running in forward gear and press the clutch pedal down

Steering:

  • check your front wheels are facing ahead using the rim tape and marshal guidance

3. Reversing Down

Awareness:

  • have your passenger and marshals guide you
  • STOP and take a breather if it is long and twisty, recover and then continue

Braking (Older) :

  • release the handbrake and keep off the footbrake
  • use the compression of the dead engine to allow a steady descent

Braking (Modern) :

  • lightly release both brakes to let the car creep back
  • pulse the footbrake about 2 times / second to keep slip under control
  • when the car is steady, shift to use handbrake only, to regain your steering keep the clutch down, in gear, with the engine running
  • if you run wide, STOP, shunt forward and try again

Steering:

  • try to keep all wheels in the ruts around bends
  • DON’T let the car sweep round sideways across a steep hill
  • keep the car pointing uphill until it’s safe to turn around

Once you are safely back down, thank any parties who may have helped you, take a breath and maybe ‘uncrick’ your neck! Above all, practice these guidelines perhaps at a single venue trial where experts can advise, take…your…time and be safe!

Adrian Tucker-Peake