Launceston Trial 2026 Entries Open

Launceston & North Cornwall Motor ClubEntries are now open for the 2026 Launceston Trial, running on Sunday 1st March.

2026 Launceston Trial Regulations (CARS)
2026 Launceston Trial Regulations (BIKES)
2026 Launceston Trial Online Entry

“Welcome to the 40th running of the Launceston Trial, we invite you to join us on Sunday 1st March. The trial will again run in its popular format as a single venue trial held in Lew & Eastcott Woods by kind permission of the Newman family. As always, we hope to produce a variety of sections, resting some, re-introducing some and varying others. We hope you can join us on Sunday 1st March and look forward to providing you with a good day’s sport.”

Venue : Lew Woods, Lewdown, Devon, EX20 4NY

March Hare Trial 2026 Entries Open

Entries are now open for the 2026 March Hare Trial, to be held on Sunday 1st March.

2026 March Hare Trial Regulations (CARS)
2026 March Hare Trial Regulations (BIKES)

2026 March Hare Trial Online Entry
2026 March Hare Trial Entry List

“The 4th running of the West Country based March Hare. If it ain’t broke….last year every competitor that started the event finished it (John Early doesn’t count as his car was dying before it got to the start!) and we finished in glorious sunshine and just about on time….but it was very dry. More of the same – classic Colmore Trials sections, some gentle, some in the middle and a few challenges here and there to try and challenge the best, but defintely aimed to suit the beginner on an old motorbike, a basic trials car or a road rally car. Same start and finish as last year with a few subtle changes to add to the challenge. Glorious Cotswold country side and some sections that aren’t accessible to the public, no restarts for class 1 and the chance to win a Falcon Triple – the Cotswold Stone Trophy, like last year’s winner Rich Hayward.

Starting at Porky’s Diner at Honeybourne near Evesham and finishing at The Amberley Inn on Minchinhampton Common, the 80 mile route will again include many of the historic sections once used by the Colmore & Guy Fawkes Trials, including; Kineton, Postlip, Fry’s Quarry and Saintbury, the intention is again to make it an entry level trial where even beginners will see the top of many of the sections, but there might be something to test class 8 in the quarry.

The Falcon MC equivalent of a Triple Award for three gold medals in a row is in action last year three competitors recieved the award – Mark Hobbs in the class 8 Troll and Rich Hayward and Tris White in class 3 escorts. This year there are three competitors aiming for the Cotswold Stone Award – Carl Talbot in the Class 2 Buckler, Andrew Isherwood also in the class 2 Dellow and Phil sunders in the class C Beta Enduro all are on 2 out of 2 – let’s see if they can go clean again and pick up the award.

Trailer parking is available at the finish in Nailsworth, and a proposed route to follow from there to the start at Honeybourne will be provided.

For car entrants an RS Clubman competition licence is required for both driver & passenger – for motorcycle entrants an ACU licence is required – please ensure you read the event regulations carefully.

The organising team looks forward to receiving your entry. If you are unable to enter, please consider volunteering to marshal by contacting the event secretary with your offer to help.”

Start Venue : Porky’s Diner, Weston Road, Honeybourne, Evesham, WR11 7QF

Chairmans Trial 2026 Entries Open

Holsworthy Motor ClubEntries are now open for the 2026 Chairmans Trial, being held on Sunday 22nd February.

2026 Chairmans Trial Regulations (CARS)

2026 Chairmans Trial Regulations (BIKES)

Online Entry

“2026 – Celebrating 60 years of Holsworthy Motor Club! We are grateful to Kivells Auctioneers for allowing their car park and facilities at the Holsworthy Cattle Market to be used for the start again this year. We should have at least 15 sections and 2 special tests in a route of 60 miles. Please come and have fun with us.

Start Venue : Holsworthy Livestock New Market, Holsworthy, EX22 7FA

Exmoor Trial 2026 Entries Open

Entries are now open for the 2026 Exmoor Trial, to be held on Sunday 15th of February.

2026 Exmoor Trial Regs (CARS)
2026 Exmoor Trial Regs (BIKES)

Entries are open and must be done online :

Online Entry
Current Entry List

“Welcome to the 2026 Exmoor Trial which all began in 1948. As normal we cater for 2, 3 and 4 wheeled vehicles, young and old and those in between. Also beginners are encouraged to enter as are the very experienced. Whatever you ride/drive we hope you enter and have an enjoyable day. If you prefer you are always welcome to observe/marshal.”

Start Venue : Exmoor Farmers Market, Kentisbury, Barnstaple, EX31 4NW

Cotswold Clouds Trial 2026 Entries Open

Stroud & District Motor ClubEntries are now open for the 2026 Cotswold Clouds Trial, to be held on Sunday 1st February.

2026 Cotswold Clouds Trial Regulations

2026 Cotswold Clouds Trial Online Entry

“On Sunday 1st February 2026 we welcome you to join us, as we have done since 1963, for our annual Cotswold Clouds Classic Trial. Over the years many competitors and spectators have enjoyed the Cotswold Hills and this year will hopefully be no exception.

Although some of the sections may provide more of a challenge than others, the clerks of the course do not wish to make all hills stoppers for any of the 9 classes, giving all the chance to successfully climb some hills during the day. The Clouds, winner of the ACTC Trial of the Year award in 2016, remains a successful and popular trial attracting a full entry for many years. The organising team of Paul Watson, Gary Browning, Kieran Yarwood and Sandie Tozer look forward to receiving your entries, so please complete the online entry form as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We will keep you updated with entries via our website and the Club’s Facebook page.

The excellent facilities at Fromebridge Mill will again be the start venue as in previous years. Tea, coffee and hot food will be available as usual. Trailer parking will be vailable at Fromebridge Mill. If you’re not planning to compete this year, please consider offering your services as a Marshal. These offers are so very much appreciated and we literally couldn’t do it without you!

We look forward to seeing you on the hills. The Organising team”

Start Venue : Fromebridge Mill, Fromebridge Lane, Gloucester, GL2 7PD

2026 ACTC Championships Entry Form

ACTC

Click here to use our online entry system.

The 2026 ACTC Championship will soon be upon us, we have held 2025 prices for all championships and for printed Restart magazines.

Cars : £10 (£4 for Navigator)      Bikes : £5

Printed copies of Restart magazine is £12.

Enter online here (payment by Paypal or card).

If you would rather send your entry in by post then download the form below.

ACTC Entry Form 2026 (PDF)

ACTC Entry Form 2026 (DOCX)

Please email or post your entry form to Claire Tonkin – [email protected], postal address is on the form. You can pay by online transfer, or cheque.

2024 Final Championship Tables

Here are the final championship tables for 2024. Congratulations to all the winners.

2024 Championship Tables

CARS – National Championship Winners
2024 Wheelspin League : Paul Merson
2024 Crackington League : Simon Oates
2024 Navigators League : Alice Warren Carter

MOTORCYCLES – National Championship Winners
2024 Pouncy League Overall : John Reeves
2024 Pouncy League Class : Kathryn Martin
2024 Red Rose League : Andy Beveridge

Hill Reversing Guide

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