Lost Ground!

By Bob Twigg

The loss of ground for both motocross and trials in the South Midland centre over the years has been considerable. A lot of the small sections that were included on trials that used public roads was inevitable, though some have survived as they had suitable parking for the cars, trailers and vans that arrived for events.

At the moment many clubs are waiting to see if the much heralded (?) HS2 railway will have an adverse effect on trials that use Dews Farm near Harefield. If "Dews" is lost it will be a devastating blow to many South Midland clubs. The ground is used by at least six clubs some with no other choice of ground, we are all hoping that there will be no restrictions on the use of this great venue in the future

Going back to the old days (by way of a change) my old now defunct club Mid Herts used an old pit next to the A1M at Mardley Heath near Welwyn once a year. The ground was owned by the local council but was lost because of unofficial practice on both motocross and trials/ trail bikes. The club understood the seriousness of this as the area was crossed by footpaths, when we used it the paths were only crossed at certain points. Locals walking dogs etc. felt threatened by "noisy motorbikes" being ridden there every weekend. Sad to say that the loss of the ground precipitated the gradual loss of the club, sadly at the time our local use of a clubroom was denied.

Another useful bit of trials ground with parking used by us years before was the old testing ground for Jack Oldings a pit near Hatfield, which is now a golf course!

Other ground losses of the past were Moor Mill pits near Park Street (the M25 goes through it) the Leavesden club used it well. The two pieces of ground, Castle mound near Totternhoe, which WMA used for many years. Eversden Woods used by Roy Brown's Cambridge Centaur club and an old railway line used by Cambridge Matchless near Four Went Ways. next to the M11. WMA lost Aston Hill near Wendover, the once a year hill climb was fun! Milton Buzzards were sad to lose Bleak Hall at Milton Keynes, a good practice ground and used for some years for trials. It made the "Buzzards" one of the strongest clubs in the centre at the time. Kenton and Kingsbury lost the use of the Brickyard near Chesham and the nearby manor house ground. Very sad that Oxford Ixion could no longer use Lower Ridings, a great place with many sub-sections, difficult when wet! Great Brickhill was used by the Berkhamsted club for both motocross and trials, no MX in recent years but the club ran trials there until earlier this year but the land is now going to be sold. Hamels Park near Braughing was a good venue used by the Milton Buzzard and Berko clubs but was lost due to a disagreement.

Sad news all this but luckily we still have good ground available, let's hope we can carry on with our lovely sport for a lot longer!