We left Black Notley at 1pm on Friday. After an uneventful journey, we arrive at Popham Airfield, just off the A303 in Hampshire, at 5.30pm. We are the first competitors at the start area. Our overnight driver, recovery man, John Yearley, leaves at 7pm for his overnight stop at Ilminster. In the meantime we relax in the flying club control room with freshly made egg and bacon rolls and tea.

Start is 7.43pm sharp. The 101 miles to Sparkford and the Haynes Motor Museum is uneventful apart from having to switch to reserve for a few miles. Scrutineering is in the museum workshop. Various machines are in the workshop, the racing Ferrari belongs to Mr Haynes Junior. Two hours to wait before the start and we have a mediocre meal in the on-site cafe. The rest of the time is spent in the bookshop. They do not seem to mind hundreds of people thumbing through their extensive stock.

Competitors are arriving from the three start points, Popham, Lewdown and Cirencester, 84 bikes including 15 sidecars. Bikes and cars of all makes and types, Anglias, Escorts, Sierras, Martins, VW Beetles, specialist trials cars. Strangest of all are two Trojan Utilities, very lower power two stroke open-top cars circe 1930? These seem to go almost anywhere. Chain drive to a fixed axle. No diff.

Our start is 00.12, twenty four miles to the first section at Meerhay near Beaminster. This is a long rough muddy climb with at least two pairs of "section continues" boards. These are to remind us that there is still further to go before the end cards. Twenty miles on, we reach the passage control at Musbury Garage where we are greeted by a cheerful but bewildered official, who signs our control card - 2.30am.

Next is Gatcombe Lane. We clean this. Its pitch dark!

Section 3, Normans Hump, is withdrawn this year as it has been stirred to a sea of mud by forestry equipment.

Fifty two miles from Sparkford we reach No. 4 Clinton. The Matchless outfit ahead of us unexpectedly fails this section which causes us some concern. Whilst waiting our turn, we spend the time trying to judge the severity of the hill by the direction of the headlight beams. It proves quite difficult but we gain another clean ride. We later learn that the Matchless crew were in the wrong gear which was the cause of their failure and frustration.

We carry on through Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 and remain clean. Between 6 and 7 is Stretes special test. Having failed to thoroughly read the instructions, we are unsure if we should stop at, or straddle the three virtual stop lines. 5.15am still pitch dark, raining as well.

We drive along Sidmouth Esplanade. The shipment of BMW bikes are yet to arrive. Next stop is Exeter motorway services. We have to endure a compulsory one hour break - strangely, two mugs of tea are £3.96 whilst freshly cooked egg and tomatoes on toast are £3.17!

Section 9 Tillerton Steep, 7.45am, 107 miles from Sparkford. Our first fail. A long rocky, steppy gully of a hilly - we make good progress until the combined weight of BMW bike and BMW rider, overcome the best efforts of slimline passenger, Garry and sidecar, and we tip over and stop. Very controlled though!

Next is Fingle Hill. 12 miles, still raining, still dark. The section is approached over a narrow pack horse bridge at the bottom of the valley and climbs away through steep wooded hillside, as we ride, clean through the end cards, daylight finally arrives. Still raining!

Next section is Wooston Steep. There is a holding control and competitors are released in pairs to descend a very steep and slippery hill to the start at the valley bottom. There is a long delay, and we nervously spend this time in the queue testing the ground for grip. This testing causes a loss of free play in the clutch cable. The result is no drive and a cloud of clutch smoke when we finally make our attempt. Just for a change, DRIVER ERROR, and an annoying fail!

Bovey Tracey 9.50am. Passage Control. Again we meet the official who signs our wet control card. Still cheerful after 10 hours helping!

At last we reach Ilsington Village Hall. Good home made pasties, cakes and tea in china mugs served by cheerful ladies! Allegedly, the funds raised are to restore the local church organ. This has apparently been the worthy cause for at least twenty years! Rested and warmed, if not dry, we remount and drive the half mile to Simms.

A famous hill is Simms, possibly the hardest climb in the three MCC Trials. I have not so far mentioned, so as not to alarm the insignificant passenger, that I was having trouble connecting my right boot with the recently modified brake lever. Last year on this hill, we stopped and performed a perfectly executed reverse 'J' turn assisted by the original pedal. With this problem at the back of my mind, a repeat of last year did not appeal! With this thought, I attacked the hill with maximum available speed, leaping from rock to rock, we reached a far higher point than last year. Well past the 'A' boards which are used as a slightly lower finish if all competitors fail to the reach the top. We did reach the top, sadly with the Marshalls assistance. Going down from our stop point did not look at all easy. Still raining.

Tipley 137 miles, 11.15am. Another long climbing rocky gulley with steps, running water and mud. We reached the end cards with difficulty but I footed low down. Footing means a fail.

Slippery Sam 150 miles, 12.15 - still raining! The last section near Babbacombe, five miles from the finish in Torquay. This is a long zig zag climb with red Devon mud, large rocks and running with water. Corner three was very different from last year due to water erosion. This required an unexpected and difficult line change over a large steep rock slab to secure our final clean of the event.

Another mile or so of flooded muddy track, with hikers, prior to the descent to Torquay and the finish. Still raining. Being early, the passenger washed the outfit with the hose supplied by the hotel, in the car park. While this task was carried out, I went into the hotel to sign off and relax with a well-earned pint! The bar and reception area in the hotel is fully covered with fixed plastic sheeting which means there is no problem with muddy people and boots.

We started the event at 1pm Friday 5th January. Arrived back in Braintree, Saturday 6th January.Our thanks go to John Yearley, for giving his time, and for driving the knackered pairing home. The total trial mileage was 250. The van mileage was 520 miles. It rained continuously from the early hours of the morning to the finish. Heine Gerrick clothing kept us dry. Why is the Gortex on the inside? Why are water-proof gloves not waterproof?

See the boys in action here! Link. This video was taken at the Lands End Trial however.

Report by Mark Wilson and Garry Plummer