17th January, 2026
Gold & Silver Star Sporting Trial – Event Report – January 2025
Boffin Bricknell Bosses Gold Report
By Duncan Stephens
Saturday 17 January saw thirty-eight crews converge on Crewkerne for the 2025 BTRDA Sporting Trials Championship Final, laid on under the careful hammers of Sandy and Ian Veale. Six crews travelled from Northern Ireland, four from Cornwall, half a dozen from “nearly France”, a handful from t’up North, and sixteen were chasing the Silver Star.
Thomas Bricknell arrived as hot favourite, seeking a fourth consecutive Gold Star after winning fifteen of the sixteen rounds during the year. However, the Gold Star has a habit of ignoring form.
Peter Fensom spent Christmas Day—literally—fitting a new engine to his Hamilton and was hoping for a gentle running-in trial. That was not to be. Ian Wright was introducing his grandson Tobias to modern sporting trials passengering; the genes are clearly strong, with both parents Bianca and Andy being former champion passengers. John Fack had spent much of the year redesigning the rear suspension of the MSR, finishing the job the afternoon before the event, only to discover on unloading that some gears were missing—out came the grinder. It was great to see eight debutants at the premier event of the year, although some notable names were missing. Unfortunately, Roger Bricknell caught a cold during the week and was unable to attend.
After laying out ten long hills on the Friday, the Veale household was awoken at 5am by heavy rain. Hearts sank, and it wasn’t long before snorkels were being hunted down, longer tow ropes sourced, and the sky anxiously watched. On arrival, the original plan was quickly abandoned and several new ones formed. Andy Gowen produced a steady “Gowen trickle” (absolutely flat to the boards for newcomers) in the works 4x4 Man Van and made it in unassisted, as did one Range Rover. The 135 Fergy soon struggled with towing duties, but salvation arrived in the form of the landowner and her significantly more monstrous John Deere, which made light work of towing vehicles in. By the prompt 10:00 start, the land, yard, and every conceivable space were full—everyone, that is, except Julian Fack, who despite staying locally still arrived at the last minute and was scrutineered after the drivers’ briefing.
Two hills lay in the far field, almost in the next farm, with another new hill cut into a gulley near the farmhouse. Trials cars struggled around the paddock as competitors stared up… and up… and up at the hills, hoping they’d be drier in the bracken at altitude.
We start with the Silver Star, which featured many new faces—clearly the future of the sport, judging by the lack of grey hair and boundless energy.
SILVER STAR
From the outset, father and son Stephen and George Barnes were locked in battle, dropping 26 and 23 respectively on the first round. Alan Carr, enjoying an excellent first season, was still coming to terms with the conditions, running just behind David Simmons in his CAP. Alan was tied with John Williamson in the ex-Gold Star-winning Jedi. George’s score placed him in the top eight overall, impressive given he’d been hunting for a passenger during the week.
The second round saw George take firm control of the Silver Star, showing excellent ground reading and finding fifth gear in the Sherpa. Stephen remained second in the green machine, with Alan climbing into third. A few hill alterations over lunch led to a 2pm restart for the final ten hills.
George’s form continued, finishing a superb ninth overall to claim the Silver Star Championship with a beautifully consistent drive. For me, he was driver of the day—though I’m a has-been, so what do I know? He also took Best Live Axle in the Silver Star. Stephen looked secure in second until disaster struck with two hills remaining; a noisy back axle led to two big scores, dropping him to fifth.
Alan Carr, John Williamson, and debutant David Simmons all dropped 47–48 over the final ten hills as fatigue set in, but Alan snatched runner-up from John, with David taking a well-deserved Best Debutant award. James Bartholomew, with only a handful of trials under his belt, had the Avonova singing and produced some excellent climbs.
GOLD STAR
The Gold Star field included no fewer than eight former champions—proper class. 2009 champion John McKinney was quickest out of the blocks with a 14, followed closely by “Boffin” Bricknell on 15 and Josh Veale on 16. Pete Fensom had effectively run his engine in en route to the first hill before unleashing its full fire-fighting potential to sit on 20.
Ian Wright took a gentle approach early on with grandson Tobias but was soon encouraged by son-in-law Andy and former driver Duncan Stephens to find fifth and let her have it. Despite hobbling from a skiing incident, Ian looked relaxed and competitive. Andy Wilks had a rough start, getting stuck in the wet gulley on hill ten for a costly 11. John Fack sat seventh, the car holding together well, while 2021 champion Simon Kingsley languished in 15th with a standard engine.
In round two, hill three saw masterful first-gear, 500rpm trickling from Boffin for a score of one. Josh matched it—despite not having spotted the finish—while Andy Wilks also cleaned it as he began his charge back up the order. Thomas improved on his opening round with a 14, ten better than anyone else. McKinney slipped to second overall with a 24, while Josh dropped 27 after a costly eight on Francis’ hill but held third.
Ian Wright truly came alive, using fourth and fifth gear with Tobias hiding his face from the flying mud and a spectacular wheelie on hill nine, all caught on camera. Ian leapt from eighth to fourth; Andy Wilks jumped from tenth to fifth with a matching 28. At lunch the standings read: Thomas 29, John 38, Josh 43, Ian 54, Andy 55.
Conditions worsened as grass disappeared and revs climbed ever higher—not ideal for Thomas’ style. Could he hang on for a fourth Gold Star?
Ian Wright blinked first when the Sherpa’s fan packed up, not ideal given the revs, but he still produced the best final round of 21 to finish fourth overall and Best Southerner—not bad with a first-time grandson passenger. Great to see Ian back near the top as a five-time champion, but not since 2017. Theres’s life in the old dog yet, you’ve been warned!!
John Fack, Gold Star winner back for the first time in 1984 with twin Jerome passengering, completed all thirty hills—running on fumes—to finish eighth. The MSR with John at the helm won the Gold Star back in 2011 and with the extensive upgrade looks to be improving again, with the Fack brains still at work I’m sure it’ll continue to improve further. Julian Fack, 1989 Gold Star champion, had celebrated his 80-something birthday two days earlier and returned to Imp power and the smell of Castrol R, arriving late as ever but delivering a consistent performance. Simon Kingsley came alive in the afternoon, climbing to seventh overall and Best Northern t*at.
At the sharp end, it was gloves off, and time for full attack. Thomas used inventive lines to maintain momentum, scoring a 21. John gained slightly as hill eight improved, but three extremely consistent final rounds—21, 22, and 23—settled it. Thomas took Gold on 50 dropped, John finished runner-up ten points back, with Josh another six adrift. John McKinney claimed the Kemp Lewis Trophy on age qualification—clearly he was young back in 2009.
Further down, newlyweds Sam and Jemima Beare flew back from honeymoon the day before and finished tenth overall, third Live Axle, fading slightly as jet lag set in. Pete Fensom’s engine had definitely completed its running-in cycle by sixth overall, just behind Andy Wilks, who at least took Best Midlander. NI Chairman David Webster had a strong first round but slipped to twelfth as conditions worsened, while UK Chair Stuart Beare battled engine issues and was soundly beaten by his son. Alan Murton and Jason Daniel finished a point apart, Jason running lean on the final hill—so Alan bought the tea. Alastair Moffatt had a poor first round, maybe distracted by a phone call to say he was no longer the overall winner of last weekends 95th Exeter Classic Trial but slowly climbed up to fifteen and highest person not to climb a hill and score a zero all day! The 135 Fergy was last seen towing the trailer and Kincraft out the venue…has he made Gloucester yet?
Not long ago, Sherpas were heading into hibernation under Crosslé dominance. This year there were twelve Sherpas—equal to Crosslés. Where is my Crossle, Andy Gowen seemed keen… and next year marks twenty years since Long Compton.
Six of the eight former Gold Star champions finished in the top eight overall, followed closely by Silver Star winner George Barnes—proof of just how good his day really was, and confirmation of my driver of the day pick.
Thomas Bricknell is very, very good—but has also been expertly assisted by Beth Carroll for his last three Gold Stars. With one living in Cornwall and the other in London, that’s commitment. By winning the Bouncer Cushion again—having previously done so in 2010 with Ian Wright and again four years ago with Simon Kingsley—Beth becomes a five-time winner, a feat unmatched in the trophy’s 70-year history. If you want Gold…
What a team they’ve been throughout the 2025 season: 16 wins from 17 starts, capped with another Gold Star. Congratulations—we’re all in awe. And last man standing at the bar was…
Finally, huge congratulations to Sandy and Ian for bashing the poles, finding enough marshals, and keeping the landowner sweet—she was a star. Which grandchild’s on washing-pole duty, Ian?
Check out the action here
https://youtu.be/9vW_1Om639w?si=o15BtBQnQfJFf9vE
https://youtu.be/Yy2TyhzsV6s?si=hPRrXVhBu2UJ0Di9