Johnson

🎉 The 2025 Johnston Trial — Mud, Mayhem & Magnificent Driving

Eaton, Leicestershire – 30 November 2025

If you like your sporting trials with a side order of drama, wheel-spin, and enthusiastic passenger aerobics, the 2025 Johnston Trial delivered the full three-course meal. Eaton’s famous grassy banks were in feisty mood, offering grip only to those who asked nicely — and even then, only sometimes.

Still, the drivers rose to the challenge, the passengers clung on heroically, and the results sheet tells the story of a day where consistency was king… and one team in particular decided to absolutely dominate.

🏆 The Veale Verdict: Victory!

Josh & Sandy Veale didn’t just win — they practically floated around the hills.

Their Sherpa glided, clawed and climbed with the sort of smoothness that makes other competitors mutter “how did they do that?” under their breath.

A final score of 12 in those conditions? Outrageous. Ridiculous. Completely deserved.

Trailing behind (but with great dignity) came:

2️⃣ Andy Wilks / Mark Smith – 18

3️⃣ Mike Salton / Claire Smyth – 25

The Red Class podium was tight early on, but Josh and Sandy slowly disappeared over the horizon, presumably waving cheerfully as they went.

🔴 Red Class: The Heavy Hitters

This was where the real knife-edge action lived.

Andy Wilks and Mike Salton traded blows all day.

Boyd Webster, with Sharon doing the in-car gymnastics, fired in some superb climbs and lurked close behind.

Richard Sharp, with Joe on board, tied Boyd on 26, making the mid-pack as spicy as a vindaloo.

Even further down the class, there were heroic recoveries, questionable lines (you know who you are), and at least one “where exactly were you aiming?” moment.

But that’s sporting trials. And we love it.

🔵 Blue Class: The Sliding Championships

If Red was sharp and technical, Blue was… well… dramatic.

Grip came and went like British summer sunshine.

Mike & Carole Readings kept their nerve and took the class on 43, driving with the calmness of people who absolutely refused to panic.

Alan & Gill Murton weren’t far behind on 56, with Neil Martin breathing down their necks on 58.

This class delivered some of the best spectator moments: creative wheel-spin, bold throttle, and at least one climb that looked more like a rodeo event.

🟢 Rookie Class: The Future Stars (and Future Chiropractors)

Rookies had one job: hang on, learn lots, and have fun.

Mission accomplished.

Alan and Sharren Carr dominated the class again finishing on 19. 

David & Danielle Simmons claimed second Rookie on 97, keeping things tidy even when the hills turned hateful.

Everyone in this class had at least one “YES! WE MADE IT!” moment and at least one “We don’t talk about that hill” moment.

Perfect rookie balance.

🎢 The Hills: A Quick Mood Board

Round 1: “Oh this isn’t too bad!”

Round 2: “Hmm… seems a bit slippery…”

Round 3: “WHO REMOVED THE GRIP? WHO DID THIS?”

Round 4: “Passenger, MOVE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!”

By late afternoon, the banks looked like they’d hosted a herd of stampeding elephants wearing studded tyres.

🚑 Retirements & Honourable Mentions

A nod to Peter & Liz Fensom and Gerald & Mike Wilkinson, who ended up in the dreaded Ret/NS column.

Mechanical mischief? Bad luck? Cosmic interference?

Whatever it was — better luck next time.

Also:

Huge applause for the marshals, who stood out in the weather smiling, scoring and occasionally jumping out of the way.

📜 Final Thoughts

The Johnston Trial once again proved why it’s one of the most-loved events on the calendar:

Big hills

Bigger atmosphere

Even bigger smiles (except during Round 3, obviously)

Congratulations again to Josh & Sandy Veale, the deserved champions of the day.