13th September, 2026
Pinford Farm Sporting Trial 2026 Event Report
Pinford Farm produced one of the stories of the season as worsening weather and increasingly treacherous conditions tested competitors throughout the morning. What began as a demanding trial became progressively more difficult as rain swept across the venue, leaving hillsides slick and forcing crews to work hard for every clean climb. With the weather continuing to deteriorate, the organisers made the sensible decision to conclude the event at lunchtime after three rounds, but not before delivering some memorable competition.
A Family Affair at the Front
Pinford Farm produced one of the most remarkable results of the year, with father and son Ian Veale and Josh Veale sharing victory after both completed the event without dropping a single mark. Driving separate Sherpas and both passengered by Sandy Veale, the family trio achieved a result that is rarely seen in sporting trials.
As the rain intensified and grip levels reduced throughout the morning, maintaining a clean scorecard became increasingly difficult. Yet while competitors around them began to pick up penalties, both Veale crews remained faultless, finishing the shortened event on perfect scores of zero.
The battle for the final podium position went to Julian Fack and Kelly Jones, whose excellent score of two secured third overall and top honours in the Post Historic class.
Class Battles Add to the Story
Whilst the headlines belonged to the Veale family, there were plenty of strong performances across the classes.
The Post Historic (PH) Class was won by Julian Fack and Kelly Jones in their Impunity. Their score of two not only secured the class win but also earned them a place on the overall podium.
The Red Class saw the joint-winning Veales set the pace, but behind them the battle remained fierce. Thomas Bricknell and Andy Beveridge claimed fourth overall on seven marks, despite remaining in contention until a costly penalty in the third round. Close behind were Andy Wilks and Mark Smith, together with Stuart Beare and Chris Clements, who both finished on nine marks.
Among the Live Axle competitors, Sam Beare and Jemima Beare emerged as the leading crew with a score of ten. Their performance became even more impressive as conditions worsened during the latter stages of the trial. Graham Wilson and Frank Wilson finished as the next best Live Axle crew on 27, narrowly ahead of Alan Baker and Ian Rodman.
The Blue Class produced one of the closest contests of the day. Graham Wilson and Frank Wilson took class honours on 27, edging out Alan Baker and Ian Rodman on tie-breaks after they finished on the same score. Stewart Stamp and Susie Stamp secured third place in class with 30 marks lost.
Where Every Mark Counted
One of the most striking features of the results was the quality at the front of the field. Even with the worsening weather, the leading crews kept scores remarkably low. The top seven competitors all finished on ten marks or fewer, leaving little room for error and ensuring every section carried significance.
As the rain continued to fall, the course became progressively more challenging, making the low scores at the head of the leaderboard all the more impressive.
Encouraging Signs from the Rookies
The Rookie category once again demonstrated the strength of emerging talent within the sport. Jamie Bartholomew and Fiona Bartholomew took class honours with a score of 62, finishing ahead of Gerald Davies and Robert Davies on 70. Jack Watson and Jess Watson completed the Rookie podium on 79 after another determined performance.
With the conditions becoming increasingly difficult as the day progressed, all Rookie competitors can take considerable encouragement from their efforts.
Conclusion
Although the weather brought an early end to proceedings after three rounds, Pinford Farm still delivered an interesting event. The increasingly slippery conditions rewarded those who could adapt as grip disappeared and the challenge intensified across the venue.
The headline story belonged to father and son Ian Veale and Josh Veale, who, both passengered by Sandy Veale, completed the event without dropping a single mark to share victory on a perfect score of zero.
Behind them, competitors fought hard for honours across the Post Historic, Red, Blue, Live Axle and Rookie categories, producing close competition despite the challenging weather. When the rain finally brought the event to a close, those present had witnessed a trial defined by faultless performances, close class battles and a family success story that will be talked about for years to come.