Since 1969

The trial that started with a complaint.

At an ARC National at Eastnor, Major Ben Hervey-Bathurst — owner of the castle and president of this club — watched the field come through and concluded the trial was too easy for the best drivers. So he issued a challenge.

1969 — The challenge

Clubs were to return in October with their best drivers. The Major laid out the course over his own ground himself — and then drove it, against the best Land Rover drivers in Britain. Proceeds went to the restoration of Eastnor Parish Church and to the village school.

A winning crew at Eastnor in the early years — Eastnor, where it all started.

The Rose Bowl

His son, James Hervey-Bathurst, donated the Rose Bowl that the winning team still takes home. The format settled into what it remains: a classless team trial over two days, with a shield for the best standard-vehicle team and, since 1998, a trophy for the best all-female team. It has run every year except 2001, lost to foot-and-mouth, and 2020, lost to Covid.

Land Rovers along a ridge at Eastnor — The trial has run every year since, bar 2001 and 2020.

1997 — The memorial

When the Major died in 1997, the club renamed the event the Major’s Memorial Trophy in his honour. The apostrophe matters — it has always been his trial.

2023 — Green Hall Farm

After the Eastnor Estate ended off-road trialling, the Majors moved to Green Hall Farm in Powys: room for twenty sections, more than a hundred drivers, and a camping field to hold them all.

An early trial at Eastnor — Fifty-odd years on, the idea is unchanged: bring your best drivers.

This year’s Majors Results