I took the girlie option and stayed in the noddy group. The grown-up group were 6 mates, 5 of whom had been twice before. I asked the guy who hadn't been before if he'd done any off-road: "a bit". I realised he'd been modest when he wheelied the entire length of the field out of the farm. Turns out he was some sort of MX trick rider. I should have guessed really, given the number of times he said 'radical'.
I managed 2 reasonable offs (and a few flops in gullies). I first went down just after our first go on the little MX course. We'd just been shown the proper way to corner (with a short welsh bloke holding my leg up while trying to talk my ass crack into the right place). I thought I was getting the hang of it so bolted out at the head of the group. On the third turn (the flat one at the far right as you looked out of the cow shed thing) I lost the front and lowsided in a heap. So much for doing it properly - that corner had been my favourite before I tried doing it right, but I never managed to get comfortable on it after that. Sliding the rear out of corners is such a great feeling
My second was almost the end of the day. The two groups had rejoined and were lapping a track through the woods. One section had 3 bumps in quick succession, and I hit a loose boulder on the way up the second one which flicked the steering left. I think I over-corrected, and bounced way off to the right off the 3rd bump, straight at a tree. I decided it was time to get off the bike, so jumped up, clipping the bars with my shins. No damage, but it took an age to get the bike out of the bushes it got caught in.
It turns out Wednesday is discount night at the curry house: starter, main, side + rice/naan for £9.95, so the bill was so small it was completely uninteresting, but thanks for the heads up.
A great day and well worth the money. I can't wait to go back.