DALES CLASSICS TRIAL

[westyfield]

COOKES WOOD, YOULGREAVE, Derbyshire,

Saturday 16th July 2011

Club Championship Round 5

A break in the showers gave 40 riders a challenging ride over the slippery Derbyshire limestone at Cooke's Wood near Youlgreave on Saturday. As the trial progressed reports came in that The Clubman route was proving more difficult than usual for The Dales Club with several riders retiring as the adverse cambers and steep hills proved a step too far.

With the Clubman winner eventually losing just 7 marks it goes to show what a diverse range of standards and machines we cater forin the Dales Club.

The Expert route had a good spread of marks throughout although fatigue was to take its toll as an extra 5th lap was added to the course of eight lengthy sections.

Overall winners, Pete Carson on his rigid Bantam and Mark Hallows on his Majesty, conquered the Expert course for a loss of just two marks each, both dabbing in identical locations on the first lap of section two. Known as "Pipeline", this long twisting climb over loose outcrop, where the Clubmen took a direct route to the top, also saw Bob Sherras stumble on the final lap, losing two of his total five on his way to third overall and second to Mark in the Expert Twinshock class.

Derek Carson and Brian Dale continued their duel for Pre-65 2-Stroke honors with Derek coming out on top by virtue of completely cleaning sections 6 and 7 to Brian's total of twelve here. Derek had reverted to his trusty James but continued to grumble about not adapting well to it after several months campaigning a lightweight Bantam.

Also on the Expert route,the Pre-Units brought about a tie between the big Trifield of Mick Atmore and the BSA of Geoff Gadsby. Both riders lost Twenty marks with Geoff taking the win by the furthest clean rule.

Paul Bestwick, having moved up a class this year to the 50/50 route, took the Twinshock win on his Ossa from Peter Kearsly. Peter losing half his score on section 5, an awkward step behind a tree and with an adverse cambered exit.

Colin Frey coaxed his leading link Dot around for a creditable 44, again having a crack at the 50/50 route, but struggled to negotiate the tight turns of section 1, losing nearly a quarter of his marks here.

Pete Kirkman had a creditable ride to lose only half the marks of brother Mick to win the Clubman Unit-Con class on just 7.

Cliff Richards (Ossa Gripper) loss of 19 on the tricky climb of section 6, relegated him to second behind Clubman Twinshock winner, Carl Baker (Bultaco).

Overall, a challenging but successful trial, if a little hard for the inexperienced Clubmen.

Normal service will be resumed at the Clubs "weekend" event on August 20/21st at Carson's Farm.

The Saturday trial will be a friendly, easy course, open to all comers, classic and modern, and is being run by the Club and friends of Ged Speed who sadly passed away last year.

All proceeds will be donated to The Chesterfield Ashgate Hospice and to the RSPCA.

The Sunday trial will be round six of the Club Championship on basically the same course with stiffened sections.

Please view full details, results, news and photo's on the club web site: http://dalesclassic.wordpress.com/

Edited July 18, 2011 by Westyfield