Results Round 1 Peak Classic Trials Club Championship 2015. Clifton Nr Ashbourne Derbyshire. Sunday 25Th January

[old trials fanatic]

Peak Classic Trials Club held their first trial of the 2105 season at Clifton Scrambles course Ashbourne Derbyshire last Sunday and managed somehow to find the good weather day sandwiched between the usual winter weather. The recent snow and ice had all disappeared and the next wave wasn’t forecast till mid week so the good turnout of riders made the most of the winter sunshine which hindered vision a bit on some sections being just in the wrong place but we mustn’t complain and nobody did.

Four laps of 10 sections was the order of the day and as usual it was the limestone rocks that took most marks with section 9 being the nemesis of many a good ride.

Steve Hitchcock piloted his Honda to victory in the Expert Twinshock class in a close fought battle with Yamaha mounted Simon Critchley. Steve took the win on 18 marks 10 of which were lost on that tricky section 9 while Simon secured second place on 20 just one mark ahead of local lad Mark Weston, Montesa, on 21. Again it was section 9 that decided the outcome with Simon losing 11 of his score there whereas Mark lost 14 on the same section to finish on 22. How the outcome could have been so different but for that one section but that’s trials for you.

Classic Expert British Bike wasn’t as tightly fought with Kevin Scott bringing his immaculate Tiger Cub home in pole position losing 38 marks along the way again section 9 accounting for 14 of those. Young Joseph Wills, James, took second place on 49 leaving Gary Shaw on his rigid AJS to take a commendable third place on a respectable score of 52.

Classic Expert Twinshock saw Robert Mycock, Bultaco, continue his return to form take the win losing just 17 in the process from Andy Cantrill on his Ossa in second place on 23 marks ahead of third placed and 2014 class champion Dave Pattison on his trusty Bultaco who lost a very respectable 26 and again it was section 9 that was the decider. If only ?

Intermediate British Bike saw a good battle between evergreen Neil Walker on his Francis Barnett duking it out with Harry Stannistreet on his Ariel arrow engine Zundap with Neil taking the spoils with a score of 12 from Harrys 15 but this time it was section 8 a tricky path through the trees with some difficult tree roots to catch the unwary that was the decider. Still a good ride from Harry on his home built special that is destined for we hope great things at the forthcoming Scottish Pre65 2 day trial at the start of May. Paul Clowes very nearly joined the party on his Tiger cub but settled for third on 18 marks which was still an excellent result on the day.

Young Louis Bennett showed how he is to be a star of the future on his Fantic taking a masterful win on a score of just 5 marks lost in the Intermediate twinshock class from second placed Gary Martin, SWM, on 11 and unlucky John Morley on his Honda who took third place on 18 marks but when you realised he had ridden the final lap without a clutch due to a broken cable then his score was simply fantastic showing that never say die determination to finish he so justly deserved his third place.

The only clean ride of the day came from Tim Hartshorne who completed the course on his immaculate Matchless for a loss of 0 marks WELL DONE ! On any other day Geoff Gadsby’s score of just a loss of 5 marks on his BSA would have been more than enough to take victory but this was not that day and he had to be happy with second place. Third was taken by Paul Baddeley, Sprite, on 24 marks which was still a very respectable days work so well done one and all.

It was very tight in the Intermediate Twinshock class with Bultaco riding Tony Shaw just taking victory by the slimmest of margins 1 point. Tony finished on 18 with Dave Cole on his Yamaha snapping at his heals all the way on 19. Aprillia mounted Peter Austin held on though to take a well earned third losing 28 marks to round up the top three in class.

Clubman British bike saw the tightest fight of all though with Dave McGregor recovering from a serious illness back on form on his Greeves tieing with another Greeves rider namely Arthur Tomkinson both lads finishing on 13 marks and Dave just taking the honours with the most cleans tie decider. Ray Critchlow nearly made it a three way split on his Tiger Cub but in the end settling for third on 15 marks lost. Nice one lads. I say lads but all three are well past their 70^th birthday which just shows how trials riding keeps you young.

Clubman Twinshock saw John Critchlow beat all comers to take victory on his Yamaha and lose a mere 4 marks in the process. Second was claimed by Mike Kelly on his Fantic who lost 8 marks and third placed Philip Green on his Bultaco bringing up the rear on 18 marks.

This just left the final class of the day Pre 95 air cooled monos which was won by ex East Midlands Champion for numerous years Barrie Rodgers still riding and enjoying his sport that has been such a big part of his life. Barrie lost just 12 marks on his TY 250 mono but the score was immaterial because the fact that so many great people can still ride their bikes and enjoy themselves in the process makes all the work involved in putting on an event worthwhile.

Our next trial will be at Burycliffe Quarry on 22^nd February and will be followed by the presentation of the awards for the 2014 season at the Miners Standard inn Winster.

So till next time SEE YOU THERE !

Expert Twinshock

1^st Steve Hitchcock Honda 18 marks

2^nd Simon Critchley Yamaha 20 marks

3^rd Mark Weston Montesa 21 marks

Classic Expert British Bike

1^st Kevin Scott Tiger Cub 38 marks

2^nd Joseph Wills James 49 marks

3^rd Gary Shaw AJS 52 marks

Classic Expert Twinshock

1^st Robert Mycock Bultaco 17 marks

2^nd Andy Cantrill Ossa 23 marks

3^rd David Pattison Bultaco 26 marks

Intermediate British Bike

1^st Neil Walker Francis Barnett 12 marks

2^nd Harry Stanistreet Ariel 15 marks

3^rd Paul Clowes Tiger Cub 18 marks

Intermediate Twinshock

1^st Louis Bennett Fantic 5 marks

2^nd Gary Martin SWM 11 marks

3^rd John Morley Honda 18 marks

Intermediate Air cooled mono

1^st Russ Green Beta 18 marks

2^nd Colin Slater Yamaha 30 marks

Intermediate over 50’s moderns

1^st Rod Dakin Gas Gas 17 marks

2^nd Barry Craig Sherco 32 marks

Classic Intermediate British Bike

1^st Tim Hartshorne Matchless 0 marks

2^nd Geoff Gadsby BSA 5 marks

3^rd Paul Baddeley Sprite 24 marks

Classic Intermediate Twinshock

1^st Tony Shaw Bultaco 18 marks

2^nd Dave Cole Yamaha 19 marks

3^rd Peter Austin Aprillia 28 marks

Classic Intermediate over 50’s moderns

1^st Cliff Richards Ossa 18 marks

Clubman British Bike

1^st Dave McGregor Greeves 13 marks

2^nd Arthur Tomkinson Greeves 13 marks

3^rd Ray Critchlow Tiger Cub 15 marks

Clubman Twinshock

1^st John Critchlow Yamaha 4 marks

2^nd Mike Kelly Fantic 8 marks

3^rd Phillip Green Bultaco 16 marks

Clubman air cooled mono

1^st Barrie Rodgers Yamaha 12 marks