Richmond (Yorks) Eric Ridley Trial

[laird387]

  Richmond Motor Club. Eric Ridley Memorial Trophy Trial, Hurst, Sunday.

 

The remote village of Hurst formed the back drop for the rescheduled Eric Ridley Trophy Trial on Sunday in Richmondshire where almost one hundred trials starved riders assembled at Tonge Hill, Hurst, to ride a Paul Terry designed two lap sixteen section course. The streams were running high and it was bitterly cold, even more so out on the moors near Ridley’s Fold but the forecasted snow did not materialise. In view of the Arctic conditions Mr Terry closed the first section at 2.00 pm to avoid a frostbite/hyperthermia scenario. The photographer’s fingers were so cold he could not feel the shutter release button. The first two sections down the gill were fast running torrents of almost white water rapids which concealed slippery rocks. Guy Kendrew and Jack Stones both lost marks as did Will Reynolds. In the Over 40’s class only Chris Manby managed to clean both sections. A quartet of Vicky and David Andrew, Dave Nesham and Barry Watson were tested at section three to six where they endured a bitterly cold wind blowing across the moors. Only James Stones and Tom Hick bossed the Ridley group. James ran clean to the seventh section ran incurred a damaging five and three. There was a suggestion of ice on the rocks at the third section. Gary Thwaite was really fired up in the Greens and sailed right through to the tenth where two dabs went away. The ‘Gasman’, Roger Williams was right on Gary with a dab on the second on lap one but Paul Dennis dropped away with a stop and two in the penultimate section. On the hard course Matt Maynard was riding well after a three month lay-off to win the Inter category. He dropped twenty to match Tom Hick and John Crinson in the overall scores. For Matt Maynard and Will Reynolds it was a testing event. Neither had competed since the Scott Trial last October. Will’s Montesa was put away in its container after the Scott event but the Japanese bike started first kick on Saturday morning although onlookers thought otherwise. Jack Stones had other excuses to rely on. His twenty first birthday party the previous evening may have played a slight part in his performance. A trio of Richmond ladies braved the cool conditions. Katy Sunter grabbed ninth Green from Brendan Suffell and Paul Terry. Jack Harker was on his new Beta and beat his father Andrew by two marks while down in the clubman ranks Robyn Alderson and Hannah Richardson delivered good results in what was a thirty nine strong mix of Clubmen and Over 40’s. In the Youth Greens Ryan Brown excelled over rated Tom Needham while Joe Tales shaded the Dent boys- Charlie and Harry. 

Richmond have dated the Harold Graham Trophy Trial (all classes) at Cogden all on February 21^st and the Dick Horner Trophy Trial at Wensley (Green/Clubmen/O 40’s and Twin Shock + all Youth classes) for February 28^th.

 

 

Experts: Richard Sadler (Beta) 5, Guy Kendrew (Beta) 8, James Stones (Sherco) 13.

Inters: Matthew Maynard (Sherco) 20, Thomas Housecroft (Beta) 33, Russell Cannell (Sherco) 42.

Novices:  Nathan Cannell (Gas Gas) 30, Tom Alderson (Beta) 30, Thomas Coates (Beta) 60.  

Green course: Gary Thwaite (Sherco) 5, Roger H Williams (Montesa) 12, Paul Dennis (Beta) 17.

Youths: Ryan Brown (Beta) 36, Tom Needham (Gas Gas) 44, Sam Charlton (Beta) 68.

Clubmen: Paul Sadler (Beta) 9, Andy Kearton (Montesa) 14, Shaun Clennell (Montesa) 33.

Over 40’s: Mark Chippendale (Gas Gas) 16, Martin Pratt (Beta) 31, Chris Manby (Beta) 32.

Youths: Joe Tales (Beta) 39, Charlie Dent (Gas Gas) 49, Harry Dent (Sherco) 82.

 

PHOTOS:  JACK KNOOPS

No 12 is Hannah Richardson, No 195 is Guy Kendrew, in the black suit is Mat Maynard and the other rider is Richard Sadler, the Expert Winner

 

Report by BARRY ROBINSON,

Edited February 3, 2016 by laird387