The YMSA welcomed over 70 riders to the opening round of the 2016 trials championship last Sunday, at the famous Burycliff quarry venue. The day dawned cold, dry and bright, a far cry from the last event 6 weeks previously at Dudwood farm barely half a mile away which was blighted with several inches of snow.
The usual format of 12 sections to be ridden 3 times was the order of the day. The course setters managed to include a couple of sections which had not been used before. The A class youth entry rode the same route as the adult experts, and the scores clearly demonstrated the gulf between what a good national youth rider on a 125 could achieve compared to national and international standard riders on a 300.
The A class saw a close finish with Oliver smith just edging Joe Collins by 2 marks. Jack biggins made the long trip from the north east worthwhile with a steady ride into third place only 11 marks adrift. Section 7 had a long carry at speed between 2 huge boulders. The expert adults made short work of this, but to quote Oliver smith it was a bit scary on a 125. The B class saw M.R.S Sherco's Daniel slack out to defend his hard won title from 2015. His score of only 13 marks lost belied the degree of difficulty of many of the sections on this route. Section 11, towards the ends cards gave the riders choices. One line twisting between boulders with the potential to catch footrests and boots was preferred by many. However, Daniel pioneered an alternative line which entailed jumping across a series of gaps between the boulders. This he did with absolute precision giving him 3 cleans, the only rider to do so all day. In addition, to his stunning rides on section 11, he was the only rider to clean section 2 all day, a monster hill climb, with an equally steep descent to the ends cards. Praise should also go to jack dance riding up a route and a class on his 80 beta, missing out on a podium place by only 8 marks. Gus oblein riding his new sherco slotted into 2nd place beating Mitch Brightmore by 9 marks.
The C class was a repeat of the last YMSA event where harry turner and ash Brightmore went head to head. Harry had a comfortable win by 31 marks. He was best all day on sections 3,4 and 9, but the difference in the scores between himself and ash was down to the number of 5s – 5 to harry and 15 to ash.
A fine start in his debut ride at YMSA D class saw jack dance's younger brother max win his first major event from reigning champion Stan Carr. Max opened up a lead from Stan by better performances on sections 5,6 and 12.
The youth novice class was won comfortably by alice Minta from Libby tett giving an all girls podium.
The adult experts was a 3 way battle between Iwan Roberts, tom Minta and Toby Martyn. Iwan won a tight battle from tom Minta who was riding a standard 250 montesa Honda while his trick 300 future bike was being rebuilt. It could have been a different story however as Toby Martyn had a major off when his throttle stuck open on the 2nd lap on section 2. Fortunate to escape serious injury as he and the bike cart wheeled back down the steep climb. Apart from a badly bruised leg, being the tough kid he is he got back on it and finished the event all be it in some pain.
The adult immediate class saw Jamie millers repeat his class win from the previous event by 8 marks from jess bown. Joe Spivey finished 3rd 1 mark down on jess in the closest finish of the day.
In the adult novice class, making a welcome return after 9 months out was Andy land on his mono Yamaha had an easy win from nick Humphries and Danny Wiggins.
The green route saw Tim Blackmore beating mark hallows on his 250 majesty by the slender margin of 1 mark only. Ben Burton riding yet another of the Burton clans collection of classic bikes, this time a gorgeous 250 RTL Honda twin shock finished 3rd seven marks a drift.
Results
A class
Oliver smith sherco 91
Joe Collins gas gas 93
Jack biggins beta 104
B class
Daniel slack M.R.S sherco 13
Gus oblein sherco 42
Mitch Brightmore gas gas 51
C class
Harry turner beta 60
Ash Brightmore beta 91
George Clarke beta 136
D class
Max dance beta 62
Stan Carr oset 116
Youth novice
Alice minta beta 56
Libby tett beta 147
Experts
Iwan Roberts beta 6
Tom minta Honda 9
Toby martyn beta 15
Intermediate
Jamie millers gas gas 25
Jess bown scorpa 33
Joe Spivey sherco 34
Novice
Andy land Yamaha 26
Nick Humphries beta 65
Danny wiggins gas gas 77
Green route
Tim blackmore gas gas 2
Mark hallows majesty 3
Ben buton Honda 10