The Isle of Wight MCC held its annual Wight Two Day open trial on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th April. The Club would like to thank Mr Roger Morgan for the use of Knighton Woods and Mr Rob Taylor for Bembridge Down. Very many thanks also to Terry Graves, ACU Southern Centre Steward who was on hand to officiate and keep us all in check. The Observers, Club officials, photographers: Viki Taylor and Sandra Power, Caterers, spectators and of course the riders – many travelling across from the mainland. We appreciate all your support. The Club ran a raffle for the observers with three prizes each day.
There were in effect two trials running side by side – an all off road course and a course that included roadwork. Those who took part on the road set off from Knighton to ride one lap (of ten sections) at Bembridge before returning to Knighton for two laps of the ten sections there and on the Sunday they rode from Bembridge to Knighton for one lap before returning to Bembridge for the final two laps. The all off road course consisted of three laps at Knighton on Saturday and three at Bembridge on Sunday.
The great British weather had a massive impact on the first day, following twenty-four solid hours of rain, the conditions at Knighton were extremely difficult. Riders had to work exceptionally hard just to get around but never the less kept going, after all it is a two-day trial, all was not lost! Bembridge Down was a different kettle of fish entirely, what a difference a day makes! The sun was shining, the chalk down was dry and rider’s spirits were lifted -Phew!
The overall winner was Will West (class 1, Twin shock hard, with roadwork). Will managed to build a healthy lead on Saturday from second place rider Rory Stephens. Nick Symes was not far behind Rory after day one but was forced to retire due to a twisted pair of front forks. Shaun Harris finished in first place in the Twin shock easy (class 2). Nick Read and Jim West had a real close finish in the ‘on road Expert’ class. Jim was leading after day one by five marks, Nick put in a determined effort on day two to take the win by just four marks with Josh Stephens finishing in third.
The closest battle of the weekend proved to come from the open hard (class five) – between friendly rivals Andy Scott-Jackson and Stuart Gummer. Stuart was the overnight leader with a three-point lead however Andy emerged as the winner at the end of day two, by just a single mark! Good effort guys.
The all off road part of the trial was also part of the Southern Centre Solo Star Championship. Expert rider Brian Francis managed Saturday’s testing conditions very well and continued riding even better on day two to take the win. Out of Centre rider Brandon Youngman (Southend & District mcc) finished in second. Things were much closer in the Intermediate class between Ashley Colledge and Shaun Francis – Ashley had a healthy lead after day one and despite a solid performance from Shaun on day two Ashley took the win by three marks. The Solo Star Novice was convincingly taken by Ian Newcombe with Brendon Colledge in second spot.
Island rider Ross Haydon took the win in the Twin shock hard (class 7) from Rob Fleet in second and Tom Bartrum in third. Both Rob and Tom representing Bexleyheath & District mcc. Ross built on a healthy lead from Saturday and put in a blinder on Sunday to stay ahead of the Bexleyheath boys. The Twin shock easy (class 8) was won by Tony Henbest of Blackmore Vale mcc, Tony did very well to get his BSA Bantam through the Knighton mud on the first day and saw him hold an overnight lead from Andrew Blacker (Mendip Vale mcc) in second and Leslie Youngman (Southend & District mcc) in third. These three finished in the same order on Sunday.
The open hard, class 9 was dominated on both days by James Brown, Paul Nash and Chris Every all from Southend & District. These three finished in first, second and third places respectively – on both days – very well done guys. Island riders Ben Read and Mark (kickstart) Gray finished in fourth and fifth places. The open easy, class 10, group of riders was headed up by Island trio Jon Croft, Mike Taylor & Ben Brodie. Jon protected a good lead from day one to finish on a total of 75 marks. Mike finished in second and Ben in a brilliant third place. Ben is relatively new to trials riding and has proved this weekend that he is a very fast learner!
The full results that include the section scores from the Saturday are available from the Club's website.
Planning will shortly begin for next year’s Wight Two Day trial as the 2017 event will be the Two Day’s 50th Golden Anniversary and we want to celebrate this important milestone with something special. We would just like to thank everyone one more time for your support this year and I hope you will all join us again next year for the Golden Anniversary.