A sunny, freezing cold day in a valley near Lllangollen marked the start of the 2018 KIA Twinshock Championship. Plas Onn, Selattyn was being used for the first time as a KIA round and special thanks must go to the landowner Barry, who had excavated a huge car park especially for the event.
Many KIA ‘regulars’ were out, with some making their debut in different classes, but there were also some new faces appearing in the results, which is a great vote of confidence for the organisers of this, the fifth year of what has now become a ‘must-do’ championship for many riders.
Two laps of 20 sections provided the 160 riders that had entered with a challenging and varied course, comprising all types of terrain, from rock strewn streams to muddy banks all made that bit more difficult by the icy conditions. With such a large entry, riders were set off at different sections which meant that queueing was kept to a minimum.
In the Twinshock Experts, the finishing order was exactly the same as the championship positions last year. Richard Allen on his Honda TLR was in a class of his own, dropping less than half the total of the second placed rider, Olly Wareing, with Roman Kyrnyckyj a mark behind on his SWM.
The Twinshock Clubman’s class resulted in a win for Gary Hawkins on his recently acquired Fantic 200. He took the class by three marks from from Yamaha mounted local rider Tim Cuffin, with David Wilkinson and Butch Robson sharing third place on their Fantics.
Bultaco mounted Cumbrian rider Chris Myers made a winning debut in the Historic Spanish/Pre ’78 Experts taking the verdict from last year’s champion Stephen Bisby (Ossa 250)
The Historic Spanish/Pre ’78 Clubman’s class saw another debutant, Robin Oliphant (Suzuki 250) made a winning start beating KIA regular Jim Waters (Yamaha 175) into second place. David Matthews on his Bultaco 250 completed the top three.
Steve Bird (Yamaha 250) was back to his winning ways in the Monoshock Experts, with a clear victory over the reigning champion Nigel Scott (Honda RTL 250) who was rode with a strapped wrist after a recent accident. Dean Devereux’s recent club rides in the area obviously paid off, as he was third on his 260 TLM Honda.
Monoshock Clubman’s class was taken by Red Rose Classic member Paul Whittaker on his Fantic 212. Honda mounted Paul Hobson came second with another Fantic mounted Red Rose Classic member Lee Sagar finishing third.
Phil Houghton (Triumph 350) began this year as he did last year, with a win in the British Pre ’72 Experts class from Ian Peberdy (BSA Bantam 185). Local rider James Francis made up the top three with a fine ride on his BSA 250.
Jim Pickering provided a great advert for his products as he took the honours amongst the British Pre ’72 Clubmen on his 185 Drayton Bantam with Paul Howells (BSA 175) and Tony Dillon (Triumph 200) sharing second place. Third place went to another Drayton mounted rider, Peter Edwards.
Thanks are due to everyone involved in making the first event of the fifth year of the series such a success. Barry the landowner, the Aqueduct Classics club for all their hard work, the observers who braved sub-zero conditions, the KIA series organisers and lastly the riders, whose continued support makes it all worthwhile.
Entries are already open for the second round to be hosted by the Castleside Trials Club in County Durham. Further details of all events can be found at www.twinshockchampionship.org.uk.
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ROUND 1 – PLAS ONN
Twinshock Expert :
1. Richard Allen Honda 200 15 marks
2. Olly Wareing Fantic 200 36
3. Roman Kyrnyckyj SWM 280 37
Twinshock Clubman :
1. Gary Hawkins Fantic 200 9 marks
2. Tim Cuffin Yamaha Majesty 175 12
3= David Wilkinson Fantic 125 20
3= Butch Robson Fantic 20
Historic Spanish + Pre78 T/S Expert :
1.Christopher Myers Bultaco 325 52 marks
2. Stephen Bisby Ossa 250 65
Historic Spanish + Pre78 T/S Clubman
1. Robin Oliphant Suzuki 250 23 marks
2. James Waters Yamaha 175 40
3. David Matthews Bultaco Sherpa 46
Monoshock Expert
1. Steve Bird Yamaha 250 11 marks
2. Nigel Scott Honda RTL 250 25
3. Dean Devereux Honda TLM 260 33
Monoshock Clubman
1. Paul Whittaker Fantic 212 16 marks
2. Paul Hobson Honda TLM 250 23
3.Lee Sagar Fantic 250 29
British Bike Expert
1. Philip Houghton Triumph 3TA 350 18 marks
2. Ian Peberdy BSA Bantam 185 26
3. James Francis BSA 250 37
British Bike Clubman
1. Jim Pickering Drayton Bantam 185 7 marks
2= Paul Howells BSA Bantam 175 11
2= Tony Dillon Triumph Cub 200 11
3. Peter Edwards Drayton Bantam 185 17