Macclesfield trials club

Rough Heys trial

17/12/06

Report by Andy Hallam

 A total of 93 riders arrived to wet and muddy conditions at Rough Heys Quarry for the third round of the Kelcoat championship and the final Macc trial of the year.

Craig Robinson took his JST Gas Gas to expert victory on the hard route, 5 marks ahead of Mike Roberts who dropped 35. Here it was the steep muddy climb of section 4 that took the most marks and the observer only recorded a couple of cleans. Youth victor on this route was Oliver Booth dropping 87 with Liam Robinson second on 92.

The 13 riders on the 50/50 route rode 4 sections on the hard route and 6 on the middle. Section 7 was contested on the hard route and it was this section, which involved two steep muddy climbs that caused the most problems. Top placed rider on the 50/50 route was Andy Hipwell in the O/40 class, on his distinctive yellow Gas Gas he dropped 14, miles ahead of second place O/40 rider Peter Hallam on his (trusty?) Yamaha, who dropped 45. Ade Mellor took the honours in the inter class losing 45 marks. Top youth was Beta mounted Sam Clarke who dropped 29, Dan Turnock was 11 points adrift on 40.

The middle route again was the most popular route with 44 riders competing. Section 7 turned out to be more difficult than expected, a turn on a steep muddy climb caused riders to work hard and grip was at a premium. Henry Rosenthal topped the O/50 class and also was the overall winner on this route with his low total of 13. T Williamson won the O/40 class on the middle route just beating Ade Bellis by one mark. The winner of the novice class was C Allison who lost 31 marks, 10 points ahead of Gas Gas mounted Margaret Carter. The youth victor on this route was D Bullock coming 13 marks ahead of Gas Gas rider S Hatton.

23 riders competed on the easy route and Tom Booth’s total of 12 was just enough to beat Terry Harvey who dropped 14. The section that proved most difficult on this route was the boggy section 4 where the major problem was getting through the begins cards. Mike Vennard rode his Gas Gas to first place in youth on 46 marks with A Bailey second on 73.    

Hard Route

Expert: Craig Robinson (Gas Gas) 30, Mike Roberts (Gas Gas) 35

Youth: Oliver Booth (Gas Gas) 87, Liam Robinson (Gas Gas) 92

 50/50 Route

O/40: Andy Hipwell (Gas Gas) 14, Peter Hallam (Yamaha) 45

Inter: Ade Mellor (Gas Gas) 45, L Hutchinson 51

Youth: Sam Clarke (Beta) 29, Dan Turnock (Gas Gas) 40

 Middle Route

O/50: Henry Rosenthal (Gas Gas) 13, C Bowers 86

O/40: T Williamson 20, Ade Bellis (Beta) 21

Novice: C Allison 31, Margaret Carter (Gas Gas) 41

T/S: J Henson 40, M Beech 67

Youth: D Bullock 64, S Hatton (Gas Gas) 77    

 Easy Route

Adult: Tom Booth (Gas Gas) 12, Terry Harvey (Montesa) 14

Youth: Mike Vennard (Gas Gas) 46, A Bailey 73