Macclesfield Trial 7 Sept 08. Report by Mike Stewart.

The Macclesfield Trials club returned to Rough Hayes Quarry last weekend for the first round of the Kelcoat Club Championship. Over 80 riders signed on, despite the dire weather forecast. As it turned out the rain managed to stay away until most riders were on their last lap. However heavy rain throughout the preceding week ensured a mucky day for everyone.  With this in mind the section plotters had set 10 sensible sections, which turned out to be slightly easier than usual.

Three routes, 10 sections and four laps with a new innovation for the club, an introduction of a 50/50 route combining the easy route and the middle route. This proved a popular option and will surely be a stepping stone for riders on the easy route who may like a taste of something a little more challenging but would struggle with 40 tough sections.

The dozen riders on the Expert route made light work of most of the sections but section one proved a rather awkward test. A tight turn followed by a steep muddy bank had most of the riders in double figures. Expert winner Mike Roberts lost 8 here only bettered by young Tom Dexter who lost half of his marks here. On the 50/50 route, Ben Miles and Will Emmott riding round together at the back of the field must have thought they had the top places sewn up between them. Both Beta 4 stroke mounted they lost 2 and 4 marks respectively; however both were beaten by 12 year old Dec Bullock, out on a new Gas Gas Raga 125 he kept his nerve and finished the trial on clean, a brilliant effort.

The middle route is always the most popular and with 6 different classes catered for it’s no wonder why. Club stalwart Adrian Bellis achieved a clean sheet to pip Carl Machin by one mark in the over 40 class. Elsewhere Gas Gas employee Luke Meridith topped the novices (didn’t want to get his white boots dirty) and despite only losing 3 marks Henry Rosenthal finished behind Colin Lear in the over 50 class. Top youth was Dec’s twin brother Brad making for a happy journey home in the van.

The new easier 50/50 route was headed by Carl Braddock riding a 250 Beamish Suzuki. Club secretary Bill Brown finished a close second place on his more modern Gas Gas. Section 9 observed by Harvey Lloyd began with a tight off cambered turn which took plenty of marks, although the top two kept their scores to a minimum. P.Davies came out top on the white route despite having a few problems with section 4.

The heavy rain didn’t put the riders off their food, as the butty wagon was doing a roaring trade come the close of play. Thanks must go to the organisers and the observers, who were a little damp by the time they handed in their boards.

RESULTS.

Hard route

Expert:             M.Roberts 13   R.Bowyer 20    O.Booth 34      D.Turnock 42

Youth:              T.Dexter 10      T.Stewart 39    L.Wright 46      O.Pitt 49

50/50 route

Inter:                B.Miles 2         W.Emmott 4     A.Davies 11     N.Butterworth 25

Youth:              D.Bullock 0      J.Stewart 14     G.Salt 32

Middle route

Novice:            L.Meridith 5     P.Hunter 11      M.Renshaw 13 M.Finch 20

O/40:               A,Bellis 0         C.Machin 1      M.Leddy 2       A.Swan 3

O/50:               C.Lear 2          H.Rosenthal 3   A.Foot 9          K.Roberts 13

Youth:              B.Bullock 10    D.Woodward 22          M.Southern 30

Easy 50/50

Clubman:          C.Braddock 6  B.Brown 11     A.Atkinson 16              D.Shaw 17

Easy route