Report: Bassenthwaite & DMC
By Team TMX on 4th Nov 15
THE Bassenthwaite club staged their showpiece DK Laing Trophy Trial last Sunday at Threlkeld, near Keswick, in the heart of the Lake District and were rewarded with a turnout of more than 80 riders.
They were treated to a long, challenging, tough 10-section lap which looped out from the quarry base out towards Thirlmere.
The event represented the opening round of the 2016 Northern Centre Championship and Richard Gaskell drew first blood, just pipping long-time pal and rival Stephen Dixon with Will Brockbank pushing them hard.
The Green course was just as hard fought over with Stu Gaskell just managing to make it a family double with a single mark advantage over Nick Shield.
Clubman J Parker rode to the only clean ride of the day, a super effort over a challenging course and even if the sections are relatively easy you still have to keep your concentration.
Trevor Clarke and Graham Teasdale followed closely.
A straight-forward looking banking at section one managed to take marks off several Hard/ Green course riders including Stephen Dixon, James Postlethwaite, Nick Shield with both Will Brockbank and David Stevens dropping slack fives.
Sections two and three caused few problems although the third did take Stephen Dixon for a five on lap two which ultimately cost him the win.
The fourth and fifth were set in a jumble of slippery rocks but rode easier than they looked, with almost every rider having at least one clean ride through both sections before heading cross country to two new hazards on Wanthwaite Bank.
The first, a steep slippery gully with an even more slippery descent, observed by Richard Tallontire, took marks off the whole entry apart from Will Brockbank on the Hard/ Green course and eventual Clubman course winner J Parker who had a cracking ride going clean all day.
Trevor Clarke lost all of his score of three on this section.
After a long steep climb up on to Threlkeld Knotts sections eight and nine, observed by Tommy Brady and Ted Beatty, this long double sub not used for several years got worse as the day went on as the damp rocks polished up.
The final and only stream section took few marks off the Clubmen but the Hard/ Green route proved very different, the best rides coming from Stephen Dixon, Richard Gaskell, Nick Shield, David Stevens and Joe Hutchinson, all losing three.
The marks lost proved that the sections were absolutely spot-on and while there were quite a few retirements in the Clubman class this was mainly because some of the lads had had enough after three laps, really enjoying the event but being too tired to tackle the final loop!
All in all a great trial from the Bass team who thank all landowners and observers for making it happen.
RESULTS
Experts: Richard Gaskell (Ossa) 19, Stephen Dixon (Scorpa) 21, Will Brockbank (Sherco) 24, James Johnson (Beta) 32, James Postlethwaite (Beta) 63.
Green course: Stuart Gaskell (Scorpa) 14, Nick Shield (Beta) 15, J Black 20, John Gornall (Gas Gas) 22, Dave Stevens 24, Johnny Robinson (Gas Gas) 26.
Clubman
Over 50: J Parker 0, Trevor Clarke 3, Graham Teasdale 6.
Over 40: M Peck 6, S Mycock 17, J Tennant 18.
Novice: G Brown 10, A Jackson 11, A Brayton 12.
Twinshock: R Oliphant 13.
Youth B: J Willshaw 18.
