Report: Manchester 17 MCC
By Team TMX on 15th Jan 16
Manchester 17 Club held their opening trial of 2016, the Fisher Trial, two laps of 20 rocky sections around Flash village, near Buxton, Derbyshire officially England highest village.
The trial included the opening round of the Cheshire Centre and North Wales Championship series as well as the club's 2016 Edgar Series which amass points from the four road-based trials run by Man 17 throughout the year.
Some 85 riders turned up for the event from far and wide with some riders from as far afield as Bedfordshire. There was some concern that the trial wouldn't be finished in daylight hours with lap one taking some riders up to four hours.
However, the second laps was much quicker; riders were now familiar with the sections resulting in most competitors taking less than hour to complete, so everyone finished well within daylight hours.
The trial had of three routes – Expert, Clubman and 50/50.
Winning the premier Expert class on the Hard route was Gas Gas rider Dan Thorpe who finished five-marks ahead of Dec Bullock. With scores of six and 11 respectively, they were well ahead of Chris Pearson on 25.
However, Chris was riding an Electric Bike – very strange because of its near silent running. Following Chris closely behind was Brad Bullock, Richard Timperley and Andy Cripps with only five-marks separating the three of them.
Repeating last year's win on the 50/50 route was Sheffield's Darren Wasley who finished on nine lost, followed by David West on 15. The next three riders were all very close, Lewis Black, Steve Swanson and Katy Sunter with only two-marks separating them all.
In the Clubman class, the ‘on form' Macclesfield rider Toby Eyre came out on top.
Obviously inspired by winning Man 17's Boxing Day Tial with a clean sheet, he stormed to another low scoring ride of nine, six-marks ahead of second placed Ian Watts.
The next three positions were taken by semi-vintage machines with Mark Reynolds on a Tiger Cub, Chris Greenwood on a Twin-shock Honda and Rob Boyer, who must get the prize for the most difficult machine to ride in a ‘stop allowed' trial – a 500cc Triumph Twin.
Riders seemed to enjoy the event, there were no disasters, quite a bit of praise, few complaints and no injuries.
A special mention must go to the exceptionally hardy observers because though it didn't snow it was very cold and to volunteer to stand out four to five hours makes you either a masochist or a hero.
RESULTS
Hard Route: Dan Thorpe 6 marks lost, Dec Bullock 11, Chris Pearson 25, Brad Bullock 27, Richard Timperley 30, Andy Cripps 32, Corey Dubik 35, Tim Pearson 38.
50/50 ROUTE: Darren Wasley 15, David West 17, Lewis Black 20, Steve Swanson 22, Katy Sunter 22, Ian Margetts 24, Jeremy Darlington 27, John Cowley 31.
Clubman Route: Torbjorn Eyre 9, Ian Watts 15, Mark Reynolds 17, Chris Greenwood 19, Rob Bowyer 19, Tony Cowley 24, Andy Hipwell 25, Peter McCanna 25.
