Report: Reeth Three-Day Trial
By John Dickinson on 27th Jul 16
All-round off-road ace Jonathan Richardson whose last events were the Erzberg Rodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs extreme enduros rode his last trial at the Scottish Six Days in early May.
But he showed that he hasn't lost his feet-up skills in his search for speed by taking a popular win in the Richmond club's epic Reeth Three Day Trial, staged last weekend.
The Sherco rider enjoyed a really consistent three days, returning daily scores of 4-4-5 for a winning total of 13 marks – four ahead of nearest challenger Richard Sadler on the Beta.
Scorpa-mounted Andy Chilton bagged the final place on the podium, holding off TTT Beta star Iwan Roberts and last year's Reeth Three Day winner, Beta UK's Ian Austermuhle.
Consistency really was the key as while some riders shone on one single day their scores fluctuated over the three days.
Iwan and Guy Kendrew both scored magnificent clean sheets on the second day, but for them the damage had already been done on Friday, with scores of 20 and 24 respectively.
Then on the final day James Stones came alive on the Sherco to post best score on day with a miserly single dab.
In hindsight, Richard effectively lost the Premier as early as the fifth section on the opening day with a five at Woodyard, within sight of the start, in a section that Jonathan sneaked through for a dab.
And at the end of the day that was the difference!
The Green route was jam-packed with experienced riders, many of whom could have claimed the Premier but in the end it was Flintshire's Phil Houghton who eased ahead of Middlesborough funster Roger Williams, who had shared the lead with Phil on 10 marks after the opening day.
Local ace Phil Alderson, riding with daughter Robyn, took the final podium placing while nursing a bad back, incurred during a recent practise session with Guy Kendrew and Richard Sadler.Nigel Crowther nailed fourth place on his brand-new Ice Hell Vertigo, while in contrast fifth was in the hands of Glen Scholey on his 30-year-old Honda RTL four-stroke.
In the Clubman class Allan Richardson, Jonathan's uncle, made it a family double in the event enjoying a comfortable margin over Sheffield's Andy Longden and Anthony Stephen.
Bultaco Twin-shock fan James Moorhouse took his piece of Spanish history – fresh from a stunning win in the Allan Jefferies National Clubman class – to a fine fourth ahead of Neil Gaunt's 300 four-stroke Beta.
The Reeth was staged, as usual, at Parks Field in the picturesque village of Grinton, just a mile from Reeth and each day saw the ever cheerful and hard-working Richmond crew stage a totally different course.
The event drew the maximum mighty entry of 250 riders, with at least 60 more on the reserve list, many of whom got a ride as some unfortunates had to drop out as the event neared.
Friday saw a dry, warm day – too warm for some – with the cavalcade setting off in numerical order from Parks Field (they revolve each day to help even things out) and a relatively short day in the saddle with 30 sections to stretch the field a little in all three classes.
And it was local boy Jonathan Richardson who drew first blood, dropping just four marks on the Sherco, all in odd dabs, from last year's winner on his debut in the event, Beta's Ian Austermuhle – who dropped five in single prods.
James Fry was the only other rider to keep in single figures.
Just one behind Austy, James dropped a two in the second group at Stubbs Stones, just after the opening subs in Woodyard on the outskirts of Reeth.
It was close all the way downfield from there as the rest of the challengers all dropped at least one maximum on a day, which saw more tricky sections than they expected on the opening day.
Section 15 – the top sections at Hollin Wood and expert only – and the first sub at Morsdale were amongst the hardest of the day.
The course took a spur out from Woodyard, tackling four groups before taking on fuel at Ridleys then looping out onto Kexwith Moor with sections at Hollin Wood, Ridleys, Whisky Gill and Morsdale before filling up again and heading back down the spur back to base.
It was a great ride out for a Friday!
On the Green course it was experience all the way with nothing to choose between the two front runners Middlesbrough's Roger Williams on the Montesa and Welsh resident and Gas Gas mounted Phil Houghton, both on 10.
Local legend Phil Alderson was next on just 12, with Glen Scholey on his immaculate 30-year-old Honda RTL sitting fourth.
The mighty Clubman class got away to a perfect start with no fewer than 18 riders keeping their scores in single figures.
They were headed by Surrey traveller Barry Roads on the Gas Gas – who rides virtually anything and everything, and turns up anywhere and everywhere – on just a single prod dropped in the eleventh sub of the day at HollinWood.
Neil Gaunt on the 300 four-stroke Beta was right up there equal on marks with Anthony Stephen, with a Richardson family feud right behind with local Skeeby based brothers Les and Allan well and truly in the mix.
After Friday set out to ease competitors into the event Saturday saw the meat of it, with a superb ride out deep in Scott Trial country taking in a giant loop on the moors above Arkengarthdale but going anti-clockwise, in the opposite direction to the Scott.
The 35-section route skirted Hurst and Kexwith moors to take in the first petrol halt at Stang, on the Barnard Castle road near Bridge End, before crossing the road to Faggergill Moss.
It was then across to the other side of Arkengarthdale and some famous Scott section names like Punchard and Whaw Bridge. The last big group was six subs at Bleaberry Gill.
Despite some pretty tough sections, Iwan and Guy both turned in clean rides on a day when only seven riders kept their scores in single figures.
Richard Sadler made a good job of keeping his deficit down with just one mark cast away but Richardson kept his cool and another four marks saw his lead looking good.
Chris Alford enjoyed a notable ride, losing just eleven which contrasted favourably against 56 dropped on the previous day.
On the Green course only Houghton managed a single-figure day with just five marks on his card, an amazing ride that eventually ensured him the class victory.
Williams and Alderson. Crowther, Paul Dennis and Jonathan Hillary were the only other riders to keep their daily score under 20, which shows what a tough day it really was and the front runners were riding exceptionally well.
It was an even tougher day for the Clubmen with Andy Longden just shading best score on day with a 21-mark effort.
But Allan Richardson was on the case just one mark in arrears while James Moorhouse was doing amazing things on his Bult to record a 24 score that had plenty of riders of modern tackle shaking their heads.
The final day run was courtesy of trials dealer Andrew Brown and as a native of Swaledale he knows the area like the back of his hand and utilised five large groups, travelling as far up the dale as Oxnop.
Jimmy Stones was the star of the show, making his way through the 30 subs for just a dab, dropped at the eleventh section of the day at Whitaside.
Sadler, Chilton and Roberts kept at it all day for three-mark efforts but Richardson was well up to the challenge and his five-mark ride ensured him of a well-earned Premier.
Sherco duo Luke Walker and Cumbrian Darren Brice, the latter enjoying a rare ride out as he concentrates on his son Cameron these days, signed off in style with six-mark rides.
Stunning
Nigel Crowther posted best score on the Green route, just 10 marks but the round dozen from Houghton ensured a comfortable class win while in the Clubman class Allan Richardson ensured the family double with a stunning seven-mark ride, the only rider to keep in single-figures for the day.
There was a great bunch of girls riding the event and tackling all three classes, with World Champion Emma Bristow finishing inside the top 20 in the Experts, local ace Katy Thorpe best on the Green course and Louise Alford top lady in the large Clubman entry.
As ever it was a fantastic trial staged in an amazing setting, with weather to match.
Many thanks to everyone involved especially the landowners, sponsors and of course the many Richmond club members who worked hard to make this the amazing event it is.
RESULTS
Premier: Jonathan Richardson (Sherco) 13.
Experts: Richard Sadaler (Beta) 17, Andy Chilton (Scorpa) 19, Iwan Roberts (Beta) 23
Inters: Thomas Housecroft (Beta) 100, Sam Johnson (Beta) 108, Russ Rooksby (Montesa) 123.
Novice: Joel Sadler (Beta) 117, Joe Dawson (Beta) 143, Bevan Blacker (Beta) 147.
Lady: Emma Bristow (Sherco) 65.
Green Premier: Phil Houghton (Gas Gas) 27.
Green: Roger Williams (Montesa) 35, Philip Alderson (Gas Gas) 37.
Clubman Premier: Allan Richardson (Gas Gas) 34.
Clubman: Anthony Stephen (Gas Gas) 49.
Over 50: Neil Gaunt (Beta) 58.
Over 40: Andy Longden (Gas Gas) 47.
Twinshock: James Moorhouse (Bultaco) 50.
Clubman Awards: Adrian Jervis (Beta) 60, Mark Coulson (Gas Gas) 63, Ian Haigh 67.
Hard course local: Jack Stones (Beta) 59.
Clubman Local: Bruce Storr (Beta) 82.
Hard course First Time: Dec Bullock (Beta) 33.
Daily Awards:
Friday: Expert: Jonathan Richardson 4. Green: Roger Williams 10, Clubman: .Barry Roads 2.
Saturday: Expert: I Roberts/ G Kendrew 0, Green: Phil Houghton 5. Clubman: Andy Longden 21.
Sunday: Expert: James Stones 1. Green: Nigel Crowther 10. Clubman: Allan Richardson 7.
