Report: Waterside JMC
By Andy Withers on 15th Jun 16
ROUND 6 of the Waterside Club Championship saw 52 riders meet the challenge of a fast flowing stream, slippery logs and forest slopes with a loose surface resulting in some exciting action.
Andy Somerton led the way in the highly competitive Over 40 C on his 125 Gas Gas as he gave a masterclass of controlled riding to win by 22 marks from Marcus Laurent on his Honda.
The overnight rain made conditions tricky but Andy only lost 22 in total on the white route.
He lost most marks on the slippery logs and tree roots of section nine this included recovering with one almighty ‘dab' after launching the bike and himself through the air over the logs.
Rider after rider tried to power over the logs and roots but lost marks either through a lack of grip or through losing control through too much gas.
The Experts were also finding several sections a challenge. It took almost two hours to complete the first of four laps with riders struggling to find a way up the sheer stream bank in section four where Glenn Bailey dropped two marks to everyone else's fives.
Beta-mounted Glenn rode excellently to lead for the first three laps, but after dropping a disappointing 21 points on the final lap Tom Copp on his Sherco took the class by 11.
In the Intermediate Matt Sleep on his Montesa continued his excellent form losing only 20 marks with two uncharacteristic fives on the last lap.
Ben Page, returning after several months absence, rode with great confidence in the Novice, dropping only three marks on the tricky stream sections.
These sharp turns out of the flowing stream, the tight turns over the logs and jumps across the stream were made to look relatively easy as he finished well ahead of Jason Colein on his Beta and Kieron Higgs on his Honda.
In the Beginners Danny Orr on his Gas Gas produced his best ever performance on the yellow route taking a share of first place with Tony Reynolds producing two faultless zero performances. Steve Barratt finished an excellent third.
John Miles returned to with his BSA Bantam after several meetings on a Triumph Twin as the Bantam is more suited to the tight sections and the many log hazards at Snooks Lane. This tactic worked as he won the class from Bob Hampton on his Fantic.
In the 50/50 Beginners a newcomer to Waterside Darren Sharp won the class on his Fantic after initially struggling to work out the club flag system for the many different routes.
In 50/50 Novice Simon Rye continued his recent strong results by taking the class from Richard Miles and in the 50/50/50 Novice Graham King ruled the day.
Winners in the Youth section were ‘family affairs' with Callum and Teigan Wood winning the Youth Beginner and the E Routes. Jack Somerton riding the same route as his dad won the Youth Novices.
RESULTS
Experts: 1 Tom Copp (Sherco) 38, 2 Glen Bailey (Beta) 49, 3 Michael Graves(Beta) 66.
Intermediate: 1 Matt Sleep 20.
Novice: 1 Ben Page (Beta) 37, 2. Jason Colein (Beta) 40, 3 Keiran Higgs(Montesa) 52.
Beginner: 1 Danny Orr (Gas Gas) 0, 2 Tony Reynolds (Sherco) 0.
Over 40 C: 1 Andy Somerton (Gas Gas) 22, 2 Marcus Laurent (Honda) 44.
Twin-shocks: 1 John Miles (BSA Bantam) 36, 2 Bob Hampton (Fantic) 50.
50/50 Novice: 1 Simon Rye (Beta) 34, 2 Richard Miles (Montesa) 47.
50/50 Beginner: 1 Darren Sharp (Fantic) 20, Brad Arter (Beta) 44.
50/50/50 Novice: 1 Graham King (Beta) 34, 2 Andy Gates (Montesa) 35.
Youth E: 1 Teigan Wood (Sherco) 20, 2 Evie Steadman (Oset) 116.
Youth Beginner: 1 Callum Wood (Beta) 39, 2 Drew Smith (Beta) 48.
Youth Novice: 1 Jack Somerton (Beta) 55.
