British Champs head to Wales!
By TMX Archives on 19th Apr 13
With only a two week gap between the first and second rounds of the new-look 2013 British Trials Championships the contenders have had little time to further refine their no-stop skills - without the aid of a minder - which is the new rule this year.
The opening round, the Anthony Rew Trial staged by the West of England club in Devon, saw defending British Champion James Dabill win the Championship class from arch-rival Michael Brown in an event that all apart from the leading duo found to be on the tough side.
"I thought it was a good trial” said Dibs, "but I was caught out by the no-minder rule. We weren't informed of this but I was told that I should read the rule book!”
Cumbrian Darren Brice convincingly won the Expert class in Devon.
So this Sunday it is down to South Wales for the St David's, run by the Neath Motor Club.
However, it is not the Ammanford venue this time but Llety Rafel Farm, Aberdulais, Neath. Postcode SA10 8HR.
This marks a welcome return to the Aberdulais venue which is spread out over a large area and has interesting, different aspects to it. Besides the expected rocky outcrops it also has climbs, loose stony climbs with possible muddy twists and turns .
It has been a few years since this area was last visited but it is unlikely to have changed a great deal.
Everyone will face a 12 section course to be ridden three times.
There is a two hour 30 minute time allowance for lap one and overall five hours to complete all three laps.
Down at the Anthony Rew, although it seemed to be tight early on, no one lost penalties on their first circuit in either class.
In the Championship this year it was pretty much "as you were” with the top three being Dabill, Michael Brown and Ross Danby, the order in which they finished last year.
With the series only comprising four rounds this year there is no time to ease yourself in and if James is to be challenged then his rivals need to get to the top of the podium a bit quick.
Sam Connor showed his class with a tremendous fourth place in Devon while Yorkie Jonathan Richardson claimed fifth.
Sam Haslam also looked good but Alexz Wigg and Jack Sheppard who were seventh and eighth last time out will both be looking for improvement in the standings.
The Experts are currently headed by Darren Brice who is no stranger to winning being a former Expert champ. There was no less than 21 marks between him and second placed Tom Affleck two weeks ago with Jack Stones third.
With the format of the ACU/TRC sponsored event having changed for 2013 there will be no Saturday
practise and the start time for Sunday's trial is 9.30am when the first of the Expert riders will be away.
Here's hoping for an excellent trial and TMX will carry a full report with pics next week.
