The stars head for Cleveland!
By TMX Archives on 12th Mar 08
HEAD for the hills this Sunday, to Castleton in the North Yorks Moors, where Middlesbrough and DMC is staging the National Cleveland Trial. The start is opposite the cricket field at 9.30am, when the first of the 180 riders will be flagged away to tackle the 36-section, 30-mile course. The all-star entry is headed by British Trials Champion, the redoubtable Graham Jarvis, endeavouring to add his name to this prestigious trophy for a fourth time, and possibly three wins on the trot. But he will be hard pressed by Beta's superbly talented World Junior Champion, Michael Brown, buoyant after his recent victory in the Colonial.
Also, winner in 1999, Ian Austermuhle's seemingly effortless style will carry him close to the front, as will the experience of Dan Thorpe, Michael Phillipson and the two Hemingway brothers, Ben and Dan.
Added to this mix of exceptional talent are, Mark and John Sunter,
the newly crowned East Yorkshire Champ Simon Kershaw, and last year's runner-up, Gas Gas rider Shaun Morris.
Shaun makes his return after a serious eye injury and rode his first trial this year on March 2. Shaun explains that he feels he is getting the big stuff right but strugges with smaller rocks and streams etc. However, he is practicing hard ready for the coming British Trials Championship rounds.
The Inter class is wide open. Scarborough's Gary Collinson rode a blinder at the Colonial to win the class, but pushing hard will be Dave Pye and Mark Harrison, while Karl Dodderidge, Phil Mayfield and Jonny White can never be discounted. But they need to ride exceptionally well to stave off the challenge from the hard-riding, tackle anything, style of equestrian girl Becky Cook, well backed-up by Emma Bristow and Katy Sunter.
Great spectating points: Clitherbeck – just off-road above Danby, Poverty Hill – off the Danby to Lealholme road, Crossley Side – at the petrol stop and the exciting finale – Stormy Hall, off Blakey Ridge to Castleton road. It promises to be an explosive day of full-on competition and the Middlesbrough club would just like to ask everyone to park sensibly, take your litter home and most of all respect the countryside.