Time to Man up boys...
By Barry Robinson on 7th Oct 11
Mansfield Maun will conduct and stage manage the Battle of Bracken Rocks on Sunday at Holloway, Derbyshire, where the gladiators assemble for the final round of the Luscombe Suzuki Leeds ACU British Class A and B Youth Trials Championship. And what a finale! That short five round championship series brought early season complaints from some contenders, and maybe they were justified at the time, writes Barry Robinson.
Could anyone have foreseen such a spectacular ending to a very hot championship? With Jack Price on a cliff hanger two points in front of the Red Dragon warrior Iwan Roberts in Youth B and northern duo Dan Peace and Billy Bolt. The latter pair will ride for a placing, not the crown. Make no mistake it will be who dares wins on Terry Crabtree's rugged rocks. Three laps are on the menu and at the end of the day all will know they have ridden in an unforgiving event.
Price and Roberts have a brace of victories. Jack though has two 17 point results and if he finishes second at Bracken Rocks his option will be a 17 point drop score. Roberts has a 15 to drop if he is first or second so mathematically if Thomas MInta, James Stones or Tom Hooper ride a blinder the cat will be among the pigeons. The rule implements dropping the lowest score, in both classes, and in event of a tie on points the final round winner takes all. Of course the talented international and Class B British Ladies Champion Nikita Smith could just deliver her usual classy result.
For Class A read Class B and juggle a few names. Oxford's Bradley Cox on his SXS Beta and JST Gas Gas mounted Isle of Wight rival Chris Stay know all about Bracken Rocks' challenges. Stay has grown in height and in strength after many hours in the gym as well as running. His result in the British Championship Youth class has been excellent. Chester's Dec Bullock, and the other Isle of Wight serious contender George Gosden, Sheffield's Tom Dexter and Dronfield's Corey Dubik, plus Yorkies Jack Stones, Rob Waite and Sam Yeadon all are capable of rocking the Cox/Stay battle. Whether local ace Luke Walker on his MRS Sherco? Sadly the popular Ashby de la Zouch teenager has been fighting arm pump throughout the year and has undergone surgery to try and cure the debilitating problem. However Luke is locked on to a certain third place. However, Luke will be at Bracken Rocks with his father Andrew, observing one of the twelve sections that will test all riders.
Karen Crabtree runs the show as secretary and starter while Michelle, Diane and Judy juggle the results under the watchful eyes of Club Steward Bill Wraight. Top caterer Maxine will be on hand to feed the hordes before, during, and after the trial. Note the start time is 10.01am.
