Wild' up North!
By TMX Archives on 6th Nov 08
IT'S Northern Experts time again and on Saturday morning, at Wildboarclough, that scenic hamlet south of Buxton, a total of 130 riders will assemble to ride the 61st Northern Experts Trial, thanks to the Manchester 17 club, writes Barry Robinson. Winner last year, Sherco's 2009 signing Michael Brown will be having one of his final outings on Beta and will have to work to win on Saturday. The Atom has more or less the same opponents as last year with only British Champ Graham Jarvis missing from a hot top ten. Messrs Dan Thorpe, Chris Pearson, Dan Farrer, Lee Sampson and Ross Danby along with Liam Walker and local ace Craig Robinson are the regular names in the frame but the
dark horse is first timer Jack Challoner.
Can the 17-year-old from Halifax get tuned-in to the delights
of Plantation, Ben's Ditch, Cumberland, the slabs at Danebower or those three horrors in dark and dismal Eardley's Burden? No fewer than 24 of the 130 entries will take the Hard route while the remainder break down into Clubmen and Over 40s plus 14 Inter level Clubmen.
Darren Waslley is the fit Over 40 and will be aiming for a second winning ride but Antony Cooper, Maria Conway, Katy Sunter and Lucy Gregg may be around to spoil the party. Local Paul Bennet was third last year so he must rate as a front runner with young Sam Clarke, John Hulme and Andy and Factory Kev Hipwell.
The trip across the A54 (watch out for the nutty road bikers if it is a sunny day) takes in the reknowned Holt Gully and two sections at Cutt Holt, towards the farm. Don't head for Reeves Edge because it ain't in the mix this
year.
The format is two laps of 20 sections and a start time of 9.01am. And, do not park in the car park at Clough House as it there for the walking fraternity. The par ferme is as last year, taking the left fork after leaving the A54, so enter by the top gate and leave by the bottom gate. A butty unit will be on site all day.