Ashley reaches the Heights
By TMX Archives on 23rd Jan 08
ASHLEY Newbery, riding a 250 Beta, lost just four marks while on his way to winning, yet again, the Sidcup Sixty Trial at the club's famous Canada Heights venue at the weekend, and in so doing gets his name engraved for the ninth time on the Youngs Challenge Cup.
His name will go, once again, alongside such names as Gordon Jackson, six-times winner back in the 1950s and '60s, and local man Gordon Farley, three-times winner, and up to
date rides like Sam Connor, winner in 2006 and 2007.
But it could have been a completely different story, as the organising Sidcup club have rules and one of them is, that they will take entries after the closing date, but such riders will compete without award and result.
One of these riders was the young and very talented James Fry. He had matched Newbery section for section and finished with the same score – four marks – but the he had one less clean than Newbury so would have finished a very close second, if he had featured in the results.
The weather was very kind to the club as the continuous rain of the previous week petered out on Saturday night, giving the competitors, officials and observers a more comfortable dry day.
Hard-working club members laid out 18 varied sections to be attempt twice, hopefully before darkness.
Newbury set off in determined mood and remained clean right up to the imported rocks that comprised section 18. Riders are just not used to rocks in the south and Newbury lost his only points of lap one – a three – as his bike kicked and bounced over them.
On his second lap, he cleaned the hazard with relative ease and lost his one and only mark at the top of the steep, wet and muddy climb over some logs at section 13.
THE SIDCUP SIXTY TRIAL
Canada Heights,Swanley (Sidcup & DMCC)
Expert: Ashley Newbery (250 Beta) 4 marks lost, Ben Wibberley (250 Stevens Gas Gas) 6, Simon Bird (290 Freestyle Sherco) 17, Adam Farley (290 Freestyle Sherco) 20, Steve Monk (320 Sherco) 25, Greg Marshall (280 Gas Gas) 29, Stephen Foord (320 Freestyle Sherco) 30, Graham Marfleet (250 Gas Gas) 31, Ashley Hall (270 Beta) 32, Matthew Hogg (125 Freestyle Sherco) 37.
Intermediate: Stuart King (250 Gas Gas) 19, Tony Williamson (300 Gar Gas) 25, Bryn Matton (250 Beta) 26, Mick Marshall (280 Gas Gas) 28, Chris Every (250 Montesa) 33, Dave Plumb (250 Beta) 33, David Skinner (250 Beta) 35, Shaun Wallis (250 Gas Gas) 36, Robert Smith (250 Beta) 37, Andy Collins (290 Sherco) 41.
Novice: Kenny King (125 Gas Gas) 6, Geoff Brooker (380 Ariel) 7, Derek Baker (250 Scorpa) 8, Doug Norris (250 Montesa) 8, Jack Vinall (200 Beta) 10, Peter Southern (250 Beta) 10, Monte Bryant (250 Gas Gas) 13, Kurt Pringle (250 Scorpa) 13, Paul Stephen (250 Montesa) 16, Brian Cornelius (290 Sherco) 20.
Youth A: Tom Sands (125 Gas Gas) 23, Chris Short (125 Stevens Gas Gas) 35, Tom Howe (125 Gas Gas) 69, Thomas Moss (125 Gas Gas) 82, James Ray (125 Sherco) 89, Matt Godden (125 Inta Gas Gas) 90.
Youth B: Louie Allfrey (125 Inta Gas Gas) 39, Mark Cottingham (125 Gas Gas) 57, Zak Norris (125 Gas Gas) 71, Dougie Blackford (125 Gas Gas) 105.
For full report and pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, January 25, 2008