Five for Graham!
By TMX Archives on 19th Mar 08
THE perspiration on Graham Jarvis's brow, as he received the prestigious Cleveland Trophy for a fifth time, was testament not only of his gruelling ride but also the pressure that young Michael Brown applied in making his bid for a first Cleveland win.
Middlesbrough and DMC's National Cleveland Trial started at Castleton, on the North Yorks Moors, and turned into a superb duel between the experience of reigning British Champion Jarvis and the youthful
exuberance of World Junior Champion, Brown.
With consistent brilliance the pair pulled out a commanding lead over last year's runner-up Shaun Morris.
As the first of the 180 riders were flagged away, the early sections saw a nervous start. Lee Sampson and Ian Austermuhle had steadying dabs on the first. Ben Hemingway his mind on other things, like becoming an uncle dabbed on the second and fived the rocky gully of number five. It gave him a wake up call and he lost only another three on the Crossley Side group before the punch card change to leave him on nine.
Last year's runner-up, Morris, was riding superbly and was still clean until the stream section at Birks Wood. This caught him for a stationary dab. Jarvis was lucky not to concede a one at Clitherbecks, as his handlebar's touched on a rock to help balance, but without aid of a replay, it would have been harsh. Only Dan Thorpe of the top runners lost a mark here.
Austermuhle spoilt a good card with a five in Birks Wood and another on the climb and turns of 19, as did East Yorks Champion, Simon Kershaw. Only Jarvis, Brown, Hemingway and a young George Morton were good enough to clean here. Jarvis, in all sorts of trouble, somehow regained control on the pinnacle of the step pure magic.
At the halfway stage, Brown and Jarvis were both clean. Then came Morris and a confident Lee Sampson on six, with Phillipson and young Jack Challinor on ten.
Ben Ludgate led the Inter class on 13, even though he fived the tricky gully of number four in the opening group and the last before the petrol stop. He recovered confidence-wise with just another three dabs lost. Ian Hopley was close on 15, Dave Pye on 16 and Richard Fawcett, having a cracking ride, on 17. Becky Cook and Mark Shaw were on 20.
Nick Coleby was leading the Clubmen at Clitherbecks on one, Simon Williamson and Mike Watson were on two and three marks respectively, but Watson pulled ahead with a clean and a dab at Crossley Side where Williamson needed four and Coleby fived.
They had a quick drink and an energy bar before tackling the tougher second half.
Brown continued in this magnificent form, reeling off clean after clean until the notorious Bottom Hall group at the head of the dale, where he was forced into his first loss. He was docked a one over the huge rock steps at the very end of the section. Morris was lucky not to drop further behind as he needed a couple of fighting threes to stay on line, as did Hemingway. Sampson was next best, but later slipped up at Stormy Hall. Added time faults at the finish dropped him out of contention.
Fawcett's chance slipped away with a disastrous five on the first section after the petrol stop, as did Hopley's with a three and a five, while the talented Cook was attacking everything with confidence and it was paying off, moving her up the order to claim fifth place, a superb result.
NATIONAL CLEVELAND TRIAL
Castleton, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough & DMC)
Expert: Graham Jarvis (MRS Sherco) 1 mark lost, Michael Brown (Beta) 5, Shaun Morris (Gas Gas) 20, Ben Hemingway (Beta) 27 (mc).
Inter: Ben Ludgate (Beta) 35, Richard Fawcett (Sherco) 46 (mc), Mark Shaw (Scorpa) 46, Ian Hopley (Gas Gas) 50, Becky Cook (Gas Gas) 51, Phil Mayfield (Gas Gas) 53 (mc).
Clubman: Simon Williamson (Gas Gas) 22, Mike Watson (Montesa) 23, Trevor Williams (Sherco) 26, Nick Coleby (Montesa) 27, Mark Doughty (Sherco) 28 (mc), Kevin Chapman (Gas Gas) 28, John Walker (Beta) 28, Derek White (Gas Gas) 29, Colin Chapman (Scorpa) 30, Mark Summer (Beta) 32, Martin Phillipson (Beta) 33.
For full report and pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, March 21, 2008