It was by Hook or by crook
By TMX Archives on 4th Dec 08
RAIN and very cold conditions greeted the massive entry for the annual National Brian Fowler Memorial Trial. This year's venue was the spectacular Hook Woods Trials Centre, at West Horsley.The Worthing Trials Club set out a first class event with 12 challenging sections to be ridden three-times. Most of the top Southern riders were in attendance and the general feeling after the trial was that it had been a great day albeit not in the best of conditions.
The clerks of the course, Tim Paddock and Graham Manthorpe, made a few alterations early on Sunday morning and got the severity just about spot on.
Section one was a climb and descent on a tree-rooted bank. Over 40 competitor, Mick Marshall, got it completely wrong and suffered a tumble. Meanwhile, on the Expert route, Jamie Jones got far too much air on his Gas Gas and was up amongst the trees – luckily no harm was done to rider or machine.
Nearby section two had the Experts thinking! The route took them across a log with the option to go up a rocky gully or over a large rock. Becky Cook was the first to attempt it and was happy to exit with a three. The next rider, Sam Haslam, opted to ride the big rock and went clean. Alexz Wigg then proved that the hazard was also cleanable the other way, posting a brilliant feet-up ride.
The third section involved a big log with a nasty outcrop of tree roots. Both Sam Haslam and James Fry lost their first marks of the trial here when they got off line. Ben Morphett and Jack Sheppard got it right and cleaned.
Section four was on a very slippery bank and gave the Blue route riders a chance of a clean. Clint Leggett and Dave Renham fired their twin-shock mounts up superbly and earned a clean on their punch-cards. Jamie Brown and Joel Manthorpe, in their first national event, were not so lucky, requiring dabs.
Number five section looked straight forward, but caught out almost the entire entry, with its watery rocky gully. Phil Martin on his Montesa 4RT and Dave Clinkard were two of a handful of Blue route riders to clean it throughout the day.
On the Expert route, the line was much tighter with a log at the end. Kent's Ben Wibberley was looking good but had to put down a foot on the tricky rocks, as did James Fry when he lost his Sherco front wheel on the slippery camber.
Alexz Wigg, Sam Haslam and Ben Morphett were all spot on line and went through clean as a whistle.
Section six was in the same gully. This got very slippery and water soon gathered in the holes near the ends cards. Roger Johns and Stuart King looked impressive on their Gassers as a roost of water came up from their rear wheels.
The final step on section seven was where Alexz Wigg lost his first mark of the event, while the other top riders all went clean.
NATIONAL BRIAN FOWLER
MEMORIAL TRIAL
Hook Woods Trials Centre, West Horsley (Worthing TC)
Expert: Sam Haslam (300 JST Gas Gas) 8 marks lost, James Fry (290 MRS Sherco) 12, Ben Wibberley (Stevens Gas Gas) 31, Andy Blackman (300 Gas Gas) 45, Alan Ayres (290 John Lee Sherco) 84, Greg Marshall (280 Gas Gas) 107.
Youth A: Ben Morphett (125 JST Gas Gas) 5, Jack Sheppard (125 Beta UK) 20, Chris Short (125 JST Gas Gas) 93, Thomas Moss (125 Gas Gas) 132.
Youth B: Chris Stay (125 JST Gas Gas) 24, Ben Heane (125 Beta) 35, Max Varney (125 Gas Gas) 48, Mark Cottingham (125 Gas Gas) 56.
Novice: Stuart King (250 Gas Gas) 23, Chris Heane (270 Beta) 24, Andy Dudman (250 Scorpa) 34, James Connor (270 Beta) 36.
Over 40: Phil Martin (250 Montesa 4RT) 16, Dave Clinkard (250 Beta) 19, Kevin Hart (200 Gas Gas) 27, Roger Johns (250 Gas Gas) 30.
Twin-shock: Clint Leggett (250 Honda) 44, Dave Renham (200 Fantic) 56, Barry Roads (201 Fantic) 57, Simon Mepham (250 Armstrong) 94.
Best Worthing Member White Route: James Fry.
Best Worthing Member Blue Route: Andy Dudman.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
Worthing's very own James Fry was unlucky yet again as he finished runner-up for the third year running.