Jack Thompson Trial
By TMX Archives on 5th Dec 07
DAVE Shave, riding a 500 Ariel, didn't just have to master the sections on the Sidcup club's Jack Thompson British Bike Trial, he also had to battle the elements as strong winds sent driving rain almost horizontal across the hillside at Canada Heights, on Sunday.
Hard-working members of the club laid out 18-sections round the side of their famous motocross track and in the wooded hillside that faces the M25, and all riders were asked to complete two laps, starting from 9am.
For once the weather forecast was right, and the early morning drizzle turned into a gale by mid-morning, making it a very uncomfortable day for those un-sung heroes of trials, the observers, and also made lots of the sections very much harder for those big old four-strokes than they were originally planned.
Shave started at a hell of a pace by cleaning the first eight sections, then dropped one on the next, but had real problems on section 14 where he had a five - a section he went on to clean at his second attempt.
With one lap complete, Shave was in second in class as Mark Baker, on another 500 Ariel, had finished his opener on just 14 - three marks clear of Shave. But, as Shave ended his second lap, losing the same amount of marks as his first, Baker had a couple of fives mid-lap which cost him the chance of the win. Shave finished on 34 compared to Bakers 41. Steve Jones was a distant third with a disastrous second lap where he lost most of his marks.
In the Unit class, it was much the same story Graham Bridger (200 Triumph) cleaned the first half of lap one while second place man Chris Anderson, on another Cub, finished one mark ahead.
However, Bridger completed his second lap on 24, as Anderson recorded a couple more fives, finishing with ten-marks more.
JACK THOMPSON BRITISH BIKES TRIAL
Canada Heights, Swanley (Sidcup & DMCC)
HARD ROUTE
Non-Unit: Dave Shave (500 Ariel) 34 marks lost, Mark Baker (500 Ariel) 41, Steve Jones (500 Norton/ Ariel) 79, Geoff Cornes (500 Matchless) 116.
Unit: Graham Bridger (200 Triumph) 42, Chris Anderson (200 Triumph) 51, Graham Barton (200 Triumph) 66, Chris Horn (200 Triumph) 82, Tom Bartram (200 Triumph) 83, Derek Maker (200 Triumph) 99, Alan Robinson (350 BSA) 101.
Two-stroke: Ben Wibberley (175 BSA) 4, John Kendall (250 Greeves) 38, Tim Streatfield (250 Greeves) 44, Dave Spurgeon (250 Greeves) 56, Roy Enticknap (250 DOT) 76, Mick Clarkson (175 BSA) 83, Les Matton (250 Trivil) 85, John Pattinson (250 Greeves) 88, Paul Casling (175 BSA) 92.
MIDDLE ROUTE
Non-unit: John Johns (500 Triumph) 37, John Mantle (400 AJS) 74.
Unit: Daniel Burton (200 Triumph) 50, Richard Bartlett (350 BSA) 60, Paul Amos (200 Triumph) 62, Richard Challis (250 BSA) 62, Kevin Thompson (250 BSA) 82, Graham Knowler (200 Triumph) 104, Roger Sutton (350 BSA) 104, Joan Westbrook (250 BSA) 109, Henry Bowdery (200 Triumph) 116, Brian Larby (250 BSA) 117, Malcolm Anderson (200 Triumph) 146, Chris Pickup (350 BSA) 153.
Unsprung: Stan Metcalf (400 Royal Enfield) 70, Ian Watkins (350 AJS) 74, Ian Johnston (410 AJS) 144.
Two-stroke: Martin Kemp (250 Greeves) 54, Roger Wait (250 Greeves) 63, Graham Andrews (197 James) 99, Mike Smith (250 Greeves) 100.
EASIER ROUTE
Unstrung: Vince Cottingham (350 Matchless) 52, Dave Blanchard (500 Ariel) 64, Bob Onley (350 Velocette) 71, George Smith (350 Royal Enfield) 87.
Sidecar: Peter Pesterfield/ Keith Laker (500 AJS) 23, Paul Fishlock/ Debbie Merrell (500 Ariel) 25, Bob Chapman/ Dan Hornsby (500 Ariel) 31, Rob Cameron/ Bludge Smith (550 AJS) 43.
For full report and pictures see T+MX News, Friday, December 7, 2007