Jarvis is the Manx
By TMX Archives on 28th Aug 08
GRAHAM Jarvis won his second Manx Two Day Trial in succession on the MRS Sherco, completing the opening day of 45 sections in the south of the Island for a loss of six marks before adding just two more dabs for a final 39 subs in the north on Sunday.
The tally of eight included a five for missing a flag on a muddy section at the top plateau of Ballaspit Farm on Saturday afternoon. Earlier, the 33-year-old four times British champion had completed the difficult waterfall hazard at Bawshan Gulley for a single dab, changing gear four times (first to fourth) mid-section on the 320cc four-stroke. Overnight, home rider Barry Kinley was placed second (for the third time in ten years) with a loss of 13 marks, made up of three threes and four single dabs. But he was again to be denied the runner-up spot overall by Dan Thorpe, outright winner in 2000, who was initially joint third with teenage Manxman Nigel Crellin on 22.
Hillsborough's Darren Wasley dropped four individual dabs on day one and a further 23 over a considerably tougher route on Sunday to win the Clubman class by a clear margin of 13 marks from Manxman Wayne Wardell and Llangollen's Jeremy Darlington.
Day one started in beautiful conditions but ended in a downpour putting the late runners at a distinct disadvantage in the final group of three subs at Knock Froy in particular. The dominance of former world number four Jarvis was always expected, but the battle for the remaining first class awards was intense.
Kinley, who became a father and passed his motorcycle driving test all within the space of 48 hours one week before the event (the latter enabling him to ride a machine of more than 125cc), dropped nine marks in the first 18 sections – including threes at Bawshan Gulley and South Barrule Quarry, but then rode the final 27 sections for a single dab – on the difficult final sub at Ballaspit – and a three on the first at Ballarock where fellow local Nigel Crellin holed the tank on his 250 Scorpa. >>>
Dan Thorpe had a disastrous start with four fives in the opening 11 sections – effectively wrecking any hopes he had of winning a second replica Manx Sword of State. But he kept his cool and regained his composure to ride the remainder of the day for two dabs and joint third with teenager Crellin, who rode the final ten sections with a rag stuffed in the holed tank.
Former British Enduro Champion Juan Knight was fifth overnight on 26, followed by Miles Jones and Ben Wibberley who were closely matched on 30 and 32 marks respectively.
Gas Gas mounted Darren Wasley led the Clubman class by three marks from Welshman Jeremy Darlington, with Nigel Crowther of West Leeds third on 11.
Sunday remained bright and reasonably warm throughout. There was an early worry for second place man in the National class Barry Kinley who detected problems with the clutch of his 300 Gas Gas preparing for the start. The clutch was dismantled, the fault rectified and swiftly rebuilt by Kinley's friend, sponsor and rival Juan Knight just in time to make their official start times!
Kinley started with a dab on the first section, a very hard opener over the tree roots at Ballamodda Farm. Knight, Kinley and Jarvis were the only three National class riders to get through the third section at Colden Plantation for single dabs, while Knight had a two at Injebreck Gulley. Running at the head of the field of just 25 Expert route riders, Knight and Kinley were forced to do some slime-cleaning at Brandywell Banks and each paid the penalty, dropping 11 and 13 marks in the first three sections. They managed to recover some ground at their favourite stomping ground, Tholt-y-Will Quarry, where for a long time they remained the only riders to conquer the harder route on the fourth section.
Kinley cursed what he described as a "stupid five” on the first of three subs at Glen Mooar, near Laxey, while seasoned spectator and former rider John Green of Bolton claimed Jarvis, Knight and Dan Thorpe were the only three to register genuine cleans on the first at Axenfell Plantation based on no-stop regulations.
Jarvis completed the day for just two dabs – the second dropped on section four at Brandywell Banks – to win the trial by the very comfortable margin of 24 marks from Dan Thorpe, who recovered well to claim yet another runner-up spot, edging out Kinley by seven marks.
Miles Jones had a cracking day two ride on the four-stroke Montesa to grab an excellent fourth spot overall and best under-21. His day two score of 15 was only bettered by Jarvis's two and Thorpe's 14. Knight was one mark further adrift on 45, but retained fifth after ousting fellow Isle of Man Centre champion Nigel Crellin.
The best Newcomer was 16-year-old National A class rider Josh Brain of the Isle of Man in a fine 12th place on his 125 Sherco, while top Veteran was evergreen Nigel Birkett. A spirited ride by Maria Conway saw her finish significantly ahead of Trial des Nations team-mate Emma Bristow.
Darren Wasley increased his overnight stranglehold on the Clubman class to finish 13 clear of a close four-way scrap for the runner-up spot. Ultimately, Manxman Wayne Wardell – who had dropped down from the National class because of a recurring back problem – nicked it on cleans from Jeremy Darlington, with Steve Swanson also moving ahead of Nigel Crowther in the final standings – the latter man riding at the rear of the field on day two.
The best Under-21 and leading Newcomer in this class of 205 finishers was Charley Lee of the Leamington Victory club on the John Lee Sherco in an impressive sixth place. Best lady was Katy Sunter in 20th spot and best Over-50 was the old warhorse Dave Thorpe, ten places behind in 30th.
MANX NATIONAL TWO-DAY TRIAL
Douglas, Isle of Man
SOLO – NATIONAL CLASS
1 Graham Jarvis (320 MRS Sherco) 8 marks lost – (Gilbert Harding Challenge Trophy & Jack Quayle Memorial Sword plus Philip Houghton Memorial Trophy (Best Four-stroke)).
2 Dan Thorpe (300 JST Gas Gas) 36 – (Stanley Broughton Challenge Trophy (Second)).
3 Barry Kinley (300 Knight Gas Gas) 43 – (Ramsey MCC Challenge Trophy (Third) & Isle of Man Centre Award (Best Manxman)).
4 Miles Jones (250 Montesa) 45 – (Peveril MC&LCC Challenge Trophy (Fourth) & Tom Oakley Memorial Rosebowl (Best Under 21)).
5 Juan Knight (300 Knight Gas Gas) 46 – (Manx MCC Challenge Trophy (Fifth)).
6 Nigel Crellin (250 Scorpa) 56 – (Southern MCC Challenge Trophy (Sixth)).
FIRST CLASS AWARDS: 7 Ben Wibberley (250 Stevens Gas Gas) 72, 8 Craig Robinson (280 JST Gas Gas) 82, 9 Josh Woods (290 MRS Sherco) 86.
SECOND CLASS AWARDS: 10 Nathan Wrigglesworth (250 Scorpa) 106, 11 James Harland (250 Montesa) 109, 12 Josh Brain (125 Azzy Paints Sherco) 111 – (Roger Kelly Shield (Best Newcomer) & Geoff Cannell Cup (Best Manx Newcomer)).
FINISHERS AWARDS: 13 Ross Hancock (300 RCM Gas Gas) 118, 14 Lewis Peart (280 Gas Gas) 123, 15 Matthew McDonald 250 Beta) 152, 16 Nigel Birkett (250 Birkett Scorpa) 55 (Vintage Cup (Best Over 40)), 17 Ben Sprigg (270 Beta) 166, 18 Maria Conway (250 Beta UK) 173, 19 Anthony Ayrton (250 Sandiford Montesa) 174, 20 Steve Harris (270 Beta) 176, 21 Robin Arnold (250 Montesa) 192, 22 Mark Batty (250 Scorpa) 211, 23 Emma Bristow (250 JST Gas Gas) 236...
SOLO – CLUBMAN CLASS
1 Darren Wasley (300 Gas Gas) 27 – (Peveril Club Trophy (Clubman Overall Winner) & GH Corlett Cup (Best Clubman Over 40)).
2 Wayne Wardell (300 Gas Gas) 40 (66x0).
3 Jeremy Darlington (290 Sherco) 40 (64x0).
FINISHERS AWARDS: 4 Steve Swanson (250 John Lee Montesa 4RT) 44, 5 Nigel Crowther (250 Gas Gas) 48, 6 Charley Lee (250 John Lee Sherco) 52 – Hugh Kelly Cup (Best Clubman Newcomer) & Schoolboy Trials Club Trophy (Best Clubman Under 21)), 7 Neil Christian (250 Montesa 4RT) 54, 8 Roger H Williams 246 Yamaha TYZ) 58, 9 Matt Spink (280 Gas Gas) 59, 10 Alan MacDonald (249 Scorpa) 60 (59x0,11x1,3x2), 11 Nick Dowland (250 Stevens Sherco) 60 (59x0,11x1,1x2), 12 Duncan MacDonald (249 Scorpa) 60 (56x0), 13 Eddie Aitkin (320 Sherco 4T) 63, 14 Aled Price (250 Gas Gas) 64 (60x0), 15 Nigel Sharp (300 Gas Gas) 64 (53x0) – (Bridge Car & Motorcyle Tuition Trophy (Best Manx Clubman Newcomer)), 16 Damian Owen (270 Beta) 66, 17 Michael Clarke (250 Beta) 67, 18 John Holdsworth (250 Sherco) 70, 19 Anthony Cooper (250 Gas Gas) 71, 20 Katy Sunter (250 JST Gas Gas) 74 – (Sykes Bowl (Best Lady Competitor)), 21 Mick Jackson (250 Beta) 76, 22 Scott Dommett (250 Beta 4T) 78, 23 Tony Moulder (250 Beta) 81, 24 Eusabio Gago (249 Beta) 82 (53x0), 25 Joel Sadler (250 Acklams Beta) 82 (51x0), 26 Lee Wardell (300 Gas Gas) 82 (49x0), 27 John Holland (250 Scorpa) 84 (49x0), 28 Andrew Woodward (250 Gas Gas) 84 (47x0), 29 Darren Williams (300 Gas Gas) 86 (49x0), 30 Dave Thorpe (280 Gas Gas) 86 (47x0) – (Carter and Cubbon Cup (Best Clubman Over 50)), 31 Paul Sullivan (250 Sherco) 88, 32 Dave Knaggs (280 Gas Gas) 89, 33 Howard Gulley (250 Gas Gas) 90, 34 Chris Heyes (270 Beta) 94, 35 Will Longden (250 Beta) 95, 36 Graham Christian (300 Gas Gas) 96, 37 Kieran Hankin (250 Honda RTL) 97 (46x0), 38 Steve Plain (250 Gas Gas) 97 (40x0), 39 Jay Howarth (300 Gas Gas) 98, 40 Chris Grundy (249 Montesa) 100,... 47 Michael Irving (250 Honda TLR) 110 – (Les Jones Memorial Trophy (Best Post-65 Twin-shock),... 68 Stephen Collins 250 Triumph Cub 132 – (Ramsey MCC Cup (Best Pre-65 Twin-shock).
Graham Jarvis kicks the Sherco's back wheel up Old Stoney Mountain on his way to victory last weekend.