Kershaw tops the Bil'
By TMX Archives on 6th Nov 08
A STUNNING ride in atrocious conditions by reigning East Yorkshire Centre Champion, Simon Kershaw, helped him narrowly defeat David Pye in Northallerton and DMC's Bilsdale Trophy Trial on Sunday.These two riders produced a cracking finale to this superb event as they entered the final group locked on 40-marks each. Kershaw held his nerve to emerge from the group having only added another three to his score, while Pye needed dabs on the two easier sections to add four to his tally. That gave Kershaw the victory. But the combative nature of this pair brought the best out in each.
This remarkable event would not have been possible without the observers. They also deserve a medal for endurance above and beyond the call of duty.
Held at the popular Sun Inn venue, Chopgate, with a 40-mile and 40-section course, plotted by Bill Pye and helpers, the hundred riders faced the cold, raw driving rain from the off.
Kershaw started in cracking fashion, cleaning the first three sections effortlessly, whereas Pye and Phil Alderson appeared a little out of sorts, losing four and five respectively.
At the difficult fourth hazard all the Expert failed with the excepton of Alderson who scrabbled out for three. So it was left to James Harland to go for glory, which he did. Hitting the huge rock jump off in the hillside spot on, he recorded the only clean of the day.
Kershaw was into his stride, and proceeding to clean everything until section 17 just before fuel stop. Here he lost three, leaving him on eight. Pye had uncharacteristically dropped off the pace with 13 lost, the same as Harland. Alderson was sticking with Kershaw though, on nine.
In Clubman A, Brian Kyrnyckyj, Colin Bailey and Barry Chapman were trail blazing over the moors, but it was Terry Raw who was top of the leader-board with just two marks lost until a three on the rocks of section five in the Wool House group. However three fives on his second card, dropped him down the order.
Centre Bilsdale Trophy Trial
Sun Inn, Chopgate (Northallerton and DMC)
Expert: Simon Kershaw (Beta) 43 marks lost, David Pye (Gas Gas) 44.
Best Inter: Eddie Aitkin (Gas Gas) 77.
Clubman A: Colin Bailey (Montesa) 21, Kevin Chapman (Gas Gas) 27, Terry Raw (Beta) 30, Barry Chapman (Beta) 34, Mark Buckworth (Beta) 34, Derek White (Gas Gas) 37.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2008