Neale before the mighty Thor
By TMX Archives on 1st Dec 06
RIDING a borrowed 500 Ariel, Matthew Neale won the big thumping Pre-unit class at the 26th running of the Eastern Thumpers Pre-65 Trial at Thorrington, Essex, at the weekend with the loss of just four marks.
While Neale was wrestling his way through the sections, John Kendall on a 350 Triumph was winning the Unit class, a great achievement considering he had to withdraw from last year's event because of a major illness.
However, best performance of the day went to Mark Banham who floated his 250 DOT through the whole event without getting his boots muddy as he finished with a clean card.
The hard-working members of the Eastern Four-stroke Association laid out 17 sections amongst the trees at Poplars Chase Farm, where riders were asked to complete three-laps starting at one minute intervals from 10am.
The weather was kind to all concerned this year as a bright sunny mild morning greeted over 70 riders and officials as a massive thunder storm just skirted the area.
Sections three and 16 claimed the most marks on the Harder route.
Neale was the only rider on the bigger Pre-unit machines come away from number three without loss and only had a single dab on section 16, while second in class, Mark Fletcher, on a 500 Royal Enfield, spoilt his chances of victory on his first attempt at section nine where a unusual mistake cost him a five as he finished on 11 – just seven marks behind Neale.
Clive Dopson on a 450 Norton had a dab here and there, as he finished on 12 marks lost, just one more than Fletcher.
26th NATIONAL EASTERN THUMPERS PRE-65 TRIAL Poplars Chase Farm, Thorrington (Eastern Four-stroke Assn)
Pre-unit: Matthew Neale (500 Ariel) 4 marks lost, Mark Fletcher (500 Royal Enfield) 11, Clive Dopson (400 Norton) 12, Colin Mote (500 Ariel) 23, Geoff Brooker (380 Ariel) 28, Trevor Baker (500 Matchless) 41, Steve Parker (350 Royal Enfield) 86.
Unit: John Kendall (350 Triumph) 5, Trevor Barrell (350 BSA) 6, Richard Whitebread (200 Triumph) 7, Chris Collins (250 BSA) 11, Trevor Hill (250 Triumph) 60, Colin Sadler (250 Royal Enfield) 63, Peter Teager (250 BSA) 63.
Two-stroke: Mark Banham (250 DOT) clean, Nick Robinson (250 Cotton) 5, Bryn Matton (175 BSA) 8, Kevin Hood (175 BSA) 11, Graham Braybrook (175 BSA) 15, Mike Smith (250 Greeves) 34, Tim Streatfield (197 DOT) 35, Les Matton (250 Francis Barnet) 42.
Sidecar: Pete Pesterfield/ Keith Laker (650 Triumph) 23, Daniel Hornsby/ Bob Chapman (500 Ariel) 26, Ray Humm/ Ray Parfitt (350 Royal Enfield) 52.
Novice: Phil Maltby (350 BSA) 57.
Rigid: Bernard Rodemark (270 BSA) 4, Roger Finch (270 BSA) 5.
Gentleman: Brian Fletcher (500 Royal Enfield) 1.
For full report, results and pictures see T+MX News, Friday, December 1, 2006