REPORT: British Sidecar Trials Championships - Rd 5
By TMX Archives on 26th Mar 15
The DK Mansell trial was the fifth round of the Wessex Plant Hire British Sidecar Championship organised by the South Birmingham Motor Club.
Starting from the Boyne Arms, Burwarton, Shropshire, eight groups of land were used connected by roadwork. The first group at Upper Earnstrey had four sections all steady to get the trial moving with only the fourth section taking some dabs.
The next group was Earnstrey Barn with four more sections. The first of these was up and down dry banks which caused no problems.
Sections seven and eight took fives but was cleaned by Chris/ Robert Pickard, Phil Sparkes/ Joe Newman, Paul Churchill/ Kevin Parnell and a dab from Chris Dellow/ Karen Crabtree.
Inter riders David Tuck/ Steven Chandler also cleaned the section but David had eye sight problems when he could not find the ends cards.
Karl Jarvis /Bob Chapman got a clean after having to fight for grip right at the top on wet tree roots.
Lower Norncott was next with four more sections, the rock steps out of the water caught some of the early teams with fives for Paul Churchill/ Kevin Parnell, Neil Hannam/ Barry Pocock and Chris Dellow/ Karen Crabtree.
Luke Etheridge/ Dave Denyer had an early bath when the sidecar wheel slid off the rocks, and a hard working three for Mark Watmore/ Martin Lawford.
The rock at the beginning of section 16 took dabs from Chris & Robert Pickard, Churchill/ Parnell, Dellow/ Crabtree, Simon Evans/ Nick Harding and Alistair Allan/ Nick George.
Andy Scrivens/ Jana Grossmann rode this section well up to the muddy exit were Jana was dumped in the mud after Andy found too much grip right on the ends cards.
In the Expert class cleans were punched for Jon Tuck/ Matt Sparkes, Nigel Crellin/ Chris Molyneux and birthday girl Hannah Etherington with driver Daryl Dale.
At the punch card change the Experts were led by Manx men Nigel Crellin/ Chris Molyneux on two, Jon Tuck/ Matt Sparkes seven, and Rupert/ Chris Kimber on 12.
The Inters were led by Chris/ Robert Pickard 11, David Tuck/ Steven Chandler 18 and Andy Scrivens/ Jana Grossmann 19.
Simon Evans/ Nick Harding were well away in the Clubman class on seven.
The Newcomers class was well supported and increases in numbers every trial.
The riders today found it harder than normal and this class was led by Jake Pope/ Chris Skidmore on 32.
The punch card change saw the end of the trial for Phil Sparkes/ Joe Newman with a seal blown on their waterpump.
The last group at Upper Earnstrey had eight sections and it was the last of these which took marks.
Up stream included large rocks where it was a fight from begins cards to ends cards.
Out of all the entry the first clean and the best ride of the day came from Chris/ Robert Pickard jumping from rock to rock then with the largest rock at the end Chris launched the Gas Gas off the rock all three wheels well clear of the ground and landed with the front wheel just outside the ends cards.
Rupert/ Chris Kimber and Crellin/ Molyneux were next, repeating the Pickards' line also for a clean but not as spectacular.
RESULTS
Championship: Nigel Crellin/ Chris Molyneux (Gas Gas) 7 marks lost, Jon Tuck/ Matt Sparkes (Jotagas) 10, Rupert Kimber/ Chris Kimber (Beta) 22, Daryl Dale/ Hannah Etherington (Gas Gas) 35, Peter Dale/ Harriet Shore (Beta) 55.
Inter: Chris Pickard/ Rob Pickard (Beta) 25, Andy Scrivens/ Jana Grossmann (Beta) 34, David Tuck/ Steven Chandler (Jotagas) 40, Karl Jarvis/ Bob Chapman (Sherco) 82.
Clubman: Simon Evans/ Nick Harding (Honda) 16, Mark Watmore/ Martin Lawford (Gas Gas) 26, Alister Allan/ Nick George (Beta) 33, Kevin Allaway/ Peter Pesterfield (Beta) 38, Adam Allaway/ Aaron Jacobs (Gas Gas) 52, Chris Dellow/ Karen Crabtree (Beta) 52.
Newcomers: Jake Miles Pope/ Chris Skidmore (Sherco) 64, Luke Etheridge/ Dave Denyer (Beta) 123, Graham Thomas/ Hazel Thomas (Beta) 130, Paul Collins/ Deborah Pullum (Beta) 131, Ray Grilli/ Dave Olroyd (Gas Gas) 136.
