Sam's the Manx!
By TMX Archives on 3rd Sep 09
SAM Haslam won the Manx Two Day Trial at the first attempt, scooping a clean sweep of all the main awards on his 300 JST Gas Gas. The Berkhamsted teenager trailed former winner Dan Thorpe by a single mark overnight, but turned on the style in wet conditions on Sunday to win by a margin of three. In addition to taking home a coveted Manx Sword of State replica and the main challenge trophy, he also picked up the Under-21 and Newcomer awards.
Thorpe had to settle for another runner-up award, but the gap to third-placed Barry Kinley was a large one. Miles Jones and Josh Woods battled it out for fourth on identical scores of 68.
It was a similar story in the Clubman class where Darren Wasley of Hillsborough overturned Steve Swanson's over-night lead of five to end the trial on a similar score of 28 marks. Gas Gas mounted Wasley took it on a count of 76 to Swanson's 71.
Dan Thorpe lost six on Saturday, including a three on the second of four subs at South Barrule Quarry where the observer, who had earlier had a slight altercation with Dan's father Dave Thorpe over a claimed baulk, was if anything lenient with both Jr and former Manx champion Kinley as both appeared to halt forward motion. Dan had earlier dropped a dab at Cornelly Mines and later in the final group where conditions were extremely wet and muddy – to the point that many riders struggled to enter the sections.
Under pressure as pre-event favourite in his debut year, Haslam had a good crack at the difficult uphill right turn on section two at South Barrule where Thorpe and Kinley needed threes. He got through for a two to save a dab on his rivals and cleaned the final 26 sections to finish on seven.
2009 MANX NATIONAL TWO-DAY TRIAL
National Solo Class (Sponsored by Wilson Collins Ltd)
WINNER: Sam Haslam (300 JST Gas Gas) 17 marks lost (Gilbert Harding Challenge Trophy and Jack Quayle Memorial Sword (Best P), Tom Oakley Memorial Rosebowl (Best Under 21) & Roger Kelly Shield (Best Newcomer)).
SECOND: Dan Thorpe (300 JST Gas Gas) 20 (Stanley Broughton Challenge Trophy).
THIRD: Barry Kinley (300 Knight Gas Gas) 61 (Ramsey MCC Challenge Trophy and Isle of Man Centre Award (Best Manxman)).
FOURTH: Miles Jones (250 Montesa) 68 (13x1) (Peveril MC&LCC Challenge Trophy and Philip Houghton Memorial Trophy (Best Four-stroke)).
FIFTH: Josh Woods (250 Beta UK) 68 (10x1) (Manx MCC Challenge Trophy).
SIXTH: Nigel Crellin (250 Scorpa) 77 (Southern MCC Challenge Trophy).
FIRST CLASS AWARDS: 7 Josh Brain (125 Azzy Paints Gas Gas) 91, 8 Ben Wibberley (280 Stevens Gas Gas) 94, 9 Ross Hancock (280 RCM Gas Gas) 109, 10 Nathan Wrigglesworth (250 Scorpa) 109.
SECOND CLASS AWARDS: 11 Jack Lee (300 JST Gas Gas) 111, 12 Chris Madigan (270 Beta) 112, 13 Chris Curtis (250 Gas Gas) 117, 14 Matthew McDonald (250 Beta) 123.
FINISHERS AWARDS: 15 Sean Quaye (250 Montesa) 134, 16 Nigel Birkett (250 Birkett Scorpa) 137 (Vintage Cup (Best Over 40)), 17 Anthony Ayrton (250 Montesa 4RT) 139, 18 Robert Polard (290 Beta) 150 (40x0), 19 Maria Conway (250 RAW Sports Beta) 150 (37x0) (Vannin Contractors Trophy (Best Lady)), 20 Michael Jackson (250 Gas Gas) 151, 21 George Edyvean (290 Beta) 153, 22 Sam King (300 RAW Sports Gas Gas) 164, 23 Mark Atkinson (280 Gas Gas) 171 (39x0), 24 Mark Batty (250 Scorpa) 171 (34x0), 25 Adam Hague (250 Montesa 4RT) 194, 26 Grant Laming (280 Gas Gas) 199.
Solo Clubman Class
(Sponsored by Manx Independent Carriers)
FIRST: Darren Wasley (300 Gas Gas) 28 marks lost (76x0) (Peveril Club Trophy (Clubman Overall) and GH Corlett Cup (Best Clubman Over 40)).
SECOND: Steve Swanson (250 John Lee Montesa 4RT) 28.
THIRD: Aled Price (280 Gas Gas) 38 (Schoolboy Trials Club Trophy (Best Clubman Under 21)).
FINISHERS AWARDS: 4 Matt Spink (280 Gas Gas) 49, 5 Robin Arnold (250 Montesa 4RT) 51, 6 Nigel Crowther (280 Gas Gas) 56...
NATIONAL MANX TWO-DAY TRIAL Douglas, Isle of Man (Peveril MCC)
Sidecar Class
FIRST: Jon Tuck/ Matt Sparkes (290 Beta UK) 11 marks lost (Obbree Cup and Ray Armstrong Memorial Sword (Best Driver) and Karen Luscombe Cup (Best Passenger)).
SECOND: Robin Luscombe/ Sam Luscombe (300 Montesa) 21 (Andy Smith Memorial Trophy (Second Crew) and Four Stroke Sidecar Cup).
THIRD: Robin Morewood/ Gill Morewood (320 MRS Sherco) 29 (Isle of Man Centre Award (Third Crew)).
FIRST CLASS AWARDS: Stan Cubbon Memorial Cup (Best Manx Sidecar)), 4 James Teare/ Jane Birchall (250 Scorpa) 41, 5 Jonathan Kelly/ Ealish Baxter (270 Kelly Blinds Beta) 43, 6 Bernard Chambers/ Helene Allaway (250 Montesa 4RT) 46.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
After a close run battle with Dan Thorpe, Sam Haslam took top spot and all the main awards at his first attempt.