Swinging Sixty's
By TMX Archives on 22nd Jan 09
BEN Morphett, riding a 125 Beta-UK.com Beta, won by the narrowest of margins at last weekend's Sidcup Sixty Trial, hosted by the Sidcup and District club at Canada Heights, Swanley, in Kent, and took home the impressive Young's Cup, a trophy which has names on it that seems to map out most of this country's best trials riders over the years. But, that only tells half the story of the 16-year-old's very remarkable win. When all the observers' cards were in and totalled, both Morphett and fellow youngster Ben Wibberley finished the two-lap, 18-section event with the loss of a miserly six points, with Morphett taking the win as he had totalled up 34 cleans to Wibberley's 31.
However, in section 17 on lap one, Morphett was given a five for ‘outside assistance', when his father put his foot on a rock in the section that had been loosened by a previous rider, holding it still as Morphett powered off it and up one of the many wet climbs.
Luckily for all concerned the incident was witnessed by clerk of the course, Dick Dickenson, so there was no arguing the point, but without it and considering he only had a single dab in section three on lap two, he could have possibly won the trial on just one mark lost, which would have been even more remarkable considering there was some very tricky sections out there.
Wibberley's ride was impressive too and he finished the first lap with the loss of five with three single dabs and a two on section three, where, on the second lap he lost his one and only point.
Simon Bird ended the day in third place with the loss of 21, once again section three claimed most of them. A two on section 15, which he cleaned the opening lap, sealed his fate.
Steve Monk, who had won the Jack Thompson British Bike Trial a month back on a 200 Triumph, was out on a more modern 320 Sherco this time, and finished fourth with no major disasters. With just a two here and a three there, he finished just seven points behind Bird.
Ashley Hall and Nick Dowland both finished on 37, with Hall beating Dowland by one clean as the pair came home in fifth and sixth place.
Eight times winner and defending champion, Ashley Newbery, had a disaster of a day that was over almost as soon as it had started. He set off at his allotted start time, reached the first section where he stopped his machine to work out his lines, and when he came back to it, it refused to start despite the efforts, so he was home for lunch.
Scott Dark took the Intermediate class win, but only just as the top nine riders finished within nine points of each other.Dark's score sheet's one and only five came on section 11, where, a lap later he registered a clean, and went on to finish on 20.
Runner-up spot went to Tom Smith who ended the event on 22, where like Dark, a careless five cost him dearly.
Adam Marshall, Graham Palmer, Andy Collins and Dave Luck filled the next four places, separated only by two marks with the evergreen Allen Collier the last rider to finish in the awards on 29.
Derek Baker finished top of the 40 riders in the Novice class with 12 marks lost. Frank Puttock finished just three marks behind him in second spot.
Chris Short won the small Youth A class, while Charles Courtney was the best of the three riders in Youth B.
Like all the events the Sidcup club runs, it was well set out and well organised, and even the weather behaved! The sun shone for most of the day, albeit with a cold wind chilling the observers.
SIDCUP SIXTY TRIAL
Canada Heights, Swanley, Kent
(Sidcup and DMC)
Expert: Ben Morphett (125 Beta-UK) 6 marks lost, Ben Wibberley (250 Stevens Gas Gas) 6, Simon Bird (320 Freestyle Sherco) 21, Steve Monk (320 Sherco) 28, Ashley Hall (270 Beta) 37, Nick Dowland (250 Stevens Sherco) 37.
Intermediate: Scott Dark (250 Sherco) 20, Tom Smith (290 Sherco) 22, Adam Marshall (250 Beta) 24, Graham Palmer (250 Beta) 25, Andy Collins (290 Sherco) 26, Dave Luck (250 Gas Gas) 26.
Novice: Derek Baker (200 Beta) 12, Frank Puttock (250 Montesa) 15, Glenn Davey (200 Honda) 19, Doug Norris (250 Montesa) 20, Monte Bryant (250 Gas Gas) 25, Jim Connor (250 Beta) 28.
Youth A: Chris Short (250 Gas Gas) 41, Matt Godden (125 Gas Gas) 79, Mark Cottingham (125 Gas Gas) 86.
Youth B: Charles Courtney (125 Sherco) 38, Dougie Blackford (125 Sherco) 68, James Allen (125 Gas Gas) 71.
Ben Morphett was crowned winner at Canada Heights after a stunning ride.