Thumping good day
By TMX Archives on 27th Nov 08
MATTHEW Neale wrestled a big, booming 500 Ariel through three-laps of 18 sections to take the Pre-unit class victory at the weekend's 28th running of the Eastern Thumpers Trial at a wet Poplars Chase Farm, just outside Colchester, Essex.
While Neale was winning the Pre-unit class, Steve Monk took the Unit category on a 200 Triumph by losing just 30 marks, some 48 clear of his nearest rival David Strank.
Just what could you
say about the weekend's weather? The day started off with clear blue skies, then, all of a sudden, it started snowing, and then snowed even harder.
The snow turned into rain, then heavy rain which eased back to drizzle which stopped just as the riders where finishing off the third and final lap, but at least the small band of hard-working club members had sunshine while they cleared up.
Neale started off very well by having a single dab at the first, then went clean through to section seven, and then scored nothing over three to the end of the lap. Meanwhile, second place man Fletcher, on a 500 Royal Enfield, had a disaster that may have cost him the trial in section
11. He explained halfway through the event: "I have been going OK apart from going the wrong way in one of the sections. It's a silly mistake to make and I am a bit disappointed about that.”
As Neale finished on 57 and Fletcher on 60, that five lost proved to be a very big mistake.
Neil Gaunt, on another 500 Ariel, only had one five during the entire event, that's 54 challenging sections, as he finished third, just one mark behind Fletcher.
28th NATIONAL EASTERN
THUMPERS TRIAL
Poplars Chase Farm, Thorrington, nr Colchester
(Eastern Four-stroke Association)
Pre-unit: Matthew Neale (500 Ariel) 57 marks lost, Mark Fletcher (500 Royal Enfield) 60, Neil Gaunt (500 Ariel) 61, Richard Whitebread (500 AJS) 82, Mick Grant (500 Ariel) 93, Sam Appleton (350 Royal Enfield) 101, Clive Dopson (490 Norton) 143, Mark Kemp (500 Ariel) 143.
Unit: Steve Monk (200 Triumph) 30, David Strank (250 BSA) 78, Darrel Glover (250 BSA) 135, Trevor Hill (250 Triumph) 144.
Two-stroke: Alan Wright (250 James) 49, Allen Collier (175 BSA) 96, Dave Spurgeon (250 Greeves) 146.
Rigid: Roger Finch (270 BSA) 25, Stan Metcalf (260 BSA) 48, Bernard Rodemark (290 BSA) 68, Graham Howes (404 BSA) 72, Wesley Butcher (500 AJS) 74, Mike Holloway (400 AJS) 80, Mark Gibb (600 BSA) 103, Steve Parker (500 Norton) 111.
Sidecar: Paul Fishlock/ Debbie Merrell (500 Ariel) 11, Guy Stanley/ Gary Marchant (500 Royal Enfield) 73, Peter Pesterfield/ AN Other (500 Triumph) 94.
Gentleman's Route: David Simpson (348 BSA) 34, Nicky Read (250 Cotton) 38, Phil Smith (250 BSA) 46, Paul Houghton (200 Triumph) 48, John Chapman (250 James) 48, Brian Fletcher (500 Royal Enfield) 55, Jim Mason (250 Sprite) 58, Peter Daw (175 BSA) 61, Trevor Andrews (174 BSA) 61, John Beasley (250 Greeves) 70.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE T+MX NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2008
Steve Monk had an amazing ride, considering the conditions, taking his 200 Triumph to the Unit win.