Lakes cruise
By John Dickinson on 18th Oct 13
JAMES Dabill claimed the Premier award in the Lakes Two Day Trial at the weekend, the Beta rider fending off late challenges from runner-up Michael Brown on the Gas Gas and third placed Ossa pilot Jonathan Richardson.
In the well-supported Clubman class Sheffield's Darren Wasley enjoyed a runaway win from Isle of Man resident – although locally born and bred – Nigel Sharp, with Leicestershire rider Sam Gent third.
The Lakes was blessed wiith a fine, clear weekend on the weather front although it was definitely a trial of two halves.
On Saturday the sections were mainly situated in the slippery stream and river beds as the route wended its way in a loop over the Corney and Bootle fells.
Sunday saw more steep woodland bankings on a totally separate route situated between the start in Broughton in Furness, Cumbria and the village of Torver.
Saturday's route certainly extracted more marks from the majority of the 180-strong entry, of which a healthy 60-odd elected to ride the National course, with the remainder opting for the easier Clubman alternative.
With no fewer than 40 sections per day split into two 20-section punchcards each day, there was no shortage of opportunities to lose marks.
The opening 20 subs on Saturday covered the run out over Corney Fell and proved a relatively gentle opening for those on the National route, with three riders remaining clean.
They were last year's first, second and third finishers, the Gas Gas trio of Alexz Wigg, Michael Brown and Sam Haslam respectively.
Beta duo, the Jacks Challoner and Sheppard, just parted with a dab apiece while Dibs began his campaign with a couple of prods and was joined by Jonathan Richardson, Ross Danby on the sole Jotagas, the newly shorn Chris Pearson – the famous locks having been slashed for a worthy charitable cause – and fellow Sherco rider, local ace Darren Brice.
It was a different story in the afternoon though, when the slippery streams and rivers, like the subs at Lower and Upper Buckbarrow Bridge, came into play and on the second card only Dibs kept a single figure score through the 20 hazards.
FOR FULL RESULTS AND PICTURES SEE TMX OCTOBER 18
Premier: James Dabill (Beta) 11 + 4 = 15.
Runner-up: Michael Brown (Gas Gas) 13 + 4 = 17.
Third: Jonathan Richardson (Ossa) 17 + 2 = 19.
National: Sam Haslam (Gas Gas) 14 + 8 = 22 (73c, 4x1), Jack Challoner (Beta) 11 + 11 = 22 (73c, 2x1), Ross Danby (Jotagas) 15 + 7 = 22 (71c), Jack Sheppard (Beta) 15 + 9 = 24, Alexz Wigg (Gas Gas) 20 + 7 = 27, Chris Pearson (Sherco) 19 + 12 = 31, James Fry (Sherco) 25 = 9 = 34, Ian Austermuhle (Beta) 21 + 15 = 36, Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 20 + 17 = 37, Richard Sadler (Sherco) 26 = 13 = 39, James Carr (Ossa) 21 + 14 = 41, Darren Brice (Sherco) 20 + 24 = 44, Ross Crosby (Beta) 29 + 16 = 45, Ben Morphett (Gas Gas) 23 + 22 = 45, Stephen Dixon (Scorpa) 38 + 18 = 56, Dec Bullock (Beta) 40 + 19 = 59, James Stones (Sherco) 36 + 23 = 59, Josh Woods (Sherco) 35 + 25 = 60, Jack Stones (Gas Gas) 42 + 20 = 62, Emma Bristow (Sherco) 40 + 25 = 65, Buster Regan (Beta) 50 + 26 = 76, Richard Gaskell (Ossa) 43 + 34 = 77.
Clubman: Darren Wasley (Gas Gas) 7 + 10 = 17, Nigel Sharp (Gas Gas) 20 + 19 = 39, Sam Gent (Beta) 28 + 17 = 45, Gavin Black (Montesa) 29 + 17 = 46, David Wood (Yamaha) 35 + 20 = 55, Glen Scholey (Yamaha) 39 + 21 = 60, Graham Tales (Montesa) 40 + 21 = 61, Mark Jackson (Montesa) 40 + 27 = 67, Ian Strickland (Beta) 46 + 22 = 68, Phil Scott (Gas Gas) 32 + 38 = 70, Stephen Murphy (Gas Gas) 42 + 31 = 73, Andy Turner (Beta) 48 + 26 = 74, Stuart Blythe (Beta) 47 +27 = 74, Alan Mudd (Gas Gas) 40 = 37 = 77, Paul Dennis (Beta) 47 + 31 = 78, Paul Heys (Beta) 40 + 39 = 79, Tom Hudson (Beta) 48 + 35 = 83, Andrew Tales (Beta) 59 + 25 = 84, Richard Taylor (Gas Gas) 49 + 38 = 87, Kieran Darlington (Gas Gas) 50 + 40 = 90, Barry Roads (Beta) 68 + 22 = 90, Darren Holmes (Beta) 45 + 45 = 90, Colin Chapman (Gas Gas) 66 + 25 = 91, Paul Jepson (Beta) 54 + 38 = 92, Neal Perry (Beta) 49 + 44 = 93.
