Report: Bemrose Trophy Trial
By Jason Bellinger on 16th Mar 16
SUPER Sam Haslam is the man to beat on the British National scene at the moment and the Gas Gas UK ace followed-up his Colmore Cup win the previous week with victory in the Bemrose Trophy last Sunday.
Sam pipped his GGUK team-mate Dan Thorpe by a single mark over the 40 section, single lap course in set in the picturesque Peak District near Buxton.
And with a glorious sunny day it certainly was picturesque – somehow the Bemrose often sees dark, wet, misty days – and the 140-odd starters (there were only 11 non-starters) enjoyed a fabulous day out.
Staged once again by the North Derbyshire Youth MCC with help from the Man 17 and Macc and Hyde clubs, the 87th edition of the Bemrose – making it one of the oldest trials in the calendar – kept up the tradition of an excellent, rideable trial regardless of which class you entered.
And with Expert, Easy and a popular 50/50 option virtually everyone was catered for.
With such low scoring in the Experts it was a case of keeping concentration, yet all the lads contesting the win really enjoyed their day rather than getting stressed about it.
Starting at High Edge, above Buxton, the field first travelled to Kidtor Dale for seven opening subs in the wood.
And while they proved more than rideable Chris Pearson took a shaky dab in the very first section – although not as shaky as team-mate Luke Walker who cam out of Kidtor on six.
Meanwhile Welsh Champ Iwan Roberts – mounted on the fiery-sounding TTT Beta – took a costly five in the second.
Iwan admitted to not really being in the swing of the season yet and his eventual score of 19 was certainly not what the talented teenager was looking for.
Dan Thorpe dropped his first mark in the third sub on the slippery limestone and mud at Wrights, close by the start as riders returned for a refuel after a total of 13 sections.
And third-placed Dec Bullock lost his first mark in exactly the same sub, as only he cleaned the difficult bit but then dropped a soft dab on the way out. It was then Sam's turn to break his duck and the first prod came in Etchings on a section that everyone else in the Expert class cleaned!
It stung him into action though as only Dec matched Sam's clean on the very next tricky hazard in the six-section group.
Sam's only other mark was dropped on the single sub at Washgates.
Thorpey put together a closing string of 18 cleans in a row but his dabs at Wrights, Etchings and Booth Edge would see Dan have to settle for runner-up.
The five subs at Manor Steps were surprisingly rideable, the red sandstone streambed being quite grippy – although the final sub up the steep ravine side needed a good throttle hand whichever class you were contesting.
The trial then continued over to nearby Robinsons Rocks and a couple of hazards on the millstone grit rocks and climbs at Hawks Nest, before five easy-ish hazards up on the tops at Danebower and a final single section in the stony gully at Cheeks.
Lowest score on the 50/50 course was set by Over 50 class winner, Sheffield's Darren Wasley, whose usual riding partners Dave Haggis Knaggs and Andy Longden were absent – having a sections recce for the upcoming Hillsborough club's Jack Wood trial – while Dave Thorpe was recovering from a recent injection in his back.
Daz dropped just 14 marks for the day including what was a compulsory five for all the 50/50 class in the opener at Booth Edge, while Michael James was just three marks adrift.
The penultimate section of the day proved a sting in the tail for the 50/50 crew and was only cleaned by Wasley, James and fifth finisher Paul Bennett, while it took third-placed John Cowley for a quick maximum.
Gavin Black topped the 50/50 Open class on 22 marks with lone lady rider Katy Sunter in a fighting second.
Katy was angry with herself for fiving the penultimate sub of four at Wrights, which was a real tough one for the 50/50 contenders, before showing her legendary throttle control to take a superb clean in the apparently gripless final sub of the group.
Lowest score on the Clubmans (Easy) route was by Over 50 contender Barry Roads who dropped a measly five marks, four of them in the opening group at Kidtor Dale.
It was a hard-fought class with Steve Hitchcock a close second and Graham Haslam and Mick Marshall having to be separated on a tie-break after dropping 11 apiece.
Over 40 Clubman winner was north west centre rider Steven Gerrard in another close contest and it was Pre-65 ace Rob Bowyer – second on his rasping Triumph twin – showing that you don't need a brand new state-of-the-art machine to get a good result.
In short, the day proved exactly why the Bemrose is one of the longest running traditional Nationals, a great day out with the sunny weather greatly appreciated by all.
RESULTS
Premier: Sam Haslam Gas Gas) 2.
Experts: Dan Thorpe Gas Gas) 3, Dec Bullock (Beta) 9, Chris Pearson (Sherco) 11, Iwan Roberts (Beta) 19, Luke Walker (Sherco) 22, Richard Timperley (Beta) 29, Andy Cripps (Sherco) 36, Tim Pearson (Sherco) 37, Corey Dubik (Beta) 45.
50/50 route: Gavin Black (Montesa) 22, Katy Sunter (Gas Gas) 25, Miles Carruthers (Sherco) 29, Roman Kyrnyckyj (Jotagas) 30, Martin Podesta (Sherco) 33, Tom Bennett (Sherco) 33, Adam McCanna (Honda) 34, Scott Whitting (Sherco) 35, Josh Atkinson (Montesa) 37, Jimmy McCanna (Montesa) 37.
50/50 Over 50: Andy Turner (Beta) 42.
50/50 Over 40: Darren Wasley (Gas Gas) 14, Michael James (Scorpa) 17, John Cowley (Montesa) 23, Nick Paxton, 33, Paul Bennett (Sherco) 34, Andrew Paxton (Montesa) 39.
Easy route Over 40: Steve Gerrard (Beta) 11, Rob Bowyer (Triumph) 13, Matt Treweek (Beta) 13.
Easy Over 50: Barry Roads (Gas Gas) 5, Steve Hitchcock (Honda) 9, Graham Haslam (Beta) 11, Mick Marshall (Montesa) 11.
Easy Novice: Andrew Eley (Beta) 18, Darren Phypers (Sherco) 20, Marty Hill (Gas Gas) 22.
