Report: KIA National Twinshock Trials Chamionship
By John Dickinson on 17th Aug 16
CUMBERLAND County MCC staged the sixth round of the massively popular KIA National Twinshock series and for the second year took the event into the English - Scottish borders and a superb venue at Thorlieshope Farm, Newcastleton where Paul Norman and pals put on a cracking trial.
The Clubmen in the mighty three figure entry were presented with two laps of a 20 section course while the Experts were treated to an extra two sections right at the end of the lap, a classic climbing stream with a succession of rock steps and where the sheer length of the hazard proved as testing as the steps!
With several miles of open fell between the groups the event proved challenging but also supremely satisfying with most riders knowing that they had been in a trial come Monday morning.
There was the usual wide range of machinery being ridden from the whispering Fantic 50 of organiser Wobbler to rasping Triumph twins, thumping four-stroke singles and everything in between.
The Colin Ward's, Sr and Junior from Consett dominated the Expert and Clubman Air-cooled mono classes on their matching 250 Yamaha TY models, Colin Sr dropping just four marks on a tough Experts course while Colin Jr went one better losing a mere three through the 40 sections which were a good mix of burns, becks or streams – depending on where you come from – bankings and assorted rockery.
The Expert Twinshock saw Dunfermline's Neil Dawson in dominant form on the Fantic losing just 14 with far-travelled Richard Allen nine marks back on his Honda four-stroke while third was Neil's travelling pal Ian Shedden on yet another Fantic. The Italian machines are currently the hot ticket in Twinshock although the Hondas are also keenly sought.
The exception that proves the rule is Roy Palmer's infamous Kawasaki, a home built KL250 that Yorkshireman Roy has been developing for 34 years!
Lancashire's Robert Taylor overcame a first lap five on the big step in the second section to take a clear win in Historic Spanish from the Bultaco of Gary Younghusband and the inevitable Ossa of Chesterfield's Steve Bisby.
Ben Butterworth was surprisingly the only finisher in Expert Britshock but what a finish it was as Ben dropped just seven marks, the second best score on the Expert course beaten only by the Yam mono of Wardy.
There was plenty of skill on show and consequent low scoring from the keen Clubman with Scot Jim Tennant parting with just two marks on his immaculate Honda in the Twinshocks from the pair of Fantics campaigned by Dave Wardell and John Norrie.
Michael Johnson and the indefatigable Paul Lowther followed Wardy Jr home in Air-cooled monos with Yamahas leading the way.
Gary Daykin and his striking yellow Ossa Gripper ran away with the Historic Spanish Clubman class from the Beta of Kevin Edmundsen and the TY175 of Chris Barnett showing that any machine is competitive with a good pilot on board.
Clubman Britshock was super competitive with the Bantam mounted Michael Anderson just getting the nod on nine marks as BSAs dominated and three riders tied on 10 marks lost. They were separated though on most cleans and Mike Watson bagged second on his 250 four-stroke ahead of the Bantams of Pete Edwards and Ossy Byers.
"A proper trial that” commented Ossy at the end, "really enjoyed it.”
And that comment was echoed by the majority, regardless of how they finished, or in some cases didn't finish due to bad luck. A traditional trial, just as it was back in the day, which is what the KIA series is all about.
