Trials Torque: Time for Cleveland show
By John Dickinson on 15th Mar 17
THE 2017 National solo trials season has kicked-off with some cracking entries, like the 150 at last Sundays Bemrose in the Peak District.
And that continues into this Sunday, March 19 with another fantastic line-up of a 150 riders for the Middlesbrough club's Cleveland trial, one of the great traditional events.
Clerk of the course Paul Wright will have had a few sleepless nights pondering the severity of the event, as it caters for Clubmen, Inters and Experts, sticking to the proven format of a single 30-mile lap around the awesome North York Moors.
JST Gas Gas rider Michael Brown, from just down the road in Scarborough, will be going all out to repeat last year's win.
But there's plenty of top class opposition with Beta's Jack Sheppard and Gary Richard Sadler sure to keep Michael on his toes, while Gary Macdonald is down for a rare trip from his Kinlochleven base in the heart of Scottish Six Days country.
Andy Chilton on the Scorpa and Sherco-mounted Scott Trial ace Jonathan Richardson are sure to be in with a shout.
A keen Intermediate class is headed by Gas Gas man John Shirt – although he says it's just for fun nowadays – with the likes of James Noble, Mark Sunter, Shaughan Galway, Matt Maynard and Shane Monkman all likely top runners.
The Clubmen are, of course, the heart and soul of the entry and picking a winner is anyone's guess, which is all part of the fun.
But Guisborough`s Paul Wheatley will surely be somewhere near, as will Stephen Bennett, Glen Scholey and Kevin Tate.
Also in good form are Phil Perry, Mike Noble, Alan and Steve Williams.
The two lady entrants are Jess Bown and Louise Alford and both can tackle hard sections and continue to improve.
Sunday's start is from Castleton Cricket field at 9.30am when the trailblazers are Ian Atkinson and Richard Mee.
Good spectating groups are Commondale Moor, Clitherbecks, Poverty Hill, Crossley Side and then the run-in to the fantastic final group of sections at Stormy Hall, which has sorted out the winners and losers on many occasions.
