JACK FROST TRIAL – COLD COMFORT
By Roy Maddox Press Officer
It was the Jack Frost Trial and he was riding pillion with every rider as they gathered at ‘The Yennards’. With all our reports we highlight those riders who have the best scores and won the awards and class wins. There was only four riders who recorded a score of less than 20; Tom Ablewhite best Expert with a loss of only 15, Chris Tett (12) Best Clubman, Pete Jones (17) Best Over 40 and Roy Fuller (14) riding for fun.
Other award winners can be viewed on the results page because today I am going to concentrate on those hardy souls who turn up trial and after trial with little or no chance or hope of winning a class. Just like those riders who collect zeros like an American fighter pilot they ride immaculate machines, are dressed like professionals and approach every section challenge with seriousness, good humour and enthusiasm. Yes I am going to look at the bedrock of the Earl Shilton Trials Club those riders who try to beat their personal best and finish the day with fewer marks on the observers card and a smile on their face.
 
Riders like Dave Barron and Richard Groom who turn up at every trial with their nicely prepped Beamish Suzuki twin shocks. Their competition is with each other as they both ride with good spirit and humour, discussing the section before they ride and reviewing performance when they have passed the end card. They also bring a regular smile to my face I see the twin shocks from an era when every make of bike looked different and was easily identifiable. There were a number of bikes with two wire springs at the back in the Jack Frost, Honda, Fantic, Bultaco and Suzuki.
 
Some of the riders that return for club trials force the observers to use ink as though they had shares in biro. Inter Cameron Harris lost a mighty 138 which was the biggest haul of the day in any class but he still scored 3 championship points. On the Easy Route novice riders numbered 13 and that was unlucky for Shaun Bamford, Chris Aylott and Colin Ridgway who all retired. While Scott Whittaker won the Novice Class with 31 marks, Natalie Harris didn’t warm to the cold as she brought up the rear with 126. In the Over 50 Class there was a tie for the win with both Stephen Harris and John Holmes on 64 John was given the win by countback.
The White Route was contested by Youth, Beginners and Fun riders these might be the future club champions. The beginner class was a close affair as the slippery conditions caught out these improving riders. Only seven points divided the first three places with Mark Harvey (31) taking the gold (if there were medals) closely followed by Martin Tew (36) John Williams was the final scorer with 73 lost which is still a creditable loss of less than 2 per section.
  
The other rider group that rarely gets the coverage they deserve are our youngest riders who are honing their fledgling skills on the conducted route. They don’t have the benefit of the roar of the crowd as they work quietly away ‘on the other side of the bridge’. During the Jack Frost seven riders battled through eight sections collecting their points. Both Daisy Parson and George Clarke scored in the 80’s, Bailey Sulley and Alex Coleston-Shields in the 70’s while Libby Tett bagged less than 30 and both Dale Freeman and Jack Hewitt worried the observers less than 20 times. The award winners were Dale, Alex, Jack and George well done everyone.
So another trial is over and we have probably seen the last of the frost. But whatever the temperature is we can be warmed by the camaraderie, will to succeed and decent people who are the riders, members and volunteers of The Earl Shilton Trials Club.
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NEW YEAR TRIAL 2012
By Roy Maddox Press Officer
Earl Shilton Trials Club’s first event of 2012 saw Dan Tuley securing his first club win and The New Year Shield. This was a fitting reward for his hours of practice and a pleasing result for his sponsors Behind Bars of Kenilworth who support Dan on his Gas Gas.
In cold and blustery conditions he lost only 15 points over forty sections some 30 points ahead of his nearest rival. Dan also gained five useful points in the race for the club youth championship. On the same hard route Luke Dowsing took the Best Inter award recording a heavy 69 on his Sherco. Best Over 40 class winner was again Pete Jones and Tony Field took the Over 50 with 38 cleans aboard his Beta. Not far behind was Michael Lambert with 37 cleans helping him to the Best Novice Award.
Another bright performance on a generally dull day was beginner Mike Massey who dropped points in two sections (1 & 7) only to take the much coveted Best Beginners award, a rider to watch in the future.
Here Come the Girls
There were some excellent rides in the youth sections which is great for a club that makes a priority of encouraging young riders to become good riders. Regular monthly training sessions are held to improve standards.
Louis Bennett achieved a score of only 7 with 37 clean sections for the Best Youth OOC. Best Youth D was Alice Minta with 36 no scores and 7 marks on the observers card. Other youth award winners were Matt Dixon BOR Beta, Guy Bradley Gas Gas and Daniel Slack Beta.
As part of the clubs commitment to young rider development special conducted routes are part of every trial and here also there were a number of award winners on the Hard Route both Dale Freeman and Leanna Page collected awards as did Jessica Barnett on the 50/50 route and on the Easy Route it was Bailey Sulley who took the award.
A great event made possible by the legion of volunteer helpers that make it all possible. On a very windy day it was common sight to see riders and observers shouting at each other not for any abuse but just to heard above the wind. It was also pleasing to see how observers provided route advice to many of the riders. But I saw one very young rider making his way through the section when a gust of wind blew a branch from a tree into the section blocking his progress. He did not falter; he stopped, wrestled with the branch that was at least twice his height and thick as his arm placing the obstacle safely out of section. He then got back on his bike and continued to the next section there was no plea for a rerun; you meet the nicest people on a trials bike. This young man was a credit to the sport and the club, well done you know who you are.
All the sections were laid out well with the climatic conditions being taken in to consideration. All sections took points from the riders but most miserly was section 8 that only put 75 on the observer’s cards in comparison to sections 4, 6, 7 and 9 that gifted over 300 rider points each. In total some 2359 points were dropped by 67 riders averaging 35 points surrendered.
SECTION POINTS
1 = 243 (3.6)
2 = 113 (1.6)
3 = 288 (4.2)
4 = 318 (4.7)
5 = 196 (2.9)
6 = 364 (5.4)
7 = 334 (4.9)
8 = 075 (1.1)
9 = 302 (4.5)
10 = 136 (2.0)
(Rider Loss Average)
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