Words and pictures by Colin Bullock AFTER just a two week break it was back to the ACU Events British Trials Championships last Sunday with The Mitchell held once again at Morlais Quarry just outside of Merthyr Tydfil. East South Wales Centre were the organisers and as is the norm with the Championship there were 12 subs to be ridden over three-laps with a 5hour 30 minute time allowance.
Practice on Saturday had been held in wet conditions but Sunday was very different with it being dry and sunny with a cooling breeze drifting through the quarry. The youth and Experts B were first away and sections one and two were right next to the access road and provided excellent viewing for the good sized crowd. For the youth contingent they must have wondered what they were in for as Section One defeated everyone on lap one and only Tom Dexter escaped without a max on his second and third visit.
Pontypool rider Jake Evans-Luter would take control of the class however and would gain a comfortable win from Chris Short by the end of the day. The opening two subs did not cause too many problems for Group B although Darren Brice surprisingly took a two on lap one whilst most of his main rivals went clean. Brice had further problems with a five on the eighth section, the last of the woodland hazards, and as he finished lap one he was on nine marks lost. Robert Harries who had a good West of England result once again caught the eye . He was on seven with Richard Timperly matching Darren’s score. The Scorpa man upped the pace on lap two coming around for just three marks lost but John Crinson did even better.
The North Eastener posted the best class score with just two leaving him tied for the lead with just one circuit to go. It was however Danny Gamble who was to put in the strongest finish with a superb last lap also for two single dabs but he had lost too many marks early on to challenge the leaders. Brice and Crinson would both finish on identical scores and the latter would once again loose out on the top spot on the tie break rule. No less than four riders finished on 24 marks lost and by the narrowest of margins the consistent Guy Kendrew took third from a disappointed Josh Woods. With a few riders missing in Experts A there was all to play for. Series leader Gary Macdonald did not have the best of starts as he and his machine parted company on the exit of section 1 in spectacular style.
This was to prove to be the Scotsman’s Achilles heal all day and despite another five at sub four in the upper quarry he would lead the class after the first lap. At this point Jack Sheppard was some way back having stops at four-six which was down in the wooded area. Andy Chilton put in some spirited rides to lead after lap two but he was unable to quite sustain the challenge and would eventually finish in third place. In comparison Gary Mac turned his day around losing just eight on his final circuit but would it be enough for the win.
The answer was no, not quite as Jack Sheppard posted his first win in the series. Despite being on the 125 which was not ideal on some of the big stuff, he held it together well to take the win by a single mark and he was grinning from ear to ear as he handed his punch card in. Last out was the Premier Class and the crowd were treated to some spectacular exits on Section One. Not many marks lost here but it looked good as the top guys were able to show their skills. Section Two had a series of rock steps and some tight ledges. It caught Shaun Morris for a dab and Alexz Wigg for a max on lap one whilst Michael Brown cleaned as did James Dabill. Michael won this event this time last year but it would not turn out to be his day in 2010.
Defending Champion ’Dibs’ put the psychological marker down early on cleaning all of the first five quarry hazards and although he did not fare so well on the wooded subs he was still better than his rivals. As they emerged from the wood to the top end of the course they were met with some mega quarry steps at nine and 20. Alexz Wigg riding at the back cleaned nine and well deserved the applause. Shaun Morris had a similar reception at 10 were three stage steps had to be seen off up to the exit. Morris never looked in any trouble, he was superb. After the loose shale climb at 11 came the final section in a little valley by the start and finish area. Dabill cleaned easily but Morris was unlucky as the chain came off as he attacked one of the rock climbs. Wiggly also took a max as he misjudged an early step. After lap one JD was well in the lead leaving Shaun, Alexz and Michael to their own battle for the other podium places. Shaun Morris made best score on the second circuit and the he was beginning to look really confident as he found the dry rocks grippy very much to his liking.
Sherco’s Michael Brown had a good second lap which put him back in contention for a top three placing but the others upped their game also. Heading into lap three Dabill looked to have it in the bag and with a smooth confident lap that is how it turned out. Shaun Morris came home on a total of 29 and then he had an anxious wait for Alexz to finish. The SSDT winner would need a last circuit of four to get second and the Buckinghamshire man could not quite do it. The Michelin tyres for best efforts were awarded to Becky Cook and Gavin Richards and congratulation to the organisers for putting on a trial well worthy of the Championship. As for Mr Dabill he currently reminds me of the TV quiz show ‘Eggheads’ when the presenter always says. ‘Who will beat you’. We will see in three weeks at the St David’s but it will take a hell of a ride on current form for someone to do it.