Stony Green Open Trial - 27th September 2009
Ben's report is now below, and let me know (admin@wgdfmcc.org.uk) if anyone would like to see the Section statistics report.
Ben's Press Report
Western Centre champion Simon Welch again reigned supreme at Stony Green but had to survive a scare from Henry Bendall who finished a very close second.
Henry was the only Expert route rider to avoid dropping a five over three laps of 13 sections, though Simon carried the day by recording six more cleans than the Aylburton rider.
Course plotter Merv Morgan made the most of the venue's excellent selection of rocks, which still offered a stiff contest despite the dry weather.
Former winner of this event and local lad, Ben Bowkett, returned to trials action with a tidy ride, though three fives put him slightly further back down the leader board.
Simon fived section 12 on lap one, and recorded a pair of threes on subsequent laps. Ben managed 1-2-1, and lost the least marks on that section, while Steve Grindle went 5-1-1 and recorded the two best rides there.
Another on the comeback trail, Monmouth's Rob Breakwell, dropped down a class to the Clubman/Expert, and finished two marks behind Youth rider Jordan Fletcher.
They led the Clubman/Expert class convincingly, with Coleford's Ben Bishop and Tom Hinkley around 20 marks behind. Justin Heavons pipped Glyn Smith by a mark to win the Clubman route. Both dropped a five apiece and though the reigning Clubman champion, Glyn, recorded more cleans, Justin only lost one three, to Glyn's pair of threes and that proved the difference.
Rob Pike beat Alf Bendall in to fourth by dint of more cleans but Alf still won best novice. Having one of his better days, he beat Andy Ridley, Ray Pekala, and his riding-mate Pete Hughes.
Having moved up to the Clubman route, Jake Hoare stuck at the task and lost 79, while Tom Pike's 80 was very creditable, as he was riding a twinshock Honda TLR200.
Winner of the Sportsman class, Richard Gardener, managed 36 cleans, to beat Wilf Cauldwellin to second by two cleans. Both lost five, ahead of Andrea Cottle (six), Oliver Pekala (seven) and Chris Joyner (eight). Peter Collins' 11 mark loss, aboard a 500 Ariel, saw a handful of dabs, and just one three.