Boxing Day Trial 26th Dec 2006

Other Years: 2004, 2003, 2005

As usual a report of this event will be in TMX, The Citizen and Forester but also a picture spread is in the offing in the Forest Review - should be out next week"

LESS than half the number of maximum five mark losses than his nearest rivals saw Barry Husband win the annual Boxing Day trial in the Forest of Dean.

He beat Dan Bishop and Rob Breakwell by recording just three maximum five mark losses in three attempts of 14 observed sections. But two youngsters, Lloyd Price and Ben Bowkett upstaged the battle for main honours.

Price pipped Gloucester rider Husband by two marks, a remarkable feat considering his 125cc machine is less than half the capacity of Husband's. Youth riders cannot take overall honours in adult events, so Price had to be content with the Youth A award.

Bowkett, from Cinderford, split Husband and sole first class award winner Dan Bishop, from Coleford. Dan beat last year's winner Rob Breakwell, from Monmouth. This was the last round of the Western Centre Championship and the title had already been wrapped up for the third time by Simon Welch, who was absent from this event.

Dan's brother Ben made an impressive move up from the alternative route to the clubman/expert route, which allows riders to attempt half of the sections on the toughest, standard route and half on the easier alternative route.

He lost almost half the number of marks of the next rider, another youngster, Alex Hall with some committed riding. Tim Wheeler recorded the only clean sheet of the day with a flawless ride to take the alternative route honours.

That Simeon Price, Richard Fowler and Nigel Tompkins all lost 20 marks or more put the standard of Wheeler's ride in to perspective.

More than 60 riders were attracted to this tough but popular event, set out by the Bishop family for the West Glos and Dean Forest Motorcycle Club. There were 14 retirements but brave Matthew McLean stuck to the task in hand and took the Hangover Award for last finisher.

Thanks to all 14 observers, the Forestry Commission and Forest Stone for their assistance in making the event a success.

Results.

• Standard route.
• Premier: Barry Husband (Sherco 290), 51 marks lost.
• 1st class: Dan Bishop (Gas Gas 280), 65.
• Youth A: Lloyd Price (Gas Gas 125), 49.
• Clubman/expert route.
• 1st: Ben Bishop (Beta 250), 16.
• Alternative route.
• Best novice: Tim Wheeler (Yamaha 250), 0.
• Best over 40: Simeon Price (Beta 250), 20.
• Youth B: Nathan Pekala (Gas Gas 125), 90.

Statistics from the Sections. (eg Section 1 on Alt route took 6 Threes.)