Waterfall 15.09.2019

BMCA Trial 15.09.2019 at Waterfall

Report by Spanner. Photos by Catwoman and Dave Thomas.

The second trial in the BMCA calendar, followed in fine fashion from Ullenhall, last week. It’s been a while since the BMCA were allowed access to the venue, so it was a welcome addition to this year’s line-up; the great variety and quality of terrain always makes for a great trial. Rider numbers were up this week, with 29 entrants; 10 expert, 9 intermediate, 9 clubman and 1 expert over 350cc.

With a decent number in each class, competition was more open this week; this coupled quality laying out organiser, by Mark Lucas, resulted in a good spread of scores through each class. The sections took full advantage of the available terrain and presented the competitors with a good range of challenges that would fully test their trials technique and skill. Relatively dry weather preceding the trial opened up the chance of utilising ground that is not always accessible or ride-able.

There was a nice show of machines this week; some big thumpers, well presented two and four-stroke machines and Les Richardson’s new steed made its BMCA debut. Les has been a busy chap over the summer, this time building a BSA Star Maker powered Drayton – another cracker it is too! Les is a connoisseur of Draytons, this latest bike makes it a quartet of machines built on the Drayton platform; surely his continued choice this frame and it’s versatility are testament to Jim’s superb design.

 

 

Competition in the clubman class was close throughout. Great riding from the top three, John Sanders, Steve Leyshon and John Colclough, saw them ten points clear of the rest of the pack. Guest rider Sanders put in a smashing performance on his very well-presented James. Trailing the lead by just four points, Leyshon suffered from a few mistakes too many; his performance was class leading on two sections. Colclough, on twenty-four points lost, made a very strong return from a lay-off – great stuff!

Intermediate class was another tight affair, with two thirds of the field within twelve points of each other. Class leaders this week were Mark Lucas, Joe Owen and Ian Brittain. Lucas rode a good ‘un, finishing on just eight points – nine ahead of the next guys. Owen and Brittain tied on seventeen points, it came down to most cleans; Owen just edging it with two extra.

John Jacka was the only Expert over 350cc entrant this week, but he put in a great performance on the big Matchless to finish on only twenty points lost.

If it was close in the other classes, Expert’s class was another level. The top three riders separated by just one point; Chris Denney, Paul Munslow and Kev Taylor. Denney built on last week’s performance to take first this week, the only man in his class to clean the tricky section four. Although level with his contemporary on a score of just eight points, Munslow lost out on most cleans – bad luck. A five on section four cost Taylor dearly and took his score to nine points – what might have been without that pesky five…

Once again, we are indebted to our observers; their help and attendance is much appreciated. Their constant effort and enthusiasm belies the level of effort it takes. Indeed, it was such hard and hungry work that Harry Brittain polished off a bag of Percy Pigs after trekking to his station – although he did promise there were a couple left for dad!

Big thank must go to guest rider Andrew Mitchell, for stepping in and saving Dave Thomas from a frustrating situation; on parking up in the paddock, Thomas noticed he had forgotten his boots! Thankfully Mitchell saved the day with the offer of his spare pair of boots – good man!

Abbreviated results:

Expert class: 1 CHRIS DENNEY (BAN) 8,  2 PAUL MUNSLOW (BSA) 8, 3 KEV TAYLOR (C15) 9.

Expert over 350cc class: JOHN JACKA (MAT) 20.

Intermediate class: 1 MARK LUCAS (BAN) 8, 2 JOE OWEN (BAN) 17, 3 IAN BRITTAIN (RE) 17.

Clubman class: 1 JOHN SANDERS (JAM) 17, 2 STEPHEN LEYSHON (BAN) 20, 3 JOHN COLCLOUGH (JAM) 24.