Shatterford 02.02.2020

BMCA trial at Shatterford 02.02.2020
Report and media by Spanner.

This week’s action was hosted at Birchwood farm AKA Shatterford, organised and set out by Luke Stratton, Martin Mackenzie, Steve Leyshon, Kevin Taylor and Kevin Walker. There is no escaping the fact that things will be muddy at Shatterford if there is even so much as a sniff of rain in the air, so this week’s setting out was undertaken with a mild sense of trepidation! The aim was to keep the setting out simple enough to allow for the inevitable mud-bath, whilst also keeping an element of challenge – sounds simple doesn’t it!
The lap included different sections compared to the previous visit this season, a selection of the venue’s couple of dozen established sections and one completely new section (number four). Although dry the preceding day, the overnight deluge had nowhere to go; the clay-heavy soil turned slick and slippery enough to make walking the sections hard enough -let alone to ride! With seasoned observers stating that conditions were the worst they have seen at the venue, the kicked off with a mix of tactics; those who took time to analyse every last inch to work out a line and those who got at it straight away to salvage the best of the limited grip.

It was a joy to see a trio of rigids competing; Paul Howells (Bantam) in the expert class and Les Richardson (Panther) and Dave Beddoes (OK Supreme) in the Rigid class. The old machines are such a rare sight at trials, always generating a few admiring and inquisitive comments. However, your correspondent has to admit his naivety; Pointing out that the JAP engined machine of Beddoes was leaking oil, only to be told that the engine is total loss lubricated!

The rigid class followed the clubman route, so credit to Beddoes and Richardson for finishing with such competitive scores despite the foibles of such old machines. Conditions proved a little too much for Beddoes’ machine and a little cooling down was required between sections to avoid nipping up. Whilst Richardson’s machine was suffering fuel starvation due to crud in the tank. It was very close between the two riders; just two points difference – Beddoes took the class win on fifty-nine against Richardson’s sixty-one.

Clubman class had half a dozen entrants with one retirement after the second lap, leaving five finishers. Podium places this week went to Martin Mackenzie, George Houghton and Ernie Johnson. Storming into the lead on eighteen points lost, Mackenzie cleaned up with class leading scores on no less than five sections – very confident riding throughout. Houghton and Johnson traded scores over a number of sections with one besting the other on several sections. In the end it came down to a seven point advantage for Houghton on forty points lost and Johnson on forty-seven. It was evident that the group as a whole rode well given the lack of grip in the muddy conditions – certainly it would have been a different story if this trial were at the start of the season!

Intermediate class fielded eight competitors, including the return of Mike Butler to the fold. Class contenders Mark Strong, Kevin Walker and Dave Thomas made up the top three. Strong by name, strong in performance; class leading scores on four sections landed Strong with first place on fifty points lost. Ten points behind, Walker just pipped Thomas to second place by one point, great riding by both meant they were thirteen or more points ahead of the rest of the group.

Expert class saw six entrants this week, with one rigid in the mix. No doubt this week proved to be a little tougher for the riders, with the class won on double figures. Bill Woodcock, Nathan Jones and Steve Hay made up the podium. With another win in extreme mud, Woodcock has established himself as a mud specialist and the man to beat; heading up the class on twenty-eight points lost. Jones too looked to be confident in the slippery conditions, his steady and calm riding style rewarded him with second place on thirty-two points lost. Despite holding his own on several of the sections, a handful of uncharacteristic fives bumped Hay into third place on forty-three points lost.

It is worth commending all the entrants for their riding this week, there is no denying that things were somewhat testing and it was tough going – hopefully it was all worth it! If nothing else, a tricky trial keeps you on your toes as it is all to play for right until the last – not a case of resigning to not winning just because you’re on ten points by lap two!

 

Organisers note: Thank you to everyone for being so supportive and helpful; setting out, observing and clearing up were all a breeze thanks to people’s kind help. Having not run a trial before, I was slightly anxious at the prospect. I need not have worried, as ever there was an abundance of help and input from the BMCA guys, a full complement of observers too!
Abbreviated results:

Expert class;1 BILL WOODCOCK (BAN) 28, 2 NATHAN JONES (BSA) 32, 3 STEVEN HAY (TRI) 43.

Intermediate class; 1 MARK STRONG (BAN) 50, 2 KEVIN WALKER (CUB) 60, 3 DAVE THOMAS (ARI) 61.

Clubman class; 1 MARTIN MACKENZIE (BAN) 18, 2 GEORGE HOUGHTON (BAN) 40, 3 ERNIE JOHNSON (CUB) 47.

Rigid class; 1 DAVID BEDDOES (OK SUPREME) 59, 2 LES RICHARDSON (PANTHER) 61.

Full results HERE.

Unfortunately, next week’s trial at Hunnington has been cancelled. The next trial will be 23rd February at Mamble DY14 9JB.

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