Another Title step for Tom?
With the Northern Centre Trials Championship for 2023/24 almost completed, Tom Swindlehurst took another win in the Barrow Club’s Zeke Myers Trial on Torver Common which comes close to him confirming the championship in his favour for another year. His nearest rivals failed to take part in this excellent three lap 14 section trial on land above Coniston Water which is only used once per year, thanks to the relevant authorities who support our sport.
It proved to be a tough trial with the two time Manx Two Day winner losing 47 marks which was six fewer than the loss by Wilf Shuttleworth who had Will Brockbank snapping at his heels as he finish in third place.
The 44 strong entry – disappointing – but a reflection of how entries are in trials currently – were divided into three classes, Hard course, Green course, a mix of hard and clubman sections and of course the more populated Clubman course.. Robert Taylor (lead picture) on his recently acquired Montesa 4RT won the Green course class with a winning score of 30 marks, some 20 fewer than runner up Sam Metcalfe and Liam Robinson who both lost the same but with Metcalfe getting the verdict on most cleans.
Cousins Mark Barrow and Nick Shield inevitably always want to beat one another and this time it was so close that only one mark separated them in a low scoring trial for the Clubman route. Barrow finished on six which included a surprise five on section 12 which he had previously cleaned twice, meaning he only lost one further mark around the long lap which was heavily covered in deep bracken in places.
Centre trials recorder Anthony Hayhurst was in third and the trials oldest competitor and.club secretary Angus Jenkinson was fourth who found the form of which he has always been well capable of on a very hot and humid day in the Lake District.
Results are linked from the Home page and Eric Kitchen’s pictures will be available in the Gallery soon.