Spencer scoops Grant success
Jack Spencer is one of those talented motorcyclists that can hop from one discipline to another and be successful at both, and that’s what he achieved at the Westmorland Club’s Grant trial which was the final round of the 2022/23 Northern Centre Trials Championship.
Spencer completed the ultra tough three lap, 15 section course with the loss of 19 marks, a clear cut victory over the 2022 winner of the Grant Trial, Rob Waite from Northallerton who took second place some 9 marks adrift of Spencer. The Beta rider overcame the problem of running out of fuel by borrowing a bike to return to his van to collect a squash bottle of two stroke to complete the trial as he ran out just two sections from the finish.
Held at Tommy Road, Wharton Fell near Kirkby Stephen, a great venue used just once each year, only managed to attract a disappointing entry of just 41 starters, whereas in past years the entry has been in or approaching the seventies. Acknowledged as a testing trial, the heavy rain prior to the event taking place together with persistent rain on the day changed the nature of the sections. The water in some hazards proved to be quite deep yet in other sections the running water made the hazards easier than they had been in previous years.
Jack Dixon who is becoming something of a star in the 50/50 Green course succeeded once again with a clear cut win over Nigel Birkett, both on Scorpas of course with Jack’s dad Stephen Dixon finishing third on the hard course behind Spencer and Waite.
Despite EM electric bike importers Inch Perfect heavily promoting their products, few appear on a regular basis in Northern events, but one rider, Paul Hayward, is persevering with his machine and he won the Clubman class outright, all be it by the narrow margin of a single mark over Anthony Brockbank with Ben Croasdale in third, the riders on 45,46 and 47 respectively.
Westmorland made big efforts to ensure that the Grant was a success as with the land only available once a year it needed to be right first time and the local team whop plotted the sections did a fine job even though just a few retired for various reasons. Water was probably the main opposition, particularly for Wilf Shuttleworth early on his second lap when he drowned his Gas Gas whilst Richard Taylor had van problems when his door lock failed which was preventing him from loading his bike.
Full results are available from the Home page link and Eric Kitchen’s pictures will be available for viewing in the Gallery once he has finished editing them.