Swinny opens title challenge
PICTURES NOW IN THE GALLERY FROM IAN ABBOT
The loss of just eight marks in the Bassenthwaite Club’s D.K.Laing trial on the first Sunday of November ensured that the rider would win the class ,for that was the winning score over both the hard route and also the clubman route at Threlkeld Mining Museum near Keswick.
But the scores for the second place were vastly different, particularly over the hard course for whilst defending Centre Champion Tom Swindllehurst went round for the loss of just those eight marks, his closest rival Richard Gaskell, who has this year won the Over 40s S3 Championship title, lost a massive 48, which was probably more reflective of the trial severity than Swinny’s amazing ride for just eight points.
Also on eight marks lost was Clubman class winner Will Brockbank who was aboard the 250 BSA he occasionally campaigns for his pal Sean Radcliffe, but this time with strict instructions not to ride it on the hard course which would be his normal playground on a Gas Gas. Anthony Hayhurst notched up second place and aboard a 200 Fantic, Andrew Payne was third, five and six marks adrift of Brockbank respectively.
An excellent entry of 63 riders took part in this opening round of the 2026 Northern Centre Trials Championship (the Northern Centre year calendar runs from November 1 – October 31) and as well as a hard and clubman course, a Green 50/50 route was included which was won comfortably by Jack Dixon, fresh from an excellent performance in the Scott Trial, finishing with almost half the score of the ever-green veteran Nigel Birkett who continues to amaze everyone with his determination to continue perform at the highest level possible for his age. Look out Scotland in 2026!!
It proved to be a fine day with outbreaks of sunshine but with high winds, it was a bitterly cold day and those observers who stuck to their posts were the real stars as equally cold showers battered the steep hillsides opposite Blencathra. Unfortunately no Kitch pics this time. EK did arrive to the trial but was unable to gain access to the hillside, with access gates locked against his Range Rover. Full results from the home page link.