2021 reports

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Report Walsden 06-06-21

Red Rose Classic Trials club returned to Walsdon for their June trial, high on the hills near Todmorden on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border on a beautiful sunny Sunday. It was the usual format of four laps of 10 sections, with groups starting at each section to comply with Covid guidelines, but with a smaller than usual entry there were only two classes on each course – twin shocks and springers under 250.

Article Brian Stowell

It turned out to be a day when being old was definitely a benefit, with two of the four classes won on the oldest rider rule – there’s got to be some benefits for being old!

This decider wasn’t needed for the hard course springers, Dave Fallows taking the win by a mark from Owen Hardisty 23 to 24, with Stuart Dugdale a further 36 in arrears.

Two of the classes were won by the Alan’s, Mills on the easy course in the springers class and O’Connor on the twin-shocks hard course, the latter beating Vesty on his immaculate but squeaky Bulto with Simon Hartley in third losing out on that dreaded (for the youngsters!) age rule. Mr Mills went round clean on the easy course, as did Andrew Hesketh on his Cub, but Alan got the verdict on the age rule, and Steve Thomas’ loss of a dab on section seven dropping him to third. 

The easy course twin-shocks victor was Jason Brown on the oldest rider rule from Chris Forshaw, Chris’ five on section 9 losing it for him, with Dave Broderick a further one behind on 7. Sections one and eight were the mark takers on the hard course, one was a twisty one around rocks with a steep exit made harder by the loose stones amassing on the run up, and section eight was the gully which the hard route went right to the top, and for us dabbers it seemed to go on forever! A supply of oxygen at the top would have been appreciated. The easy course riders found section five to be the hardest, a turn and climb over a jumble of rocks catching many out.

The group format still seems to work – though some still try to crack on, but it was great to ride with five guys I’d never really spoken to before though I did have my helmet taken by one and another was Mr Sagar, enough said! He didn’t get away with the five on section 9 (right in front of the photographer), and if anyone wonders why the observer’s card at section seven has a set of tyre tracks over it just ask Lee. Maybe it wasn’t such a good thing as we propped up the hard course twin-shock results! Thanks to everyone involved in the day – especially the C of C’s, secretary, treasurer and the observers for the organisation, and the Pendle Grill for bringing their butty van.

Red Rose’ next trial is the Vesterinen Trophy charity trial, to be held on the 4th July. Entries are already full in all classes, but there will be a raffle on the day – details to be published shortly. Hopefully Vesty will have oiled his squeaky Bultaco by then.

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Copy Pit report 03-10-21

Red Rose Trial 3/10/21 – John Max’s out – John Maxfield put in a great ride to record the lowest score on the expert route at the Red Rose club’s October trial – that is assuming the observers’ cards were correct. After using the same numbers all year the organisers issued new ones for this trial – but not everyone picked up their number causing much confusion. New numbers again at the next trial!Article: Brian StowellJohn lost a meagre 17 marks on a testing course to win the unit construction under 250 class on his Bantam from the James of Peter Ashmore. Neil Sharp continued his voyage of discovery into twin-shocks taking the class on 20 from Mick Clarke on 30. The only pre-unit bike entered was ridden around the expert route by George Emmott for a loss of 28, only bettered by 5 riders on considerably more modern bikes.On the clubman course Andrew Walters won the twin-shock class with the lowest score of the day – 2 marks to Stephen Wilde’s 5, though the unit under 250’s winner on this route, Carl Winstanley, was only 1 mark worse off on 3, beating Alan Mills by 2 marks.After changing their event schedule to accommodate their ‘great new venue’, waterlogged ground meant a late venue change to Copy Pit at Cliviger where Yrjo Vesterinen and Trevor Bennet laid out 10 varied sections. Section 1 had a dearth of flags, but by the second lap the easy route riders were guided to the intended way to avoid the experts big climb out of the stream which resulted in many cleans. Section 3, observed by Alan O’Connor, proved the hardest on both routes. The long (especially on the expert’s route) twisting section on the rocks and banks in the wood proved very slippery, hit a rock wrong and down went the feet. Unusually the rocky stream gully was not used but that was no detriment, as sections 7, 8 and 9 took marks off most riders on both routes.Red Rose entries have been steadily increasing since events restarted post covid, but the observer’s entry was oversubscribed so a couple of regulars were missing, but thanks from all the riders go to all those that did observe and put up with the showers and the usual Cliviger biting wind, and to Trev and Vesty for setting out an excellent trial.The next Red Rose trial will be the Northern British Bike Round starting from Gisburn Auction Mart on 24th October 2021, entries now open and will include twin-shocks if the entry is not filled by pre-65’ers by the 14th October. Report by Brian Stowell

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Red Rose Classic Trial, Report Warmden Quarry, 5/12/21

Red Rose Classic held their December trial at Warmden Quarry on a cold but dry day, though Ben, Trev, Paul and Lucas got very wet laying out the day before and 3 of them turned up to observe – thanks lads.

The sections were rocks and twists, with a blast up the stream for section 10 – not quite a ‘Butterworth World Round’ but there were one or two hairy turns and drops.

Clerk of Course Ben Butterworth reckoned section 9 was the mark taker on the hard route, but it turned out the similar style section 2 with very tight turns on rocks in a bank took the most marks from both the twinshocks and british bike riders. Not that Ben noticed as he cleaned the entire route to win the Springer over 250 class – though he was also the only rider in it.

The springer under 250 class on the hard course was a Bantam v Cub battle won by Andrew Scott’s Bantam on 14 from the Cubs Owen Hardisty, Pete Clibburn and Dave Ingram – the latter 2 tied on 36 marks lost, showing what a good ride Andrew had.

T’other Butterworth, Jack, fresh from his victory at the Costa Brava trial, lost a mere 2 to win the twinshock class on the hard route, from Graham Fallowes and Andy Cope, all on various Fantic models.

The easy route only had twinshock and under 250 springer entrants, though I’m sure I saw a rigid Bantam in action. 5 riders ended the day with clean sheets, 3 on British bikes – Steve Thomas, Carl Winstanley and Paul Charnley – and 2 on twinshocks – John Wilson and Bryan Hardaker.  A great ride by all on some tricky sections.

The next Red Rose trial will be the Paul Harrison charity trial at Fishermans Retreat, Riding Head Lane, Ramsbottom on 28th December 2021, a great way to clear the Christmas excess. Hope to see you there.