Report: Julian Ford Memorial Trial
By Team TMX on 26th Nov 15
THE first Julian Ford Memorial Trial was staged at the Bumpy estate at Howden Clough where 56 competitors rode a three-lap 12-section woodland course at the road and trial training charity funded organisation where Julian was a key official.
He was also Yorkshire Centre ACU and president in 2011/12 until his untimely passing a year later.
Chief director of Bumpy Carolyne Kenzitt took on the role of event secretary while Bumpy instructor Dan Thorpe planned the course while assistant and oil baron Richard Thorpe ‘modified' the flag position to allowed a suitable line for his Repsol Montesa.
Even the weather cooperated to make Julian's day of memories a happy one.
On the compact course Dan and Richard tracked the B/C/D championship layout providing streams, steep climbs and descents and a good selection of rocks and fallen trees.
The opener was in a long shallow valley and that was on the soft side especially the climb to the ends card.
Dan Thorpe won the Expert course, cleaning every section on all three laps but he did know where he was going, and he seems to be a bit of winner in open trials on his JST Gas Gas.
Danielle Whitham, she of footballing skills, made one of her infrequent appearance before heading for a game in London on Sunday.
Only two failed the section on the Hard route on lap one: Dani, and James Bottomley. Even little sister Gabby foundered but legged her way out of trouble.
The ten fives incurred by Miss Football did not prevent her from getting the Jotagas home in eighth place beaten by Kirkburn Class B boy Charlie Mosley.
At the sharp end Thorpy just reeled off the laps chased by Chris Hunt and Keiran Child. Hunt and his Ossa posted a one in the wet gully at the fourth on lap one.
Chris Laws won the 50/50 route from Tom Green and ‘young' Dave Thorpe who was well at home on the soft ground as four twos and four dabs sufficed.
Laws did quite well as he was shepherding Imogen and Elliott through the sections. It is believed Elliott was the line finder.
A true veteran is Sheffield's evergreen Keith Hobson on his vintage Triumph Cub which he rode to win the Clubman class from another Falcon Class C starlet in Harvey Mosley with Elliott Laws right on his case. A dab separated the boys at the end of the day.
The Easy course marking was right on the button for 19 contenders.
Adults John Wood and James Hodson headed the class from Class B winner Adam Moore and John Riley. Two young ladies battled round, rumoured to be new to trialling.
Caroline and Emily Ward completed the course and it was not an easy course because of the muddy content due to the weather of late.
The results team worked at express speed to stage an and awards presentation and round off the day with a firework display.
Results
Hard course: Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas) clean, Chris Hunt (Ossa) 1 mark dropped, Simon Hirst (Montesa) 22.
Youth A: Keiran Child (Beta) 10.
Youth B: Charlie Mosley (Beta) 60, Charlie Smith (Sherco) 67, Gabby Whitham (Jotagas) 89.
50/50 course.
Adult: Chris Laws (Beta) 6 (fc), Tom Green (Beta) 6, Dave Thorpe (Gas Gas) 10.
Youth B: Joe Child (Beta) 47.
Youth C: Jacob Smith (Beta) 33.
Youth A: Joe Smith (Beta) 21.
Clubman course
Adult: Keith Hobson (Triumph) 16 fc, Mick Smith (Montesa) 20, Richard Thorpe (Montesa) 25.
Youth A: Joe Smith (Beta) 21
Youth C: Harvey Mosley (Beta) 18, Elliott Laws (Beta) 19.
Easy course
Adult: Tom Wood (Montesa) 21, James Hodson (Sherco) 23, John Riley (Scorpa) 32.
Youth A: Caroline Ward (Gas Gas) 46.
Youth B: Adam Moore (Gas Gas) 27, Zac Dolby (Gas Gas) 54, Harry
Atkinson (Beta) 72.
Youth C: Frankie Rhodes (Gas Gas) 37.
Youth D: Imogen Laws (Gas Gas) 93.
Youth E: Rhys Trewartha (Oset) 180.
