Know your ABCD's
By TMX Archives on 4th Jun 08
CHEADLE (Staffs) Auto Club runs round six of the ACU British Youth A and B Championship at Ipstones on Sunday.Herne Bay's prospect Ben Morphett aims to win and record his fourth victory in the British Class A Youth championship series. He makes no secret of his aspirations, European and World events are his number one target.
Dave Jones of Sparshatts of Kent supports his Youth and Adult aims. No accident that Mr Jones has his eye on Ben, as he did with British Champion Graham Jarvis. The angled rocks and tight turns of Sharpecliffe Hall should suit Morphett.
So who will pose a problem on Sunday? Jack Sheppard if his damaged knuckle, legacy of the Mitchell two weeks back, has healed. Four championship points currently cover series leader Morphett and Shep.
The Ipswich rider has his eye firmly on the title as does Lakelander Jonny Walker who has to win to keep in touch. Jonathan Richardson won Scarborough but missed the podium on three occassions.
With five straight wins Richard Sadler requires one more victory to more or less lock up the Class B title. He has ridden every round and still has a drop score to call up, if he chooses but knowing Richard he will be going for a clean sweep. Sadler is up one gear on Jake Evans-Luter, Chris Short and Yorky Jack Howell. The dark horses are Luke Walker and Keelan Hancock plus the Isle of Wight ‘Terrible Twins' Chris Stay and George Gosden.
Stay had a doldrum year in 2007 but he has got back into Class A and gradually upped his game. The action for both classes fires up and 10am.
Youth C&D Champs...
IWAN Roberts enters the Lion's Den on Saturday when the 11-year-old Ffestiniog rider contests the fifth round of the ACU national Class C and D trials championship at Cogden Hall, east of Reeth, Richmondshire, Yorkshire.
Iwan leads Class C by a single point from Wallsend youngster Billy Bolt and the first Under 10-year-old rider to win a championship round, Dan Peace.
Entries are up for the Richmond club's event with 24 Class C and four Medium Wheels plus a very strong 10 starters in Class D Small-wheels.
Apart from the top three scorers there is a little matter of local ace James Stones, consistent B&B Beta rider Jack Price, and another Bro Cader threat in the form of Dewi Jones. Liam Owens and Isle of Man contender Joe Yeardsley will be in the points cut.
Jack Peace starts favourite for the Medium Wheels but South Shropshire boy Sam Yeomans has a win and three seconds – and he won at Bracken Rocks last month.
Toby Martin travels from Pendennis for Small-wheel carrying three wins. From the other direction, the Lake District, comes Joe Hiley, winner of icebound Scarborough last February along with Dunfermline's Joe Dawson. Those two, along with Aiden Bowker and James Postlethwaite, stick with the tried and tested Yamaha TY80 machines.
David Allinson and Ted Harston have worked hard to prepare two courses, one in case Grinton Beck levels rise to the unrideable. Three laps of 12 sections on the superb acres east of Grinton. Oliver Smith, will ride an electric Oset in Class D Small-wheels. Dorothy Wardle will dispense the grub. First riders at 10.31am on Saturday morning.