Ladies and gentlemen
By Colin Bullock on 17th Aug 12
North Berkshire MCC went one better this year and made their Bonanza Supertrial into a weekend event, with a ladies event on the Saturday and the men running on Sunday as usual. The venue was Seymours Arena, Aston Tirrold, suitably tuned and improved by Stu Robinson and his crew and the result was two excellent and well-supported days.
Ladies Supertrial
There were just five ladies taking part, but the level of riding against some tough hazards provided a great weekend opener.
Emma Bristow was the front runner, taking the Ossa around the first lap for a superb loss of just five marks – most of which went on the second sub which had some big rock steps.
This hazard took a five from Becky Cook and when she had a similar result on the fifth section, things were not looking too good for the British No.1 – but there was still a long way to go.
Nikita Smith was riding behind these two but she was giving a great account of herself on the 125 Gas Gas and finished her first circuit with two cleans and a dab to go third.
Lap two saw more of the same with Emma setting the pace from Becky.
Nikita was again solid in third, while Danielle Whitham and Jess Brown both more confident as the day went on. Emma, Becky and Nikita went through to the final and the scores were returned to zero.
The waterfall section was added although there was a slight easing of the flags here but it was still pretty daunting.
Smith was first through the hazards – a real disadvantage – but the youngest rider was not overawed and she put on a great show.
Becky and Emma posted four straight cleans then Cook gained a two-point advantage with a three on sub five, which Emma fived.
It then swung back the other way when Becky needed three to get through the banking of the seventh hazard which Emma cleaned.
It all came down to the Waterfall after the Staircase, which had left Becky two marks ahead.
With the minders making sure there were no nasty falls, it ended up with fives all around.
Emma got through the section but she had been given a maximum for a foot-down stall, so the first Ladies Supertrial win went to Becky Cook.
RESULTS
1 Becky Cook (Beta) 11, 2 Emma Bristow (Ossa) 13, 3 Nikita Smith (Gas Gas) 32.
Men's Supertrial
By the time the 11am start was reached, several hundred spectators had crammed into Seymour's Arena to watch the best of the UK's top trials riders take on the outdoor arena.
Heats consisted of two laps of eight subs, which had to be ridden twice within a two-hour time allowance. The top six qualifiers would then go into a single-lap shoot-out.
Alexz Wigg had the dubious honour of being the first away, but he dealt with the steep drops and climbs without any problems, as did most of the entry.
Section two was a different proposition, with some huge steps and the majority of the spectators lining both sides of the banks to watch the action.
It caught many for maximums, but three-times British Champion James Dabill looked so good it must have had an effect on his rivals, as he floated over the biggest steps.
It was not just Dibs going well, as Jack Challoner reminded the British fans of his pedigree with some stunning rides.
One of the best rides ended in failure as Bradley Cox, still on a 125, was only beaten by the final step out and looked right at home on the big stage.
Alexz showed the way through section five with its stepped climbs, tree stumps and nasty rock jumble.
One dab and a couple of seconds left on the time allowance showed he too was getting into his stride.
RESULTS
FInal: James Dabill (Beta) 7, Michael Brown (Gas Gas) 22, Jack Challoner (Beta) 30, Alexz Wigg (Gas Gas) 37.
Eliminated: Sam Haslam (Gas Gas) 19, Jack Sheppard (Beta) 21.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE TMX AUGUST 17
