Loch Lomond - Dan Stewart Memorial Trial
By TMX Archives on 2nd Jun 11
Long time regulars at the Loch Lomond Two-Day Trial which was staged on Bank Holiday weekend, Hillsboroughs Dan Thorpe and Lochabers Gary Macdonald were again locked in a titanic battle for the Dan Stewart Memorial Two-Day Trial.
Dan won by the narrowest possible of margins to beat Gary by claiming a total of 79 cleans
over Gary's 7 cleans over the two days.
Each lost just nine marks on the Saturday and five marks on Sunday, with the tie breaker being determined on a highest number of cleans basis.
The organisers had stuck to the tried and tested route, similar to last year, of a single lap testing and picturesque 40 mile run with 37 sections on Saturday and the usual two-lap 25 section course on Sunday of 24 miles.
The weather always plays a big part in the trial with tough, boggy moor crossings sapping the energy of many competitors. The burn sections, however, were in fair condition, some of which had deep water from the prolonged heavy and wintry showers.
High winds and hail on the hill tops contributed to the testing conditions for many of the riders.
Dan and Gary, both Gas Gas mounted, were on top form as they each lost their first mark on section number 20 at Glen-na-Caorrin, with further marks being lost at the usual very tough sections at Mulea Plantation by both riders. Dan cleaned Last Gasp with Gary having a single dab on the large and slippery boulders.
The Saturday score was all-square on nine each, however, Dan had 32 cleans with Gary on 31 cleans. Meanwhile, Youth Robert Waite from Darlington was having a good ride by completing Saturday with a loss of just 11 marks.
The riders had found the weather conditions fairly tough on the hills with the heavy and wintry showers and the high water levels in the burns.
Conditions improved for the two-lap Sunday course, and again Gary and Dan proved to be virtually inseparable. At the end of the first lap Gary was on four to Dan's five.
However, the second lap score for Gary was one, with Dan cleaning the entire second lap, to leave each with five marks lost.
Final score was 14 each for Gary and Dan to be decided by the highest number of cleans. While Dan and Gary were battling it out for the top slot, Guisborough rider Guy Kendrew was not far behind in third place with a total loss of 27 marks over the two days. Ian Hopley finished in ninth place overall and picked up the Best Over-40 award.
Killin rider Andrew Anderson had steady ride to lose 61 marks in total and pick up the Geordie Shaw Trophy for the Best Scottish Rider and finish in a creditable 11th place overall. The Loch Lomond club again applied a time limit on each day of the event to keep the trial moving along. However, possibly because of the wintry conditions, this was never an issue, and everybody finished well within the specified time allowance.
RESULTS
Premier Award:Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 14 marks (79 cleans).
Runner-up:Gary MacDonald 14 marks (78 Cleans)
Over 40:Ian Hopley (Beta) 60.
Youth:Robert Waite (Beta) 39.
SACU member:Andrew Anderson (Gas Gas) 61.
First Class Awards:Guy Kendrew (Ossa) 27, James Johnson (Beta) 44, Billy Bolt (Beta) 52, Simon Kershaw (Beta) 53, James Carr (Ossa) 54, Carl Hollis (Gas Gas) 60, Andrew Anderson (Gas Gas) 61, Jack Stones (Gas Gas) 61, John Battensby (Sherco) 66, Anthony Ayrton (Gas Gas) 68, Matthew Maynard (Gas Gas) 72, Ben Robinson (Gas Gas) 75, Gavin Black (Montesa) 75.
