Sambeams at Stourton
By TMX Archives on 22nd Dec 06
HOME Counties star Sam Connor was provisionally named winner of the Sunbeam and Blackmore Vale club organised Southern Experts trial at Stourton, near Mere, in Wiltshire on Sunday, but the annual classic ended in controversy and darkness.
With lap scores of four, two and one, Connor was best on observation in the three lap 15 section contest at Alfred's Tower, but he was given a hefty 11 mark time penalty for late finishing, which he disputed the very minute that he handed in his final lap punch card.
He argued his case on the grounds that no time clock was on display anywhere in the start area, so he had set not one, but two, watches. "This is the first time that I have had to protest in any trial in the UK, I agree I was six minutes late at the finish, but certainly not 22. Within minutes he was back to the secretary with his protest in writing, and with the cash. Had he not protested Sam Haslam would have taken the top prize as the scoreboard then showed that his lap totals were 12, three and two, and at the time of Connor's action, he and Wessex Centre champion Colin Crease were among the very few who did not incur penalties for late finishing.
After several meetings involving the stewards of the meeting and clerk of course Chris Woods, every competitor was given an additional five minutes which had the affect of wiping five marks off all time penalties, including Connor, who then had a four mark advantage over Haslam.
At this stage, every glimpse of daylight had disappeared and, finding it impossible to work under torchlight in the chilly conditions, the results team packed everything away and only the names of the top eight Experts became available, plus Youth winner Ross Danby who had fought off an early challenge from Yeovil youngster Lee Wiggins. The situation now was that Joe Baker and James Fry had also got in on time.
2006 Southern Experts Trial Stourton, Wiltshire
(Sunbeam MCC & Blackmore Vale MCC)
Expert: Sam Connor (210 Beta) 2+4+2 plus 6 marks time penalty = 13 marks lost, Sam Haslam (280 Gas Gas) 12+3+2+0 time penalty = 17, Joe Baker (270 Scorpa) 15+3+7=25, James Fry (290 Sherco) 19+11+11=41. Alexz Wigg (125 Gas Gas) 8+6+6+23 TP = 43, Gary Jenkins (290 Sherco) 16+8+9+23 TP = 56, Ben Wibberley (250 Gas Gas) 21+13+17+8 TP = 59, Wayne Holdsworth (280 Gas Gas) 21+19+15+11 TP = 66.
Best Youth: Ross Danby (125 Gas Gas) 21+13+3+3 TP = 48.
The Clubman results were not available at the time of going to press.
For full report, results and pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, December 22, 2006