Thorpe pushes Colmore to 100
By Colin Bullock on 8th Mar 11
Not only is it a centenary for the SSDT in 2011 but it also is a year in which the Colmore Cup Trial, as one of the oldest Nationals in the calendar, has also reached that 100 year milestone.
The original winner was one W D South riding a Scott and since that time the premier trophy has been lifted by virtually all of the greats with Steve Saunders winning no less than 10 times. This year there was once again a full entry of 120 riders for this Midland Classic which also hosted round two of the current S3 series. Once again the Stratford club were the organisers having taken over from SUNBAC in 1977.
The event had a new starting base at The Sheldon Bosley Hub, and a 30 mile route around familiar Colmore scenery but with the addition of three new groups of subs and the reintroduction of the infamous Meon Hill.
Paul Wareing set of for the eight mile trip to Dovedale in terrific conditions but we all knew it would not last. By the time half the entry were through this first group the rains were upon us which always makes these subs very tricky.
Two riders to make early use of the conditions before they deteriorated were Ross Danby and Sam Haslam who both cleaned all 10 hazards at Dovedale. James Fry also went exceedingly well here dropping only one dab on the rather treacherous cambers and sharp climbs of section four. This hazard accounted for plenty of action on both Hard and 50/50 routes but the ride of the day came from Sam Connor in the worst of the conditions. His Beta tried its hardest to slide off the cambers but Sam was having none of it and held on for a superb ride.
Some five miles down the road came four subs at Hancock's on the side of Fish Hill and these included a mandatory hill climb. Ross got through for a loss of just one dab but Sam Haslam maxed out on the middle hazard as did James Fry. Dan Thorpe, the defending Clubman series champion, fared a bit better losing just three at the group. On the 50/50 route the last hazard at Hancock's stopped everyone including John Cowley, having a superb day despite riding with a bit of a back niggle. He went on to beat brother Tony into second place with Guy Kenyon-Bell coming through for a good third spot using his local knowledge to good effect.
Saintbury was in fairly benign mood despite a hailstorm that came down thick and fast for five minutes. Very unpleasant for those riders out on the road. Guy Kendrew was superb through here as was local ace Buster Regan who ended-up having his best ride ever in this Championship. The organisers had taken out the climb out over the tree stump this year which probably accounted for a few less marks being lost in this group!
Hot soup awaited arrivals before they tackled Weston Wood, a welcome break as it was pretty cold. Sam Haslam cleaned the lot, the only rider to do so, but Ben Morphett was getting some good rides in and was unlucky to need just one dab at the first. Not so lucky here was Billy Craig who managed to jam his Gas Gas on the drop-off and got flung over the bars for his troubles. He got no sympathy from his mates whatsoever but would eventually take the best 125 award to ease his bruises.
The one new section at Hayes caused few problems and in general it was the same story at Tunnel where there were more banks and cambers. The final sub here featured an uphill climb followed by some cambered turns. Haslam lost a three here and Andy Blackman who was having a fine day but there were plenty of cleans including by Colmore veteran Mark Hicken and Shaun Fox.
Meon Hill was back in the trial after a long absence and it was always a favourite part of the event especially for people remembering Steve Saunders debuting the RTL Honda here back in 1985.
Ross Danby continued his superb day, he had lost just two dabs up to this point and in all honesty he never looked in any trouble here. Dan Thorpe was another to go clear at Meon and although he would not challenge for the overall win he would get fifth overall and with it the 20 points for best S3 Parts finisher. Second home in the S3 was Buster Regan and then Ricky Wiggins, who looks a very good contender this year having gone so well also at the Wallace Cup just seven days earlier.
So it turned out to be a Colmore Centenary win for local ace Ross Danby with Dan Thorpe top S3 Championship contender and South Midlander John Cowley doing the honours on the very well subscribed 50/50 class .
S3-PARTS NATIONAL CLUBMAN TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 2 – Colmore Cup Trial (Stratford on Avon MCC)
S3 CLASS: Dan Thorpe (300 JST Gas Gas) 12 marks lost, Buster Regan (290 Beta UK) 17, Ricky Wiggins (300 RCM Gas Gas) 19, Andy Blackman (300 Gas Gas) 25, Richard Timperley (290 MRS Mial Sherco) 26, Mark Hicken (300 Beta) 29 (32x0), Guy Kendrew (280 Moto UK Ossa) 29 (31x0), Shaun Fox (300 BVM Gas Gas) 31, Guy Chandler (290 Beta) 34, Ben Sprigg (300 Gas Gas) 35, Rob Warner (250 Raw Montesa) 37, Simon Welch (280 Raw Gas Gas) 41, Darren Wasley (Gas Gas) 46, Dave Clinkard (250 Beta) 47, Henry Bendal (300 Gas Gas) 51.
S3 OVER 40 CLASS: Mark Hicken (300 Beta) 29, Darren Wasley (Gas Gas) 46, Dave Clinkard (250 Beta) 47, Chris Koch (Beta) 57, Mick Boam (250 Xispa) 72, Richard Allen (250 Gas Gas) 87, Steve Grindle (250 RawSports Gas Gas) 99.
S3 TWIN-SHOCK CLASS: John Battensby (290 ORM Sherco) 78, Kevin Nolan (320 SWM) 99, Philip Wiffen (300 Fantic) 107.
S3 125cc CLASS: Billy Craig (125 Gas Gas) 117.
NEXT ROUND: March 27 – Hillsborough MCC (Jack Wood Trial).
NON-CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES
EXPERT: Ross Danby (300 JST Gas Gas) 2 marks lost, Sam Haslam (300 JST Gas Gas) 9, Sam Connor (290 Beta-UK) 10, James Fry (MRS Sherco) 11, Ben Morphett (290 MRS Sherco) 17, Chris Pearson (290 MRS Sherco) 23.
50/50 ROUTE: John Cowley (300 Gas Gas) 21, Tony Cowley (250 Beta) 47, Guy Kenyon-Bell (250 Sherco) 51, Lee Wiggins (300 RCM Gas Gas) 56, James Lamin (250 Montesa) 59, Kevin Feeny (280 Appleyard Ossa) 60.