Cambridge Matchless MC - The Brian Stonebridge Trophy Trial

By Colin Nunn

Photos by Peter Rank

Cambridge Matchless Club's premier event, the Brian Stonebridge Trophy Trial, incorporating a round of the ACU South Midland Intermediate and Novice Championships attracted a full entry of 120 competitors. The 12 mile single lap course of 38 sections starting from Hadstock airfield was a real challenge made worse by torrential rain at the start of the event.

These conditions did not bother best expert Tom Moss who recorded just 2 failures and the only rider on the white route to clean section 9 at the Pheasant Pens. His total of 20 was half that of runner up Dan Greeves.

Scores were closer for the intermediate class riding the 50/50 route. Ian watts losing his only five on section 9 and recording all cleans at Chesterford Park Farm and finishing seven clear of Colchester rider Tom Norman.

Riding the yellow route it was the sections at the Pheasant Pens that took most marks from the novice, clubman and twinshock classes. The only rider to c lean section 10 was John Holdsworth but this was not enough to overtake Bob Devereux and Paul Gobey at the top of the novices. Twinshock rider Chris Collins dominated this class recording cleans on 27 of the 38 sections and finishing 11 clear of Tim Blackmore. With only three clubmen managing to reach the ends cards on section 10 best was runner up Kevin Miller with 2 dabs with best overall Stephen Wells and Tim Bird legging it out.

Certainly a testing event for all concerned particularly the observers who braved the biting wind to make this unique event such a success.

Next event: Cuckoo Trial - 10th May at Rectory Farm, Brook Street, Elsworth CB23 4HX. See cambridgematchless.co.uk for more details.