2 minute read
A Welcome Restart
By Bob Brown
The Thames Motor Cycle Club made a welcome return to competitive sport with their Restart Trial held at Frensham Vale, mindful of Covid-19 restrictions entries were limited to 60 riders with no spectators. Jon Yendell, Kevin Fishlock, Mark and Simon Ward had set out 10 sections in dry weather on the Saturday but with heavy overnight rain some slight modifications were necessary.
Advertisement
Simon Ward
Philip Wiffen was best expert loosing a meagre 10 marks mostly on the leafy climbs at sections 9 and 10, he was followed home by Richard Tickner with Ronnie Day taking third place. Joe Snelling was the sole youth rider on the hardest route and was the only rider to record all feet up rides through the tricky section 10. There was a close tussle for honours in the inter class with Colin Allsop coming out on top but only by a dab from Basingstoke riders Alex Taylor and Mark Elms, ace rides by Colin at section 1 set in a natural bowl with a fallen tree guarding the ridge.
Mick Marshall recorded the lowest score on the blue route to win the Over 40 class from fellow "Old Gits" Dave Renham, Dave Dale and Tim Bird, wheel perfect rides from Mick on the exposed roots of the fir tree at section 8. Another close battle in the novice class with Terry Tidbury victorious by 2 dabs from Steve Brown with Mick Auger some distance behind in third place, trouble free rides from Terry and Steve on the sandy banks of section 7.
Mark Ward
Pete Haines achieved the lowest score of the day in winning the Over 50 class with John Reeves also finishing in single figures and Simon Dowling third, four cleans by them all at section 6 over the exposed roots. Riding the same route Robin Ball was best Twinshock from Ian Hayward with John Johns taking his Greeves round in the Pre67 class, nice rides from Robin on the steep banks at section 5. Nick James excelled in the Pre67 class on the yellow route followed home by Rupert Kemp and Jeff Morgan, Nick Everitt did likewise on the Sportsman route tailed by Andrew Cooper and Brian Cohen; both Nicks had feet up rides through the banks at section 2.
With the success of the trial, the next trial on 20th September will be at Longcross.
