Waltham Chase Trials Club - Alan Sansom Trophy Trial

By Andy Withers

Waltham Chase TC had the rare privilege of holding the Alan Sansom Trophy Trial at Langrish in Hampshire on the site of the old Ken Hall Trophy Scramble. Covid 19 socially distancing rules were fully in place with plenty of space available for parking and riding for the sixty six riders. Sections were spread out mainly on the grass and woodland hillsides providing plenty of steep climbs and drops to provide excitement for riders of all levels.

Karen Clarke

Thomas Moss took on the challenge of the expert route not on his modern bike but on his Geoff Muston prepared Fantic 156cc. He still topped the class by almost fifty points but did lose twenty one, ten of the marks were on section 8 which included a huge climb up the hillside changing direction over hillocks, two fives were followed by a clean on the last lap much to Tom's satisfaction. Dave Roberts was a distant second but as he moves up the classes it was a good result.

Seventy plus Reynard Norris enjoyed victory in the Intermediates edging out Alex Taylor who lost a costly five on the tricky section 7 climb where he inspected the grass far too closely. Mick Marshall was a clear winner in the clubman class showing tremendous throttle control on some of the cross camber turns to finish clear of Mark Shipp who pipped Michael Hinton by a single mark for second. Charlie Tindle and Neil Clarke circulated together on the B route, Charlie on his BSA B40 finishing well ahead of Neil who found it a challenge not having the engine breaking of his normal four stroke Ariel. On the novice route Andy Pattison lost just two to finish ahead of a group of four riders who were only separated by two marks from second to fifth, Gary Blackmore coming second. Geoff Muston topped the Twinshock B equalling Pattison's best score, next up were Mik Machinek and Tony Billingham who were only separated by the number of cleans after both finishing on eleven.

On the D route Karen Clarke and Steve Sell both lost just one. Karen putting in a great performance finishing eleven ahead of Chris Page on his Drayton Bantam. Steve on his Twinshock Ossa was just three ahead of motocrosser Arron Gamblin who is new to trials and put in a good ride one ahead of Keith Sansom.

In the Youths, Toby Brawn was the only B route runner finishing only eleven behind his Dad Chris' score on the same route. Likewise as the loan runner, Miles Garland rode well on the C route to post a score matching some of the adult runners, and on the D route Finlay Coles lost just five finishing ahead of David James in second.

Thomas Moss