Tuesday December 9, 2014 at 3:12pm
The Sunbeam MCC 73rd Southern Experts Trial was staged on Sunday at Butser Lime Works, Petersfield, Hants. The trial was organised by ACU Club Hookwood Trials of Surrey. Three laps of twelve sections had to be ridden over three laps by 90 plus competitors with a separate course for solos and sidecars. The venue features massive chalk hills and drop offs and was the scene of the British round of 1998 World Championship when Steve Saunders recorded his famous win.
Freezing ground conditions on the Saturday were then changed by a massive downpour just after the start of the Trial, making wheel grip the main factor for all the competitors. Star of the day was Sam Haslam riding his JST Gas Gas to a very well deserved win, with very consistant laps of: 8-9-10 to finish on a total of 27 marks lost. Beta UK rider and Hookwood TC member Sam Connor took runner up with laps of: 11-11-12 for a total of 34. JST Gas rider Alexz Wigg filled the final podium place with laps of: 15-12-10 for a total of 37.
The Expert Clubman class was won by Dave Clinkard for the second year running for a total of 32. Clinkard was pushed hard all day by Ben Skinner who finished on 38, with Chris Heane having a superb ride on 45.
There were ten youth entries on 125s and Surrey Schoolboy rider Jonathan Bannister riding his Beta took the win from Tom Culliford and Sam Yeomans. Rupert and Chris Kimber won the Expert sidecar and Phil Sparkes and Joe Newman took the Clubman sidecar win. Many competitors were full of praise for a excellent trial and very efficient full result service, backed up by award presentation on completion of the event. The Southern Experts Trial will be run by Hookwood Trials Club on 6 Dec 2015 and again at Butser. Full results can be found on Hookwood Trials Club (facebook-just google)