Riding with confidence and skill, Harry Hemingway (Beta) scored a resounding win over new Champion, Jack Peace (Sherco) at Geddington on Sunday. Billy Green (Scorpa) took the lower step on the podium, just one further mark adrift.
Leading from the start, Hemingway posted lap scores of 24-8-8 which does not reflect the level of the technical sections which also included some large rock formations and steps in the canyon like quarry area.
After light overnight rain and a shower before the Trial GB Class started forced the Clerk of the Course, Tony Jones and his team to rapidly alter some sections, which after the steep hillside dried and grip levels increased some stunning rides were recorded throughout the class.
Although he took the best lap bonus point with a loss of five marks, Toby Martyn (Montesa Honda) finished in fourth as he looks forward to several Trial X outings and his single dab ride together with the winner "H" at section ten should put him in a good place.
Jack Dance (GasGas) didn't find the increased grip levels on his second lap quick enough to challenge for a podium place, although he final tour of fourteen, including one of the few cleans at section seven was worthy of more.
Harry Turner (Scorpa) again showed why he is a world class rider to round out the top six.
Our picture shows the winner at section ten with his one dab ride on the formidable rock face.
After leading at the end of the first tough lap and reducing his subsequent totals, James Fry (Sherco) was in top form to take a single mark win over Jamie Galloway (TRRS) in the competitive Trial 2 Class. With lap scores of 33-18-6 as the hillside sections dried considerably, riding near the back of the field, Fry tackled the ultra steep zones with confidence and skill, rounding off an excellent season and securing second in the series.
The best 125 rider in the class having already secured the title at the previous round, George Hemingway (Beta) had to settle for third, just edging out Duncan MacColl (Beta) on a tie break after the Scottish visitor posted his best result of the season with a final lap of just nine marks lost. The computer had to work overtime with another tie break which was resolved counting the most ones which denied Sam Haslam (GasGas) a possible podium position to eventually finish in fifth place.
Oliver Smith (TRRS) recorded nine failures and three cleans on his opening lap but fought back to finish sixth, edging out Chris Stay (TRRS) in another tie break situation.
Outside of the top ten on the opening lap, Sam Connor (Beta) fought back with much reduced second and third lap scores to claim eighth, whilst Alfie Lampkin's (Vertigo) final lap of eleven marks was overshadowed by six time penalties.
Hugo Jervis (Beta) rounded out the top ten to ensure his fifth in the overall standings.
With a superb final lap of three, Dan Thorpe (GasGas) took the Trial Expert win and confirmed his place at the top of the class. In extremely difficult conditions on lap one after a light shower just after the 9.30am start. Thorpe suffered six maximums in a row mid way round the first lap which put him level with George Gosden (Beta) after the first tour, with title challenger Brad Bullock (Beta) and Emma Bristow MBE (Sherco) just two marks adrift.
As the steep hillside dried out scores were significantly reduced on the second lap and it was Gosden, returning to the series after missing some mid season rounds due to his display riding, who found himself in the top spot with one lap remaining.
Knowing that a top five position would secure the title, Thorpe amazed spectators and his rivals, parting with just three dabs on the third lap to take a comfortable win. In the post event interviews, Gosden admitted to having leg and arm cramp on his final tour, being one of the few top ten finishers to increase on his second lap posting.
Having held the leaders red plate after four rounds earlier in the year, Bullock had to concede defeat and was the first to congratulate his rival with a third place finish, just ahead of our ladies World Champion who missed out on a podium position with three time penalties.
Charlie Smith (Vertigo) came out best on a tie break with Thomas Swindlehurst (Scorpa) for fifth place despite losing a minute at the end of the first lap.
Newly crowned Trial Electric Champion, Chris Pearson (EM) silently finished in seventh, whilst Sam Beecroft Penny (TRRS), Corey Dubik (Vertigo) and Oliver Sharp (GasGas) rounded out the top ten.
Harison Skelton (Scorpa) was in top form when he won the Trial 125 Class with a superb performance and clinched the 2023 title in the process.
Coming into the round with a slender two point lead over his arch rival Harry Blackwell (Beta) the pressure was on and in a very tough opening lap due to a light shower just after the start all riders in the class got off to a difficult first lap on the gripless hills in the old Geddington canyon.
However, on the second of three laps, Skelton halved his first lap score as the conditions improved and the Clerk of the Course eased a few sections. By his own admission at the end of the event, Blackwell still struggled and whilst his rival continued to improve with a final lap of sixteen, the damage was done and the title chance had slipped away.
As in the previous round, it was Daniel Da Breo (GasGas) who took the runner up spot, showing great skills, but too many failures prevented him from challenging for the win.
It is interesting to note that Skelton's winning ride with laps of 40-21-16 would have been enough to give him a top eight place in the Trial Expert class over the same route through the thirty six sections.
We expect details for 2024 will be announced soon.