Will McBain James Cup Winner

Marcus Haynes

Alan Taylor

Dean Devereux

Alex Ross

Nick 'Dabber' James

 2019 James Cup Trial

Report Ken O'Brien

Pictures by Gary Dowzall, others can be found at sliders.photography

 

Will McBain 300 Gasser put in a near perfect performance to retain the Expert class win and premiere award 'The James Challenge Trophy' with a loss of one.
 
Folly Farm Common Wood Beckley was the venue where 4 four laps of ten testing sections were ridden we had steep climbs cambered roots a graded hill muddy slots and sweeping sandy banks with the odd South Midland Rock thrown in for good measure.
 
This event was an OTC event and included a round of the Meteor Group Series.

 

Will's only loss occurred at section 8 last lap a sweeping swampy hazard where the wet stuff dragged up the bank making the steep climb and turn somewhat tricky a steadying prod was needed here.
 
Hot on his heels in the expert class was Berko raider Lennie Tidd 250 Beta waiting for his chance if McBain lapsed his concentration but not this time and had to settle for runner-up spot on three.
 
Best Intermediate on the 50/50 route was Marcus Haynes over from the Milton Buzzard club three was his total half a dozen ahead of Ixion member Lee Sullivan.
 
A crowd had gathered in the bottom field as word had got around there could be a stopper section to witness at number four.
 
Lee was thrown off line here on his first visit by a lurking stump out of sight on the ditch crossing and done well to hold it for anything less than a five hopping himself out of trouble.
 
Back to winning ways on one mark lost Clubman Alan Taylor took a necessary dab also at section 4 but that was it for a near faultless ride.
 
In the Twinshock class on the middle route Bultaco 350 pilot Dean Devereux had a great ride for a loss of 4 with an annoying three at his last section of the day number 10.
 
This wasn't as easy as it looked after a hundred or so bikes had gone though the marshy going was getting dragged further up the bank as more and more spin was required to reach the ends.
 
Wycombe member Jim Morris pipped Tim Roblett on the most clean tie-break with fourteen marks apiece in the Novice contest which gets his name on the Thistle Anderson Cup for 2019.
 
The easier white course attracted a good entry with British Twinshock and Modern machinery there was also a 50/50 easy-middle route for championship purposes.
 
 50/50 rider Paul Meader 325 Bultaco lost seven with Alex Ross posting the the Best pre 65 on nine marks.
 
Alex had the big Royal Enfield on full-chat up the Graded Hill and could be heard echoing through the woods from afar clean as a whistle every attempt.
 
Gordon Pusey 290 Beta has been making a habit of winning lately and once again topped the leader board with a final card of two.
 
Gordon took his eye off the ball for a split second at section 6 first lap but held it well over a steep lattice of roots for one of his dabs.
 
Best Pre 65 on the eased course was Nick James 250 DOT.
 
Nick was certainly ' Devoid of Trouble ' losing a miserly three a dab at 9 and a couple at sub 10 late on.
 
David Clarkson 186 Bantam was on his case only a mark adrift but had to settle for second place points today.
 
   

 

Class Rider Bike  Points
Red Route      
James Cup Winner  Will McBain  300 Gasser 1
 Expert  Lennie Tidd  250 Beta  3
   Paul Oldfield  250 Gasser 7
 Intermediate   Marcus Haynes  250 Beta  3
   Lee Sullivan  300 Beta 9
Yellow Route      
 Clubman  Alan Taylor  Beta 250  1
   Pat Middlehurst  Sherco 250  11
   Graham Grove  Beta 250  12
   Justin Cookson  Beta 250  14
 Twinshock  Dean Devereux  325 Bultaco  4
 Novice  Jim Morris  Beta 200 14 M/C
   Tim Roblett  Beta 250  14
       
 50/50  Paul Meader  325 Bultaco  7
 Pre 65 Hard  Alex Ross  350 Enfield  9
   Wayne Hutton  225 Triumph Cub  
White Route      
 Sportsman  Gordon Pusey  290 Beta  2
   Brian Ayres  200 Beta  6
   Dale Carswell  250 Gasser  21 M/C
   Doug Swanson  200 Beta  21
Pre 64 Nick 'Dabber' James  250 DOT 3
  Dave Clarkson  188 Bantam 4
  Chris Pickup  200 Cub 11
  John Eckhart  500 Triumph 33

 

Full results can be found here .