Rob Warner	Steve Swanson
Alan Taylor	Dave Bathe
Darren Walters	Darren Wheeler

2012 James Cup Trial

Pics Gary Dowzall Event Gallery

Rob Warner rolled back the years to take the Expert class and premiere award 'The James Cup' this Trial was a round of the South Midland Expert Championship.
Three laps of 12 long sections were ridden at the Lower Riding Sturt wood venue with every section a challenging steep and lose climb.
Rob lost eleven today making most subs look fairly easy although an early dab on section one meant concentration and experience at 'The Ridings' would play a big part with the likes of Chris Koch Steve Bird and Steve Swanson all in with a shout.
Section nine was really tough a 250 yard climb that's if you could get over the root step just after the begins cards it was a third gear blast with a rocky out-crop to traverse before dropping over exposed routes this took two from Mr Warner at his second visit.
Steve Swanson took runner-up spot on 23 with Pre race favorite Chris Koch back in third on 25 however Chris sparked the Trial into life at section one with a brilliant clean first lap on the ultra slick stony cambers where overnight frost had played its part.
On the standard white route Alan Taylor lost ten with a controlled ride on the Scorpa in the Clubman class though section seven took four of his tally this sub stayed slick all day as the long wet grass held it's moisture with no sun to dry things out on this north facing climb.
Darren Walters was best Twinshock on the 240 Fantic with Martin Howlett putting his ageing but very tidy TY175 around for second spot.
Kevin McCullagh out on the 250 Beta 4 stroke for the first time also lost ten riding the Blue eased route finding plenty of grip where the strokers couldn't namely on section two a slow drop to the banks of the Evenlode and then an awkward camber though trees before dropping off a ledge and exiting up a steep rock laden climb.
Ron 'Sparky' Walters guided his immaculate 200 Fantic around for 23 in second place and Paul Wickson was back in third spot losing 26.
Section ten took marks from all blue course competitors this looked a fairly straight forward affair but lack of speed half way up caught many out as by now it was too late to get the power back on.

Premiere (James Cup)    Rob Warner                        250 Repsol Mont                                           11
1st Class                         Steve Swanson                   300 Beta                                                        23
Youth A                         Tom O'Sulivan                    125 Gas Gas                                                 122

Standard White Route
Clubman                        Alan Taylor                         Scorpa                                                         10
David Bathe                        Montesa                                                       13
Martin Greeves                   Beta                                                              34
Jim Parker                          250 Gasser                                                   36
Mark Howkins                   250 Beta                                                        37
Sam 'The Farmer' Cherry   250 Beta                                                        60

Twinshock                     Darren Walters                  240 Fantic                                                     21

Blue eased route           K P McCullagh                  Beta 4T                                                         10
Ron Walters                       200 Fantic                                                     23
Paul Wickson                     Pinky Yam                                                     26   
Rob Lewis                         Sherco                                                           30
Ryan Harris                        125 Beta                                                        31
Ben Green                           Sherco                                                           38

Full results can be found here .