Rockshocks Classic Trials Championship Round 4: Westmorland MCC 21/05/2023
Report and Photographs by John Dickinson
The second half of the Rockshocks Classic weekend double, following Saturday's Sedbergh club round, was less than 20 miles away as the Westmorland Motor Club took over to run the fourth round near High Newton, Cumbria.
Tow Tops was the start venue, with the rocky outcrops on the fells providing sections at the start and finish but the course went over the top of the hill - with amazing views over Morecambe bay - and then steep down into the valley where the club's own piece of land was used, including the slippery, climbing rocky beck as well as several tricky hazards in the wood on the side of the hill.
It was a good mixed bag of sections plotted by series regular Pete Blowers of the Barrow and District club who has a good handle on exactly what is required for the various classes. The venue proved perfect for the usual two laps of 20 sections.
The weather was again dry and warm if not as blazingly sunny as Saturday, a good thing for observers!
Among the healthy number of 90 entries there was a more promising turnout of Experts where Miles Jones, winner of the Twinshocks and Robin Luscombe in Pre-75 Britshock both managed to lose just three marks.
For Miles it was a second win over the weekend while Lusky bounced back from a below par ride - for him - on Saturday.
Miles was followed by Will Tolson, also keeping his score in single figures on nine, with Richard Webster 10 marks in arrears. But Lusky was dominant in the Britshocks with fellow Bantam rider Paul Dennis - giving his Cub a rest - and Matt Spink on a 250 James left in
his wake.
Air-cooled Mono Expert saw a much closer finish with just three marks separating Patrick
Edwards, Mark Atkinson and Saturday's top man Roman Kyrnyckyj, Roman having to settle
for third this time.
In the Clubman class Mark Barrow continued his battles with Derrick Edmondson, both
riders mounted on TLR Hondas, and after losing out on a tie-break to Eddy on Saturday, Mark took a clear win by three marks after posting lowest Clubman course score of six.
It was close for the final podium slot with series regular Dave Wardell just holding off Anthony Seales , the scores 13 to 14.
Clubman Air-cooled Mono saw three different marques on the podium with Stephen Burgess on the Yamaha TY easing to a two mark advantage over Pete Blowers on his immaculate Montesa 309 and Fantic powered Devonian Martin Gilbert in third ahead of Scottish visitor Steven Mycock on his well turned-out Yam.
It was close in the Britshocks with locals Angus Jenkinson
on his 350 BSA, complete with trendy shades, just pipping
championship class contender Chris Myers mounted as
usual on the Triumph Tigress engined Tribsa.
Third on the day was Carlisle's very own Paul Norman, the Wobbler having been let
loose on series promoter Gerry Minshall's Bantam - and doing it proud.
The back to back double proved to be a great success with some camping, others in digs or hotels or staying with pals and making the most of a weekend away.
Next up is another classic weekender, the Devon Double thanks to the Devonport and West of England clubs on Saturday/ Sunday, June 17/18!
