Aqueduct Classics Club

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Aqueduct Classics
Classic Trial
Nant Mawr Quarry
January 22nd 2012
Report By
Paul Needham

Following hot on the heels of WOR Events ‘The Tough One’, Aqueduct Classics took over the superb venue that is Nant Mawr Quarry, near Oswestry on the North Wales/Shropshire border. Sixty Seven riders entered the event, all keen to tame the Quarry. A beautiful, if a little breezy, January morning greeted the competitors, all chomping at the bit ready for the 11am start. A little drama when the signing on tent was caught by freak gust of wind almost turning it into a kite was quickly sorted out and the event was underway. Russ Jones lost no time getting into his stride in Pre 65 Elite, although section one was responsible for four of the twelve marks Russ lost on his way to the class win. Phil Alderman riding a 250 BSA had a steady run to second in class, but not quite mastering the middle sections of the ten section course. Sections six, seven and eight costing him the majority of the twenty one marks lost. Keith Gardener took third spot, another rider having problems with section 6. Colin Fray and Ben Dutton swopped positions all day for first place in Pre 65 Clubman, with the 250 DOT rider pipping his rival by one mark. Mark Newman on his immaculate (well it was when he started!) Ariel rounded out the top three in class with twenty four marks lost. Two riders contested Pre 65 Beginner with John Davies coming out on top with ten marks lost after James Stanistreet suffered mechanical gremlins leaving him with no option other than to take a maximum on all remaining sections. Paul Smart relished the conditions at Nant Mawr, riding his 200 Fantic to an excellent first place in Twinshock Elite with just six marks lost. Steve Shelley took second in class with thirteen marks lost, having a steady run on his Honda, beating Dave Wood into third place by just one mark. Barry Jones, Mark Samuel and Chris Davies traded positions for most of the day in the Twinshock Clubman class. Jones riding a 325 Beamish, eventually came out on top with twenty marks lost, closely followed Samuel and Davies on twenty three and twenty six respectively. Tim Godsmark impressed in Twinshock Beginner losing just nine marks to take the class win ahead of Geoff Ethelson on sixteen and John Hampson on twenty marks lost. Just the one entrant in Pre 90 Mono saw Nigel Davies take an un-opposed class win with forty two marks lost. Jason Lister headed the Mono field, in his first Aqueduct Classic event, the Shrewsbury rider put on an impressive display with just eight marks lost to take the Mono Elite win. Mark Gaskill continued his good form to secure the Mono Clubman class win with fifteen marks lost. Last minute entrant Jorge Jeffares riding a borrowed Gas Gas 80 put a smile on his dad’s face by winning the Mono Beginner class, despite not competing for some time.

Results: - Pre 65 Elite: - R Jones (James 250) 12, P Alderman (BSA 250) 21, K Gardener (Triumph 250) 38.
Pre 65 Clubman: - C Fray (DOT 197) 18, B Dutton (DOT 250) 19, M Newman (Ariel HT5) 24.
Pre 65 Beginner: - J Davies (BSA 175) 10, J Stanistreet (BSA 175) 161.
Twinshock Elite: - P Smart (Fantic 200) 6, S Shelley (Honda 250) 13, D Wood (Bultaco 340) 14.
Twinshock Clubman: - B Jones (Beamish 325) 20, M Samuel (Beamish 325) 23, C Davies (TY 175) 26.
Twinshock Beginner: - T Godsmark (Fantic 200) 9, G Ethelson (Fantic 250) 16, J Hampson (Montessa 200) 20.
PRE 90 Mono Clubman: - N Davies (Scorpa 150) 42.
Mono Elite: - J Lister (Gas Gas 300) 8, S Jones (Beta 250) 41, B Shelley (Gas Gas 300) 53.
Mono Clubman: - M Gaskill (Beta 250) 15, N Francis (Yamaha 250) 38, M Litherland (Gas Gas 300) 51.
Mono Beginner: - J Jeffares (Gas Gas 80) 16, M Needham (Gas Gas 250) 29, B Jones (Gas Gas 80) 78.