MICHELIN GRIP

2017 BRITISH TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1
Hook Wood Trials Centre, Guildford 04/03/17 Situated in the excellent grounds of the Hook Wood Trials Centre, round one of the 2017 ACU British Trials Championship took place on a cold, damp day. Heavy rain preceded the event making the twelve hazards, ridden over three laps, challenging and variable, with muddy banks, a selection of rocks and also some man-made elements. A total of sixty-three riders were entered across Championship, Expert and Youth A classes. This year is promising to be particularly exciting with the emergence of a new championship winner at the end of the season, as current victor James Dabill remains committed to competing elsewhere in Spain.

On the day it turned out to be very close when score cards were handed in with Jack Price taking his first adult Championship class win. The top three were covered by a mere three marks with Michael Brown in second and Jack Sheppard third. Sheppard was the early pace setter and looked to be on course for the win, but a strong fight back from both Price and Brown started to move them back into contention. With both these riders improving on the final lap Sheppard took a five mark penalty with a stop in the final hazard pushing him down to third position.
2017 ACU British Trials Championship – Round 1 Hooks Wood Surrey
Championship Class
1: Jack Price (JST Gas Gas UK) 52; 2: Michael Brown (JST Gas Gas UK) 53; 3: Jack Sheppard (Beta-UK) 54; 4: Sam Connor (Beta-UK) 61; 5: Dan Peace (JST Gas Gas UK) 61; 6: Jack Peace (JST Gas Gas UK) 74; 7: Sam Haslam (JST Gas Gas UK) 77; 8: Toby Martyn (Vertigo) 84; 9: Dec Bullock (Beta-UK) 86; 10: Iwan Roberts (Beta-UK) 91.
Expert Class
1: Dan Thorpe (JST Gas Gas UK) 13; 2: James Fry (Sherco) 26; 3: Jonny Starmer (Beta) 29.
Youth A Class
1: Billy Green (Beta-UK) 46; 2: Josh Hanlon (Beta) 66; 3: Oliver Smith (Oset) 69.