| 2009 Manx 2 Day Trial
The 2009 edition of the Manx National 2 Day Trial saw a new rider and a new winner in the shape of JST Gas Gas UK teamster, Sam Haslam. Sam pipped team mate and national specialist, Dan Thorpe to the top step by 3 marks. Haslam picked up 3 awards on stage at the Villa Marina on sunday night. Along with the Gilbert Harding Challenge Trophy and Jack Quayle Memorial Sword for winning the trial, he also recieved the Tom Oakley Memorial Rosebowl for best under 21 and the Roger Kelly Shield for best newcomer.
On his way to his maiden victory on Manx soil, Sam cleaned 79 of the 87 sections, 3 single dabs, 3 twos, 1 three and 1 five over the 2 days. Compared to Thorpey's run of 76 cleans, 6 ones, 3 twos, 1 three and 1 five. Those extra 3 single dabs from Thorpey seemingly loosing the trial.
Leading Manx rider, Barry Kinley left his mark yet again on his home event finishing in thrid place. He was however, quite a distance from the top two finishing on 61 marks for the weekend, 41 marks behind Dan Thorpe. Completing the top six were Miles Jones, Josh Woods and Nigel Crellin.
The clubman class was a bit closer come Sunday night. Darren Wasley and Steve Swanson both finished on 28 with Wasley coming out on top thanks to a count back of more cleans, 76 to 71 of Swanson. Wasley, not only winning for the third year running, walked away with the Peveril Club Trophy for winning the clubman class and the G H Corlett Cup for the best solo clubman over 40!
Third place came in the shape of Aled Price, only ten marks of second place. Aled was the best Clubman solo under 21 and recieved the Schoolboy Trials Club Trophy for his efforts. Completeing the top six in the Clubman class were Matt Spink, leading Manx rider Robin Arnold and Nigel Crowther.
The sidecar class was won again by the Beta pairing of Jon Tuck and Matt Sparkes. For the second year running the pair were very pleased with their result and are looking forward to making it a hatrick next year. The father and son pairing of Robin and Sam Luscombe, ten marks off the win beat the husband and wife crew of Robin and Gill Morewood into second place by 8 marks.
Leading local crew of James Teare and Jane Birchall finished fourth, beating another local pairing of Jonathan Kelly and Ealish Baxter who were fifth with Bernard Chambers and Helene Allaway in sixth.
With Saturday being an excellent day on the weather front, with sunshine and not many clouds circling, sunday didn't bode too well. Rain all day long meant that noone got away with staying dry! Despite the drenching everyone seemed to enjoy the trial and we look forward to seeing you all back next year. Hopefully we'll be more lucky on the weather front. See you in 2010!!
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