Staffordshire Moorlands’ Bluestones Cup Trial came up trumps again this year by raising £2200 for local charities. The Flash and Longnor First Responders and the Cardiac Risk in the Young were the beneficiaries.
110 trials riders donated their entry fees to the charities, the ACU waived all insurance fees and Jean & Stuart Day donated the use of their land at Blackshaw Moor Farm, well done to everyone.
Sam Yeomans managed to win the trophy for the 5th time winning the Experts Class from Chris Alford from Lincoln with Mitch Brightmore the Buxton teenager third. The trial was really decided on Section 11 where observer Barry Craig had an entertaining day a large tree trunk, deep mud and an awkward gully was only mastered by Sam who escaped with just 7 marks over the 3 laps with two magical efforts on the first two laps escaping with one each time, on the third lap he followed most of the others with a failure. Jess Bown came home in fourth place showing her recent good form that sees her leading the Ladies British Championship.
Mark Shaw came out ahead on the 50/50 route by a comfortable margin but runner up Pete Ruscoe is still chuntering to himself about his stupid five on section 12 which was cleaned by most of the entry but he was still 5 marks ahead of riding companion Gregg Moore in the private TRS battle.
40 riders competed on the Clubmans Route and 39 of them found it quite a challenge. The exception being Andy Hipwell who won the class by a staggering 20 marks losing only two in the process. Toby Eyre, Darrin Stock, Steve Hitchcock and Mike King, who are Andy‘s usual rivals had no answer to his brilliance!
It was very pleasing to see 38 riders competing on the Easier Route as sometimes the terrain is harder between the sections than they are themselves. Andrew Rayfield won the class with a score of 3 marks followed closely by James Sibley, Chris Beech, Nick Stott, Will Tyler and Phil Critchlow.
Thanks again to the competitors and officials who put so much effort into making this worthwhile event possible.
Report: Scott Ellis