Tolson begins title defence with victory at Quarries
6-4 Chased winner, challenged 2 out, every chance run-in, kept on gamely, just held close home, 2nd of 17, hd behind Calva D’Auge at Wincanton 1m 7f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
5-4 Prominent, ridden to lead narrowly bypassing omitted last, hard pressed, held on, won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Ebony Jewel by nk, 13 ran. 5-2 Led until after 3rd, led again before 3 out, easily, won at Leicester 1m 7f clm hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Percy by 15l, 6 ran.
10-1 Chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, weakened soon after, 9th of 11, 39l behind Epatante at Newbury 2m Lstd hcp hdl 0-155 (1) gs in Nov. 9-1 Held up in rear but in touch, headway after 3 out, led after last, hard driven, ran on, won at Leicester 1m 7f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan beating Ardmayle by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
16-1 Mid-division, pushed along and headway on inside before 3 out, chased leaders before next, 4th and one pace run-in, 4th of 17, 7l behind Mister Coffey at Newbury 2m hdl (4) sft in Dec. 9-1 Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before next, kept on same pace in 3rd at the last, 3rd of 16, 12l behind Honest Vic at Kempton 2m 5f (3) sft in Dec. 12-1 Close up, hit 5th, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching approaching last when left clear, won at Fakenham 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Eva’s Diva by 15l, 9 ran. 40-1 Raced keenly tracking leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, plugged on run-in, 4th of 8, 11l behind Blu Cavalier at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
CALIFORNIA Quarries was the venue for Huddersfield Falcon M.C.C.’s first club championship of the year.
An old favourite with the club back in the 1980s and 90s, the site became available for the club to use again last year.
Rocks, drops, climbs and tight turns made up the 10 sections.
On the Championship Course, club champion Will Tolson started his title defence with a narrow win ahead of Matt Jackson and Lancashire’s Andy Cripps.
Cripps blew his chances with a first lap maximum on section 10, which no other Championship Course rider struggled with.
Tolson’s total of four went on section seven which Cripps mastered on each of his four laps.
On the Clubman A course only one mark separated the top two, with South Yorkshire’s Andy Turner winning ahead of Curtis Johnson. Rounding out the top three was Jeff Prior on his Vertigo.
Ride of the day came on the Clubman B course with Chris Greenwood on his twin shock Honda completing the tricky course without a single penalty. He was chased hard by close friend and rival Nick Eagleton, who was four marks in the red. Shaun Frost rounded out the top three.
Results – Championship course: Expert: Andy Cripps (Beta) 7. Inters: Will Tolson (Beta) 4. Novice: Matt Jackson (Gas Gas) 6, Ben Francis (Gas Gas) 42. Youth Class B: Charlie Cripps (Beta) 25.
Clubman A: Novices: Andy Turner (Beta) 5, Curtis Johnson (Sherco) 6, Jeff Prior (Vertigo) 14. Over 40s: Trevor Shingler (Beta) 23mc, Dave Morley (Sherco) 45. Twin Shock: Phil Daley (Fantic) 33. Youth Class C: Harry Cripps 72, Harry Bayman (94. All Beta).
Clubman B: Novices: Shaun Frost (TRS) 9. Over 40s: John Wilkinson (Gas Gas) 13, Jonathan Dawson (Vertigo) 27. Richard Dodson (Montesa) 61. Over 60s: Philip Dyson (TRS) 12, Ian Roper (Sherco) 39. Twin Shock: Chris Greenwood (Honda) 0, Nick Eagleton (Honda) 4 Pre-65: Chris Wilson (BSA) 12mc, James Whitham (BSA) 23. Beginners: Tim Bedford (Gas Gas) 84, Terry Stead (Beta) 95, Matthew Bolton (Jotagas) 113.