TOPMAN TOM
This year’s championship was won on consistent scoring by Tom Affleck on the Sherco. He may have won only two of the nine rounds, but he kept ramping up the points in the other seven. It’s with huge credit to female rider Emma Bristow (Sherco), who rocked the male-dominated sport with such a strong performance in this class. The first for a female rider, the winner of two rounds, no doubt she will be back in 2022 as a potential championship winner. Returning from serious back surgery in the last four rounds of the championship, Dan Thorpe (John Shirt Mcs GASGAS) won the last three rounds, with Brad Bullock (Beta-UK) the other round winner back in June. With the two round wins, four runner-up positions and one third and a fifth, new father Tom Affleck has certainly had his best-ever year in his trials riding career.
ROUND 9: DUDWOOD FARM, MATLOCK 24TH OCTOBER
A man on a mission to prove he is still very much at the top of his game after his back surgery, Dan Thorpe was on form at the last round, although he nearly got the win taken away by a solid performance from Emma Bristow. On the opening lap, the alreadycrowned champion Tom Affleck took the lead on just seven marks lost, hotly followed by Thorpe and Bristow on eight each.
Also in close pursuit were the Beta riders Brad Bullock and George Gosden on nine. On the second lap, Brad Bullock parted with just five to move into the fight for the victory as Thorpe and Gosden dropped seven. However, Bristow damaged her chances for the win with a hefty 11-mark loss, including two five-mark penalties.
The last lap would be all about who held their nerve, and it was the experience of Dan Thorpe that gave him the win with an eight-mark loss, although the best final lap score was Affleck. It was quite fitting as he was the 2021 champion.
RESULTS: 1: Dan Thorpe (John Shirt Mcs GASGAS) 23; 2: Emma Bristow (Sherco) 24; 3: Brad Bullock (Beta-UK) 24; 4: George Gosden (BVM Beta-UK) 25; 5: Tom Affleck (Sherco) 28; 6: Jonny Starmer (Beta-UK) 36; 7: Lloyd Price (John Shirt Mcs GASGAS) 37; 8: Chris Alford (BVM Scorpa) 39; 9: Samuel Beecroft-Penny (TRRS) 43; 10: Gwynedd Jones (Beta) 46; 11: Tom Shepherd (John Shirt Mcs GASGAS) 54; 12: Joseph Collins (John Lee Mcs Beta) 58; 13: Ben Sprigg (Beta-UK) 61; 14: Thomas Swindlehurst (Sherco) 65; 15: Cameron Brice (Beta) 69.
2021 ACU TRIAL GB BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP
POSITIONS: 1: Tom Affleck 147; 2: Emma Bristow 120; 3: George Gosden 108; 4: Brad Bullock 102; 5: Lloyd Price 79; 6: Dan Thorpe 72; 7: Chris Alford 72; 8: Tyler Rendall 68; 9:
Joel Edwards 62; 10: Dan Hemingway 37; 11: Danny Gamble 32; 12: Joseph Collins 31; 13:
Gwynedd Jones 29; 14: Jonny Starmer 29; 15: Samuel Beecroft-Penny 28. MACHINES: Beta 7; GASGAS 2; Scorpa 2; Sherco 2; TRRS 1; Vertigo 1.