Zona 1: ACU Ladies and Girls Championship Rounds 3 and 4, 2015
British championship leader Becky Cook saw her advantage in the series slashed over two rounds in Gloucestershire. Emma Bristow won comfortably in the mud and occasional rain at Syde, then on Sunday edged Cook in to second place as both lost only a handful of marks over Birdlip's rocks.
After being pushed in to third by Donna Fox on Saturday, Cook had a chance to at least get on level terms psychologically on Sunday by matching Bristow's score of three. Both carded two, then one, then clean on successive laps, and Cook, running right at the back of the field was on for a clean final lap to match Bristow's. She overcame the tough triple step on section nine — the only rider to do so on every lap — but on the next and last section of the weekend, dropped by what was her standards a slack dab to leave her on four.
Bristow would have won on the furthest clean rule if Cook had finished on three but finishing on the same marks would have given Cook a lift after a tough Saturday. It means Cook is on 69, Fox 64 and Bristow 60 in the series. Although Bristow missed the previous round, she can drop that non-score but Cook may have more to lose, as each rider must drop their worst of the seven results from the series.
On Saturday Fox stayed in touch with Bristow on laps one and two, but faded a little as Bristow got better and better, posting a best score of four on the last lap. With all her scores in single figures, Bristow finished the day on 22, with Fox on 41. For Cook, the day got worse and worse, with increasing scores on each lap.
Fox had to settle for third on Sunday, as the dry Cotswold rocks and some bigger ones imported from the Forest of Dean suited Cook and Bristow best. Big steps meant major commitment was required at Birdlip's Nettleton Quarry, and it was something not lacking by all in the top class, partictularly Jess Bown, who finished fourth each day.
Preview
THE country's best female trials riders are heading to Gloucestershire for two rounds of the ACU British championship this weekend.
Championship leader after two rounds, Becky Talbot (nee Cook) is expected to face the toughest challenge from reigning World and British champion, Sherco rider Emma Bristow.
Bristow missed the second round of the ACU Ladies and Girls Trials Championship, so will have some ground to make up at Zona 1 MCC's Whitaker and Cotswold Cups trials on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Talbot, riding for Steve Saunders' Cheltenham-based SXS team, shared honours with Bristow over the first two rounds of the world championship in the Czech Republic earlier this month.
Zona 1 MCC rider Victoria Payne has made the move up from the youth ranks to the ladies championship and will be looking to build a strong championship position.
Saturday's event is at Harcombe Farm, Syde, and Sunday's will be at Nettleton Quarry, near Birdlip. Spectators are welcome and both start at 10.30am.