The annual BikeTrial Team Competition was held at Thriftwood, Brentwood on Sunday with a total of 122 riders.

There was a strong foreign contingent including riders from Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia and USA.

The riders completed one lap of 20 observed sections which comprised a mixture of man-made and natural obstacles.

Each team of three riders had to complete each section losing the fewest number of penalty points possible.

A heavy downpour just before the start made the pallets, skips, ditches and logs formidable challenges.

The best individual score of the day was posted by the 19-year-old World Champion Dani Comas from Spain, losing only 23 marks, which was a full 19 marks less than British Champion Chris Akrigg from Yorkshire.

The overall event was won by the Yorkshire 'A' team whose three riders lost a combined total of 155 marks, beating their 'B' team by 10 marks who took second place.

The South East team, captained by Brentwood's Stuart Matthews with Stevie Thompson from Kent and Barry Huskinson from Sussex, had a good result finishing third.

The international women's team consisting of two Spanish and the Slovak World Champion Gabriela Danikova finished a creditable third in the Intermediate Category.

In the Non-Regional class, Brentwood and Ingatestone were well represented by three local riders Dave Eastwood and brothers Matt and James Davis who finished third out of a total of 24 teams.

This was the last event in the Essex BikeTrial Club's season, but the Club Championship will commence again at the end of January, and events are open to riders of all ages and abilities.

Anybody interested in further information is invited to telephone Brian on 01277 210284.

Speeding along: Brentwood's Stuart Matthews in action at Sunday's BikeTrial Team Competition at Thriftwwood.

Picture: GARETH MORGAN

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.