The Thomas Brown Memorial at the Route44 circuit at Haverigg usually attracts and large turnout in celebration of the life of Thomas, however, this year is sure to break all records. With the new Electric mini class introduced by the Cumbria Club a total of 318 entries arrived on the Cumbrian coast, mixed in the sheer number of friends and family in attendance I doubt Cumbria has seen such numbers since the British Championship days at Brampton in the early 2000s.
The weekend began with everyone gathered on the start straight for firstly and minute silence for Her Majesty The Queen, followed by a parade lap behind Daz Birkbeck on-board Thomas’s #44 machine and Brad Anderson.
First up on to the perfect looking Route44 circuit was a full gate of Autos, amazing to see and can only be positive for Mx racing in the North Of England. The Action was go, and some great battles ensued, namely between Riley Rodgers and Oliver Lee in moto 1, Rodgers took the honours in that one and was looking good for the overall until a last moto seventh meant he had to settle for 3rd overall. Opposite to that a last moto second place for Oliver Lee gave him the overall ahead of the consistent Hunter Groves who recovered from a moto 1 mishap to finish 2-1-2-1 and take the second podium step.
The Junior 65 class went to the gate on Sundays final moto with just 7 points separating the top 4, and already 3 different race winners. The final moto would again see a different race winner in Lyall Rutherford which was enough to take second overall. The eventual winner was Scotland’s Ricky Barrack who enjoys his long trips down to Haverigg, rewarding his family for the commitment as that is one long drive. Local lad Brooklyn Tinkler completed the top 3 going 1-2 on Sunday to boost his position.
Finley Pickering fresh from some outstanding results in the Nationals on his debut season in the Small Wheels 85 took maximum points from the weekend. Keep your eyes on this kid, next season could be a big year for him. Behind him was a fantastic battle that lasted all weekend between Robbie Scott and Alfie Stott, although Scott went 2-2-2-2-2 and Stott 3-3-3-3-3 they were never far apart on track and was defiantly the battle to watch on track.
The Electric Mini class introduced by the Cumbria Mx club has a separate grass track and attracted 35 entries mixed into two classes. Dayton Naylor took the overall in Mini A ahead of Ella Cookson and Arlo Bell. In Mini 2 Richard Hodgson took the win from Jonah Bott and Maddison Shields. Great to see these kids have a place to race and learn, grass tracks in Cumbria especially the old Auto track at Brampton have seen many top class riders start and progress on their Mx Journey.
Another Cumbrian fresh from a superb season in the Nationals is Jamie Keith, and he was to land maximum points in the Big Wheel Class. He did not however have it all his own way with the fast starting and super stylish Kayden Boyd on his tail. Keith However, showed his race craft from the Nationals and rode sensible and super fast to take the Overall. A regular Haverigg racer and winner Kameron Greenhalgh completed the top 3.
Making the trip over from Northern Ireland Charley Irwin took maximum points in the Youth class, despite some great battles with Robbie Park and Ayden Smith in Saturdays motos. Genuinely these races could have gone either which way and Park especially will be disappointed all be it relieved after a moto 3 crash. Smith’s 3-2-2-3-2 scorecard landed him second overall with Local Charlie Henderson continuing his solid for completing the top 3.
Next up was the Adults over 30s, mixed together with over 40s and 50s (thank goodness for transponders). In the Over 30s Clas Ben Southward had a almost perfect weekend however, had to settle for second place behind Roy Townley in Moto2, and these two took the top podium steps. JD Leake was on borrowed machinery but soon settled well and finished strong to come home third overall.
Taking 4 race wins in the over 40s class (and complete race) was Gian Siveori, and very impressive in doing so, Brian Alexander managed to take 1 moto victory from him but that was only good enough for second overall. Clark Davidson completed the podium in third overall looking good as ever onboard his Kawasaki machine.
It was a Scotland 1-2 in the over 50s class Tony Whitelaw taking the overall ahead of the ever impressive Stephen Humphries, Stanley Moorfoot completed the podium.
The all action Under 30s class was next up, Liam Kelly had to make some passes during the weekend, and the hard work paid dividends with the overall weekend victory. James Marwood brought home second despite a moto 5 7th. Ethan Brierley finished his race season off with a third and only keeps improving on a bike. Owen Routledge will have left disappointed with a 5th Overall despite 2 race victorys a DNF prevented him taking a podium place.
Joe Khamouli fresh from The B class Cumbria Mx Championship also took the overall from the weekend with a 1-2-2-4-1 scorecard, that last moto win was vital as Mike Graham was only 2 points behind in second, Cumbrian Richard Miller brought home third. Special mention goes out to youngster Charlie Whitlow who took a moto 4 win, no mean feet especially mixed in with the A class.
The massive crowd gathered as the A class lined up, and were rewarded with some amazing close racing. First mention will go to overall weekend winner Jamie Law. Jamie recently announced his retirement from Pro racing following Landrake last week and i’m sure it was a happy way to go out taking the TB44 crown for 2022. Jamie took 2 race wins over the weekend including a great battle with Brad Anderson in moto 3, Anderson going for the pass on the penultimate corner but going over the bars. Alot of the crowd will remember the battle in the TB44 memorial 2018 between Carlton Husband and Brad Anderson well in moto 2 we were treat with the Mkii version….what a race. Carlton had hit the gate and made a mad dash through the pack, before catching Anderson, the lead changed several times before a Husband mistake on the final lap, massive respect to both riders. Away from all the Bar Banging Glen McCormick was very impressive taking second overall Ahead of James Dent who should be made up with the podium place especially with that line up.
And there we have another year of the TB44 memorial successfully mixed with the Cumbria Mx Battle in the Sand, this event just gets bigger and better every year, 5 years on and a massive well done and Thank You to all involved.
And finally to Thomas “Sun is shining and so are you”
Results
Electric Mini A 1 Dayton Naylor 2 Ella Cookson 3 Arlo Bell 4 Indie Blacklock 5 Shelby Whitehead
Mini B 1 Richard Hodgson 2 Jonah Bott 3 Maddison Shields 4 Ralph Khamouli 5 Archie Owens
Autos 1 Oliver Lee 2 Hunter Groves 3 Riley Rodgers 4 George Hickinbottom 5 Roy Townley
65s 1 Ricky Barrack 2 Lyall Rutherford 3 Brooklyn Tinkler 4 Finley Cookson 5 Jenson Knowles
S/W 1 Finley Pickering 2 Robbie Scott 3 Alfie Stott 4 Corey-Jay Hull 5 Jay Barker
B/W 1 Jamie Keith 2 Kayden Boyd 3 Kameron Greenhalgh 5 Franky Judd
Youth 1 Charley Irwin 2 Ayden Smith 3 Charlie Henderson 4 Liam Johnston 5 Robbie Park
Over 30s 1 Ben Southward 2 Roy Townley 3 JD Leake 4 Dean Sewell 5 Daz Brikbeck
Over 40s 1 Gian Siveori 2 Brian Alexander 3 Clark Davidson 4 Lee Spurr 5 Nick Pawson
Over 50s 1 Tony Whitelaw 2 Stephen Humphries 3 Stanley Moorfoot 4 Shaun Williamson 5 Lee Norburn
Under 30s 1 Liam Kelly 2 Jsmes Marwood 3 Ethan Brierley 4 Gavin Clement 5 Owen Routledge
B’s 1 Joe Khamouli 2 Mike Graham 3 Richard Miller 4 Luke McCathy 5 Ben Walsh
A’s 1 Jamie Law 2 Glen McCormick 3 James Dent 4 Rob Clitheroe 5 Daniel Parry
Report and Pictures by Peter Bell