The Manx National Two Day Trial gets underway tomorrow (July 13) at the TT Grandstand with the first riders leaving from 8am on both days.
Once again the ‘Manx’ saw entries fill up quickly at the beginning of the year showing the ongoing popularity of the event, with a start list containing 250 solo and 20 sidecars from all over the UK and Ireland.
Both categories will head in a southerly direction on Saturday and in a northerly direction on Sunday giving competitors access to a vast variety of terrain.
Manx Two Day Trial
The solo route start with a run along the TT course to Glen Lough for the first couple of subs, followed by Kings Forest, Cooil Slieu and Corletts Sand Quarry on the road into Peel.
This is followed by a trip to Ballaspit and then Foxdale FC for the lunch stop. The afternoon loop then heads further south after visits to Stoney Mountain and South Barrule with riders eventually ending up on the coast at Pooil Vaaish and Scarlett.
The day is rounded off with a trip back to the final section in the pitlane at the TT Grandstand via sections at Billown Glen and Ballanicholas.
Sunday Route
The Sunday route will head north from Glencrutchery Road through Onchan to the first groups at Ballacarooin and Glen Roy before heading over to Creg y Cowin and Ballachrink in the Baldwin Valley.
Its then a good run to Ballaugh Plantation, Tholt y Will Quarry with lunch at Sulby Claddaghs.
The afternoon route will take the riders up into the hills and eventually will see them arrive for spectator friendly sections on Laxey Beach, before ending the day with Axnfell Plantation, Bims Field and the final sub at Douglas Rugby Club.
Expert Class
The Expert Class is sure to be hotly contested with a number of riders in with a change of taking the Sword of State on Sunday evening.
Leading the way will be 2023 winner Tom Swindlehurst who will be looking to defend the title he won in great fashion last year.
He will have his work cut out to keep his hands on the sought after trophy with Hugo Jervis, Irsihman Andy Perry, Will Brockbank and Owen Gilchrist all able to mount a challenge.
Add into that the crop of talented local riders, led by last year’s runner up Chris Madigan and including previous winners Barry Kinley and Juan Knight, they will hope to use their local knowledge to challenge for the top step.
As always, the Solo Clubman class is wide open with any number of riders able to stake a claim for victory.
Ones to watch include regular favourites Kiaran Hankin and Andrew Reeves, Phil Houghton along with locals Nigel Sharp, Wayne Wardell, Damian Owen and Andrew Woodward all sure to be in the mix.
Sidecar Route
The Sidecar route also follows the South/North split across the two days when the 20 crews will all compete on the same single route after the success of 2023.
After leaving the Grandstand the competitors head through Douglas and along Marine Drive to sections at Port Soderick Beach and then onto Knock Froy before venturing inland to locations such as Chibbanagh, Archallagan, Old Stoney Mountain and Water Trough park, with the afternoon run including Corlea, Doalish Cashin, Corletts Sand Quarry, Kings Forest and Glen Lough before returning to the TT Grandstand.
Sunday will start with a trip to the Baldwin Valley where the outfits tackle sections at places including Ballachrink, Booilshuggel and St. Lukes Quarry, and after lunch will visit Tholt-y-Will Plantation, Druidale Water Splash, Colden Plantation and West Baldwin Bridge before finishing at Douglas Rugby Club.
Two Day Trial
It looks like it could be a direct head to head clash once again between Jack Corlett/Ealish Baxter and Nigel/Gracie Mae Scott.
Corlett edged the encounter in 2023, but with a different passenger this time round it could mean things are even closer at the end of the event with the Scotts being a long standing partnership.
The final step on the podium is open to a number of crews and John Corlett/Harry Gell will be hoping to repeat their success from last year but are sure to be challenged all the way by the rest of the field.
Sign On
Signing on for riders, observers and marshals takes place from 6.30pm this evening (July 12) at Douglas Rugby Club, with the first riders leaving the TT Grandstand at 8am on over the weekend.
The event will be followed by the prize presentation at the Palace Hotel, Douglas Promenade on Sunday (July 14), with doors opening from 8pm.
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