New Leap Frog Classic Trial Jumps to Success

Words Debbie Poole Photos Jerry Kaplan

At the end of 2022, AHRMA members Blake and Kim Lawson posed the idea of hosting a trial on their 30 acres outside Vacaville, CA in the spring of 2023. NW Regional Trials Coordinator, Rob Poole, had a look at the place during the winter, and work began clearing the areas which looked promising for sections. Little did anyone know that in the next few months the 2023 winter and spring rains would not only fill to overflowing the frog ponds, which were bone dry, but that the resulting runoff would continue right up to the event. Several areas that were planned to be used for sections were still too swampy, so trialsmaster Rob Poole had to search over the hills for some additional options. He and a tireless crew (Mike Houde, Kevin Newins, Keith Caldwell, Dan Gawronski and Brad Jones) worked for 3 days getting the grass weed wacked and cleared, branches cut and sections set up. Everyone loves a new venue, and with this one located so close to the Bay Area’s high population centers, the turn-out was great. Fifty riders signed up, and in between negotiating the challenging sections, got to take in some of the best spring views in California, seemingly from on top of the world.

The largest class of the day was Modern Classic intermediate, with winner Clay Dawley just edging out Willy Krakauer by 2 points, 15 and 17 respectively. Third and fourth place Tom Kane and Dan McManus were separated by only one point, 26 and 27, with fifth place Larry Cerini taking 29 points.

Modern Classic novice had nine competitors, and there was a tie for first place by Stuart Proffitt and Blaine Stidham, who both lost only 8 points for the day, and had equal tie-breaking cleans (26). Proffitt won by age, being just a year older, moving Stidham to second. Third place to compete with each other, and Mike Simmons finished ahead of Brad Jones, 11 points to Jones’s 16. trailed by only one point with Keith Caldwell’s 9 points. Fourth place was taken by Emmy Poole with 21 points.

Air Cooled Mono had one Master, whose 3 point score showed he would have been in the mix with the Modern Classic Masters had he competed with them. Brand new member Zak Cordisco rode the novice class.

FThe Premier classes had unexpectedly low entries. Heavyweight expert was won by Rob Poole after Tom Stowers had to drop out, with Poole losing just 7 points. Super-octogenarian Charlie Higdon was the sole intermediate Premier Heavyweight entry. Premier Lightweight Novice rider Stuart Meislin, and Classic Expert Jeff Bushey had no competition, but turned in good rides.

The largest Master class I remember seeing had six riders, and was won by relatively new Ahrma member Tony Campagna, who lost 9 points. He was followed by Wes Poole with 12 points, then Bryce and Erica Pophal who got third and fourth with 18 and 26 points respectively.

Modern Twin Shock had two novices

There were four Beginner class riders, one of whom was our host Kim Lawson, who got second on her first time riding all three loops. Benjy Childers was the Beginner class winner.

The unseasonably warm day took some of the oomph out of many of the riders, but nearly everyone improved their loop score each time around. Chatter amongst the crowd indicated they’ll be back next year, and it’s a pretty sure bet the Leap Frog Classic trial will be one of the “must do” events on the AHRMA Northwest calendar.