Twenty years ago, before drones, GoPros or instant social uploads, we took our cameras deep into the banks, streams and rocky beaches of the Manx 2 Day Trial. What we captured was the sport at its most authentic — raw riding, muddy boots, shouted scores, and a paddock that felt more like a village than a race HQ.
Rewatching the footage now, you’re transported straight back to the mid‑2000s: Gas Gas two‑strokes crackling through the trees, observers perched on slippery banks, and riders threading impossibly tight lines with nothing but instinct and balance to guide them.
It was a brilliant era — gritty, communal, and wonderfully unpolished. It still seems only like yesterday.
A Voice That Defined an Era
What makes this programme even more special is the voice guiding viewers through it: the late Geoff Cannell. For generations of Manx motorsport fans, Geoff wasn’t just a commentator — he was the commentator. His warm delivery, encyclopaedic knowledge and unmistakable tone became part of the soundtrack of the TT, Manx Grand Prix and countless Island sporting events. Hearing him narrate this trial now adds a layer of nostalgia that can’t be replicated. It’s a reminder of a broadcaster who captured the spirit of Manx sport like no one else, and whose voice still brings memories flooding back.
For me as the writer of this article, Geoff was a colleague and a friend. We worked together for many years at Manx Radio. We were on Radio TT together and also during the 1990’s, we both produced and presented on Northern Ireland’s Downtown Radio covering the North West 200. Geoff also commentated on Energy FM for the TT and also on ‘Race Day Radio’ covering the Jurby airfield and road races through the 2000’s.
It was a joy working on this programme with Geoff, as Trials was one of Geoff’s favourite pastimes and passions.
A Trial With a Legacy
The Manx Two Day Trial has been running since 1955, and in that time it has welcomed riders from across the British Isles and beyond — champions of the sport, and champions for the sport. Over the decades, the event has crowned icons such as Artie Radcliffe, Sammy Miller, Martin and Doug Lampkin, and home‑grown stars including Steve Colley and Barry Kinley in the solo classes.
The sidecar story is just as rich, with names like Ron Langston, Bruce Rushton, Robin Luscombe, and Manx favourites Roger Quayle and Nigel Crellin lifting the trophies. The list of successful riders is far too long to name — a testament to how deeply this event is woven into the fabric of trials history.
Your 20‑year‑old footage sits squarely within this lineage, capturing a moment in time when the sport was still evolving but the spirit remained unchanged.
2006 National Solo — Top 5
- 1st — #133 Steve Colley (Gas Gas), 14 marks
- 2nd — #101 Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas), 17 marks
- 3rd — #135 Nigel Crellin (Gas Gas), 31 marks
- 4th — #125 Juan Knight (Scorpa), 40 marks
- 5th — #147 Phil Disney (Beta), 58 marks
A stacked National field — and a tight battle at the top. Colley, Thorpe and Crellin were riding at full intensity that year, and their styles, lines and pace are unmistakable in the footage.
2006 Clubman Solo — Top 5
- 1st — #15 Jeremy Darlington (Gas Gas), 32 marks
- 2nd — #46 Simon Levitt (Montesa), 39 marks
- 3rd — #213 Neil Christian (Scorpa), 39 marks
- 4th — #109 Greg Moor (Gas Gas), 40 marks
- 5th — #117 Scott Dammett (Beta Rev‑3), 46 marks
Just a handful of marks separated the top Clubman riders — exactly the kind of close‑fought competition that made the Manx Two Day Trial such a proving ground for both visiting and local talent.
Why This Footage Still Matters
This twenty‑year‑old programme doesn’t just show bikes and sections — it captures a moment in time. The faces, the machines, the riding styles, the atmosphere… all of it reflects a generation of trials riders who helped define what the event became.
Geoff Cannell’s commentary ties it all together — a voice from the past guiding us through a sport, an era, and a community that meant so much to so many.
Looking Ahead — The Manx 2 Day Trial Returns in 2026
If watching this throwback rekindles the memories — or sparks the urge to get back on the pegs — the next 2 Day is in a months time.
- The Manx 2 Day Trial takes place on 11th & 12th July 2026
Whether you’re riding, observing, supporting, or simply soaking up the atmosphere, the 2026 event promises two days of classic Manx sections, top‑level competition, and the same spirit that has defined the trial for generations.
👉 Find out more or enter via the official website:
https://manx2day.co.uk/
