Red Rose Classic MCC ventured onto new territory for round three of their club championship on Sunday. With their original venue, Lee Quarry at Bacup, unavailable due to landslip issues, Red Rose made their debut at 400 Acres, situated on the top of Hameldon Hill overlooking Rossendale to the south and Burnley and Accrington to the north.
Although a heavy snowstorm the previous evening had melted by the time the 58 riders turned up, the moorland site was a quagmire in many places, and with the sections strung out over the hilltop, club officials decided to reduce the trial to three laps instead of the usual four, but the difficult conditions didn’t put off Swede Lennart Frannesjo, who was getting in some practice ahead of the Pre-65 Scottish. He dropped just three marks to claim class A on his BSA, two ahead of runner-up Mick Clarke (Ariel) and a further four clear of third—placed David Emmott (Triumph).
Thirteen was a lucky score for Chris Nutter (Ariel) in class Ae – his only class rival Alan Taylor (Royal Enfield) retired at the start.
There was nothing to separate the top four riders in class C, with Steve Thomas, double world trials champion Yrjo Vesterinen, John Maxfield and Andrew Scott all producing superb performances to clean the route. The verdict went to Thomas on the Oldest Rider rule.
Former Pre-65 winner Paul Heys had to settle for fifth, despite dropping only one mark, with seven-times TT winner Mick Grant taking sixth with two marks lost.
Max Heys was a clear winner in class Ce on his Bantam, finishing on eight marks, six clear of runner-up Ian Gent, on another Bantam.
Paul Harrison and his Banvil had class D all to himself, completing the three laps of ten sections with 22 marks lost.
Darren Walker and his Aprilia emerged top of the popular class T, with Andrew Dean (Bultaco) runner-up and David Wilkinson third on his Honda. Wilkinson was relieved just to get to the finish after a scare on the transport route between sections one and two, when his machine disappeared up to the top of the front forks in a muddy bog. With the help of fellow riders he was able to pull his bike clear and continue. Less fortunate was Odgie and his Bantam who became completely stuck in a mudhole and had to be retrieved at the end of the trial by club officials and other riders.
Owen Hardisty was the emphatic winner of class Te on his Honda, dropping one mark to finish ten clear of runner-up John Wilson (Yamaha). Trevor Bennett (Fantic) was third.
The club would like to thank the clerks of the course, Ian Alderson and Les Humphries, the observers and the landowners.
Red Rose Classic MCC’s next trial is on May 8 at Catlow Ford, near Nelson. Nearest postcode is BB10 3RN.
RESULTS
Class A: Lennart Frannesjo (BSA) 3, Mick Clarke (Ariel) 5, David Emmott (Triumph) 9.
Class Ae: Chris Nutter (Ariel) 13. No other finishers.
Class C: Steve Thomas (Bantam) 0, Yrjo Vesterinen (Bantam) 0, John Maxfield (Cub) 0, Andrew Scott (Cub) 0.
Class Ce: Max Heys (Bantam) 8, Ian Gent (Bantam) 14, Peter McCawley (James) 17.
Class D: Paul Harrison (Banvil) 22. No other entrants.
Class T: Darren Walker (Aprilia) 2, Andrew Dean (Bultaco) 5, David Wilkinson (Honda) 6.
Class Te: Owen Hardisty (Honda) 1, John Wilson (Yamaha) 11, Trevor Bennett (Fantic) 15.