For the last Championship trial of the year, Clerks of Course, Colin and Tim Pawson had plotted 9 sections in the streams of Keighley Gate along with a variation of the well used but difficult muddy gulley up on the hillside. The weather was dry and bright but with recent rains the streams were full of water with hidden rocks to test the 70 competitors and plenty of steam coming from the bikes.
On the Championship course, Norman Shepherd and Robin Luscombe tied for the win on 1 mark lost, with Ian Hopley 3rd on 2. After a steady opener, marks were lost on all sections with the last 2 stream sections, 9 and 10, being the most difficult. Both had awkward turns part way up the section, which caught most of the entry. On Section 9, the two Big Bike class winners, Mick Clarke and Will Harrison joined Norman Shepherd, Robin Luscombe and John Maxfield with clean sheets. It was good to see John back in the saddle again and riding with his usual confidence after his Achilles tendon injury. On section 10, the turn out of the stream between 2 large rocks caught many riders as did the final finish with another tight turn up the slippery banking. Norman Shepherd was joined by Simon Bown, Simon Critchley and Ian Hopley as the only clean sheets.
For the eased Clubman route, the stream beds had been retained with no running on bankings. Again it was a tie for first with Steve Cordon and Paul Preston on 1 mark lost and Richard Bainbridge on 3. Sections 4 and 6 proved the most difficult.
Section 4 was a drop in to a narrow winding stream gulley that ended up a muddy banking. Out of the 44 Clubmen only 5 were clean, Paul Preston, Richard Bainbridge, Max Heys, John Holdsworth and Eddy Bull. Section 6 was the muddy gulley on the hillside that got more difficult as the day progressed and the possible line kept changing. The start before the gulley was up a steep banking with a tight turn down into the gulley that then needed some speed. Paul Preston dropped his only mark here with the only other cleans for the day apart from Steve and Richard by Ian Livingstone, Clive Tomkinson, John Wilson, Steve Gossop and Dale Harrison.
All riders enjoy Keighley Gate as an event venue and the Course plotters had done a good job. Our thanks go to them for a good days sport and the Landowner, Observers and Riders, and Barry Pickard for results and photos.
Results
Premier Route
Class A Pre-Unit Springers
1st Mick Clarke Ariel - 17
Class D Cubs
1st Tony Calvert - 9 2nd John Maxfield – 10 3rd Ike Myers - 10
Class G Twins
1st Will Harrison - 23 Triumph Twin
Class F 2–Strokes
1st Norman Shepherd Bantam – 1 2nd Simon Bown Bantam - 6
3rd Simon Critchley Bantam - 8
Class S Specials
1st Robin Luscombe Cub – 1 2nd Ian Hopley S/Cub – 2
3rd Duncan Macdonald McD - 11
Clubman Route
Class B Pre-Unit Telefork Rigid over 347cc
1st Tim Pawson Norton - 36
Class H Vintage 2-stroke
1st Eric Atkinson James – 52
Class K Open Clubmen
1st Steve Cordon Bantam - 1 2nd Paul Preston James - 1
3rd Richard Bainbridge Cub – 3 4th Ian Livingstone DOT - 4
Class T Pre-Unit Springer
1st John Feather Ariel – 14 2nd Paul Jackson Velo - 25
3rd Rob Lowther Triumph Twin - 49