The Bewdley MCC organised their annual Boxing Day Trial at Brown Westhead Park, Wolverley, site of an American World War II hospital and received a bumper entry of sixty seven riders. Course plotters Kevin Taylor and Jim Teague laid out a four lap ten section course and all their hard work was rewarded with an event that was enjoyed by the officials, riders and the large number of spectators.
The officials expected a very close competition amongst the A route riders, but it was even closer than they imagined, with the outcome in doubt until the very last lap. Keeping a clean sheet throughout the event, Richard Wells (Beta), claimed top podium spot, but was pushed all the way by four riders. Alan Nicklin (Greeves) matched Wells for almost all the event, but a laps of concentration on section seven on the final, put him in a four way tie for the runner up position. Losing a mark so late in the event gave Nicklin the edge over Bewdley’s Richard Evans (Jotagas). The ex-road racer held off a very determined Steve Williams (Montesa), who in turn just kept ahead of last year’s event winner Wildens Shaun Fox (Gas Gas).
The 50/50 Route provided a win for Sherco mounted Danny Pugh,(he also won the class last year), but again it was by a slender margin. Kidderminster’s Jim Pickering (Drayton BSA) lost a route win on Club Chairman Graham Turner’s section four, where the Kidderminster rider lost three marks on his first visit. But keeping his concentration, Pickering held on to a two mark advantage over Bewdley Club member and Schoolboy Joel Tett (Beta). Riding his big four stroke Ariel in the same class, Steve Thompson finished in a very creditable sixth position, over the tight and sandy turns.
The B Route gave the clearest win of the day, with ex DMW works rider Mick Parkes (Yamaha) taking top spot, but it was a nervous start for the Wordsley rider. Parkes lost a mark on his first two visits to observer Kim Brookes section one, however, he regained his composure, adding just one mark to his total, finishing ahead of Robert Badland (Yamaha), who had a consistent ride over the last five sections of the trial, to demote Peter Cotton (Honda) to third position.
The C Route provided the club with another battle for supremacy, this time it could not be resolved. Bewdley club member, Schoolgirl and British Youth Championship competitor Elizabeth Tett (Beta) battled all event long with Pre-65 Triumph mounted Dave Jones. Both had the perfect ride completing the forty section course without losing marks. Mitchell Reynolds, riding a Twin shock Montesa, began the trial in fine form, cleaning the first five sections, but a first lap three marks loss on Club Secretary Keith Basket field’s section, gifted third position to Far Forest’s Bernard Keightley (Beta). Bewdley club member Geoff Clarke (Triumph Cub) and Sandra Cotton (Gas Gas) rode mark for mark throughout the trial. Section seven, with its sandy twists and climbs, provided the position decider, with Clarke gaining a single mark advantage and fifth position.