RED Rose Classic MCC defied the odds – and Storm Desmond – to stage the final round of their 2015 club championship at Pendle Hall Farm, Padiham. The trial ran thanks to the determination of the clerks-of-the-course, Carl Winstanley, Ben Butterworth and Trevor Bennett who braved gale force winds and torrential rain to mark out the sections, including a stream that had turned into a raging torrent of water two-feet deep. “It was really difficult as we knew the weather forecast was for the storm to abate, so we had to mark out in anticipation of the water levels dropping and the conditions to improve, although we didn’t know by how much,” explained Butterworth and the trio were rewarded on the day when 43 hardy riders turned up for four laps at Pendle Hall, greeted by sunshine – the first time it had been seen in East Lancashire for three weeks.
Ahead of them lay a variety of hazards, including steep bankings, which were slippery at the bottom but afforded more grip near the top, and a tight and twisty stream section – thankfully down to a manageable level – which incorporated a tricky rock step and there was no shortage of star riders out for a run, including three times world trials champion Yrjo Vesterinen, former road racer and TT ace Mick Grant and speedway supremo Eric Boocock. It was Grant who claimed class C on his Bantam by cleaning the entire route, pipping Vesterinen, also on a Bantam, by just one mark. Andrew Scott produced a typically polished performance on his Cub to take third, also with a single dab - Vesty taking the runner-up spot on the Oldest Rider rule.
Peter McCawley (James) and Maurice Brayford (DOT) couldn’t even be separated on the age rule when they lost a single mark each in class Ce as they are the same age! Right behind the pair was Chris Nutter in third place, dropping just two marks on his BSA.
Ben Butterworth cleaned up class T with another fault-free demonstration, the Ramsbottom rider on a borrowed Honda TLR 200 instead of his usual Ariel. “I’ve just finished repainting it, and it looked far too good to get muddy, so didn’t plan on riding today ” he explained. “However, Carl Winstanley kindly loaned me his TLR. It doesn’t have the same power as the Ariel, but in the conditions that was probably no bad thing.”
David Wilkinson, on another Honda, had an excellent day, finishing runner-up to Butterworth with the loss of just seven marks. Phil Clarkson completed the top three on his Bultaco with 16.
Peter Rhodes (Montesa) had a relatively clear run to win class Te on six marks, six ahead of Mel Dibb (Bultaco). Phil Bateman (Honda) finished third on 28.
Red Rose would like to thank the clerks of the course, the observers and the landowner. Their next event is the Christmas charity trial on December 27 at Copy Pit, Cliviger. Nearest postcode is BB10 4SZ.
RESULTS
Class C: Mick Grant (Bantam) 0, Yrjo Vesterinen (Bantam) 1, Andrew Scott (Cub) 1.
Class Ce: Peter McCawley (James) 1, Maurice Brayford (DOT) 1, Chris Nutter (BSA) 2.
Class T: Ben Butterworth (Honda) 0, David Wilkinson (Honda) 7, Phil Clarkson (Bultaco) 16.
Class Te: Peter Rhodes (Montesa) 6, Mel Dibb (Bultaco) 12, Phil Bateman (Honda) 28.