Chris Haigh Despite heavy showers forecast, fair weather welcomed the 85 starters as they assembled for the start of the Yorkshire Classic's West Riding road Trial at the Guide Inn, Cullingworth. Butties and drinks were provided for the riders and conditions were ideal for the British 'Pre1965' steeds at round 4 of the Northern British Bike Championship.
One lap of 30 sections on a 30 mile lap had been set by Colin Pawson and his 'merry ' men to take more marks than recent years with the overnight rain making conditions slippery. At the finish it was Yrjo Vesterinen on his Bantam losing just 11 that edged it by a single mark over fellow Bantam rider Eric McMeekin. Andy Scott continued his fine form also on 12 on his Cub. Next best was John Gornall on his splendid blue Norton springer pre-unit losing 14 marks.
Clubmen
For a change only one class had to be decided by the Yorkshire Classic tie break rule that favours the older rider giving Steve Rayner on his WD Matchless the rigid class win over smiling John Feather on his Ariel, both losing 22. Top dog overall on the Clubman route, Carl Winstanley (Ariel) put in a cracking performance losing 4 to easily beat both Mark Francis (AJS) on 13 and rival Steve Cordon (Matchless) on 17 to close the gap in the championship to 2 points. Runaway series leader in the open clubman class John Palmer had another comfortable win to further stretch his lead losing only 5 on his immaculate Cub, 3 ahead of fellow northeast rider Ossy Byers (Cotton).
Lusky's
Section 3 at the first group at the bottom of sidecar ace Robin Luscombe's garden was the first to test the entire field. Lusky had gone to great lengths bringing in the excavator to dig a three foot deep and six foot wide gully to create a new rock and mud challenge. Several strategically placed large rectangular rocks caused much head scratching. The clubmen could avoid the large rocks but the mud was wet and slippery with only winner John Palmer going clean. Dave Spurgeon buzzed his Ariel Arrow twin for a single dab along with Bob Baker's Cub being the only other on a single mark.
The premier route riders pondered long and hard on which line to take, with only Vesty, Gornall and Simon Critchley (Bantam) conquering the rocks. Even Robin Luscombe (Cub) succumbed to his own big steps despite successfully 'testing' the rocks the day before!
Manywells Farm came next where the wet clay of sections six and seven took marks from all but a handful of riders. Only Vesty cleaned the tight uphill turn under the spreading beech trees at six and even he dropped three precious marks on the sneaky twists at section seven. It was left to McMeekin and veteran do or die rider Keith Hobson (Armac Cub) to show how it should be done.
Cowling's Becks
The two groups at Lumb Waterfall and Cowling Beck are always amongst the riders' favourites being excellent rocky stream sections. The jumbled rocks needed special care and only Luscky escaped the four sections at Lumb Waterfall penalty free. Gornall suffered here losing 5 of his 14 final total with Vesty and McMeekin dropping just one. The clubmen had it easier though only the top 3 riders plus Jim Jardine (James) rolling back the years and Ian Gent (Bantam) went through clear.
Slippery Ford
Lower Slippery Ford is another annual favourite and the narrow rocky path climb out of the stream has to be treated with care. Among the clubmen, Graham Howes on his big rigid Goldie surprised himself and the assembled riders with his first battling clean ever here after several years of trying. Feather, Spurgeon and Eric Boocock (Cub) fell to maximums here. The Turkey Inn at Goose Eye came before Branshaw Quarry where the old favourites had been lost to quarrying necessity. Their stand-ins took few marks although Lusky fived the relatively easy first here to lose his chance of taking victory on the day .
Most riders got a soaking from the day's only downpour on their way back to Lord Lane with just Jacks garage standing between the riders and the pie and peas at The Guide after what was said to have been the best West Riding trial in years with an excellent full day's sport in scenic Bronte Country.
The riders can now look forward to the next NBBC round to be held on the 7th August around the beautiful town of Llangollen, North Wales.