Former World Champion Yrjo Vesterinen mastered the difficult conditions at Pendle Hall Farm, Padiham to claim the penultimate round of Red Rose Classic MCC’s club championship. Heavy rain before the trial had left the ground soggy and slippery, but Vesty cleaned the opening three sections on his Bultaco, putting him on course for an unassailable nine marks lost over four laps of ten sections. His nearest rival in the Twinshock class, Mick Clarke, finished three marks behind to claim the runner-up spot on his Ossa, with Geoff Potts and his Fantic a further seven behind for third place.
Red Rose switched dates and venues for their trial, bringing it forward 24 hours to avoid a clash with Remembrance Day, and using the popular Pendle Hall Farm venue with its gullies, streams and grassy bankings that overlook the historic Gawthorpe Hall, instead of Copy Pit at Cliviger.
There was a three-way fight for the honours in class C, with just one mark separating Owen Hardisty, Andrew Scott and Jake Ingram.
When the scores were added up at the end, Hardisty’s 15 marks were enough to pip Scott – who lead the team of course plotters - and Ingram, who both tied on 16, with the former getting second place on the Oldest Rider rule.
Said Scott: “We tried to mark out with consideration for the wet ground and while some sections in the gullies were unaffected, there is no doubt that others became increasingly difficult as the day progressed. It pays to keep a move on and do the sections as quickly as possible.It's not a place to hang around, something I know but didn't learn! Looking at the observers cards I think it’s fair to say that more marks were lost on the last two laps rather than the first two.”
In class Ce, Ian Roper finished well ahead of Eric Boocock, finishing on 5 and 14 respectively on their Tiger Cubs, with Max Heys a further six marks adrift on his Bantam.
Eric Atkinson had class D all to himself ending the day with 61 on his James.
Class Te was a closely-fought affair, with just seven marks splitting the top three.
Mark Wilson (Honda) did enough to clinch the win on 24, with Mel Dibb (Bultaco) on 28 and Malcolm Bell (Bultaco) on 31.
The final round of the championship is on December 4 at a brand new venue, Tinklers Farm, Tinklers Lane, Slaidburn. Nearest postcode is BB7 4TP.
Results
Class C: Owen Hardisty (Cub) 15, Andrew Scott (Cub) 16, Jake Ingram (BSA) 16.
Class Ce: Ian Roper (Cub) 5, Eric Boocock (Cub), 14, Max Heys (Bantam) 20,
Class D: Eric Atkinson (James) 61.
Class T: Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco) 9, Mick Clarke (Ossa) 12, Geoff Potts (Fantic) 19.
Class Te: Mark Wilson (Honda) 24, Mel Dibb (Bultaco) 28, Malcolm Bell (Bultaco) 31.