The 2017 Yorkshire Centre ACU Awards and dinner was held on Saturday at the Healds Hall Hotel, Liversedge, with guest speaker the former professional Road Racer, Rob McElnea.
Master of Ceremonies and Treasurer, Graham Wilson proposed the toast with response from President, Mike Washington, then the guests tucked in to an excellent three course meal which was rounded off very well with an entertaining speech by Rob.
Following straight on from the coffee and mints, Sue Smith and Phyll Stephenson presented the 2017 Trials awards to the individual winners and clubs. Best Expert in Centre went to Sam Yeadon, Louis Haley and Sam Jennings taking the Intermediate and Novice trophies. Best Clubman's A in Yorkshire Championship was Andrew Jackson, Phillip Hammond taking the Clubman's B. William Tolson received the Neville Crowther Trophy for Best A Class, Sam Lampkin and Henry Stephenson picking up B Class and C Class . The trophies for Best Expert, Intermediate and Novice riders in Centre National events went to Richard Sadler, Thomas Housecroft and Aldis Blacker respectively. Worth noting that Andrew Jackson and William Tolson bagged three awards each in total, also taking the honours in the West Yorkshire Championship Individual category.
Centre Award for Best all-rounder Under 21 went to William Tolson, the Cliff Jessop Award for Best Under 17 went to the talented Olivia Brooksbank. Dougie Lampkin once again took the award for Best Yorkshire rider in the SSDT.
The Club Awards were dominated by Yeadon Guiseley DMC, with Best Overall Trials Club, Best Overall Club Team and Best Expert, Inter and Novice Team, a haul of Trophies that filled the Yeadon family table! The other three club awards were Best Clubman's A team collected by Nigel Crowther of West Leeds MC, Best Clubman's B Huddersfield Falcon MCC and lastly the Jack Wood trophy for Furtherance of Access awarded to Richmond & DMC.
The evening was concluded with a raffle of various prizes donated by the guests, ranging from Sandeman port to PJ1 gear oil. All very well received!
Report and pictures by Nigel Land