Wetherby & District Motor Club, sixth Norman Crooks Trophy Trial at Grimwith Reservoir, Greenhow, Saturday.

IT was grim at Grimwith Reservoir on Saturday afternoon as high winds and driving raining blanketed the Wetherby Motor Club‘s sixth Norman Crooks Trophy Trial series of trials. By mid-afternoon as joint clerks of course John Henfrey and Michael Benson battled against the elements to plot the ten section four lap course on the steep and exposed moorland high above the reservoir, it was almost impossible to manhandle a bag full of course marking flags and remain upright.

Just as Two Jays Caterers arrived the rain really blanketed the area and the ten observers who withstood the elements for three hours all deserve a medal. Nancy Laws observed the penultimate section where Mick Shorrock acted as assistant observer while Mrs Laws fought to hang onto her observer board. Brian Ayrton was high above at the final section where Chris Watson’s young daughter served a testing apprenticeship on how to observe.

Brian Ayrton said: “She stuck it out until the end. Her hands must have been numb.”

The opening three sections tracked the bottom boundary wall using the pre-historic rock formations which were marked on the easy side in view of the weather conditions. At least the high boundary wall afforded some protection for the observers. There was no shelter though for the officials high above, where sections six to ten climbed the deep heather and rock-strewn gradients. At least judicious section plotting kept the penalties down on the day. Danny Gamble, Joel Sadler, Robert Hardisty and Richard Shepherd all signed off with a clean sheet. The next Wetherby Motor Club trial will take place on September 19 at North Close Farm, Kirkby Malzeard starting at 3.30pm.

Results.

Hard course: Experts: 1 Danny Gamble (Sherco) 0. Inters: 1 Louis Haley (Vertigo) 13, 2 Anthony Ayrton (TRS) 15.

Novices: 1 Joel Sadler (Beta) 0, 2 Elliott Laws (Vertigo) 3, 3 Bevan Blacker (Gas Gas) 6. Youth Class A: Richard Pulman (Scorpa) 29. Green course: Novices: 1 Andy Tales (Fantic) 4, 2 Ian Myers (Sherco) 17, 3 Scott Lambert (Beta) 22. Over 40s: Phillip Hammond (Sherco) 9. Over 50’s: 1 Rob Hardisty (Sherco) 0, 2 Neil Gaunt (Vertigo) 3 Chris Laws (Vertigo) 10. Youths: 1 Will Wright (23, 2 Harrison LIghtfoot 29, 3 Jack Bennett 30, (all Beta). Easy course: Novices: 1 Chris Watson (TRS) 24, 2Mason Carter (TRS) 26, 3 Shay Smith (Beta) 40. Over 40’s: 1 Rob Chadwick (TRS) 16, 2 John Henfrey (Beta) 22, 3 Peter Hollingworth (Beta) 26. Over 50s: 1 Paul Pulman (Scorpa) 22, 3 Stewart Molloy (Beta) 33. Over 60s: 1 Ian Brogden (Beta) 18, 2 Graham Parker (Montesa) 30, 3 Mick Bayley (Beta) 35. Twin Shocks: 1 Richard Shepherd (Honda) 0, 2 Steve Gossop (BSA) 11. 3 John Ellis (Honda) 44.Youth: 1 Jack Pullan (Beta) 34.

Diary Dates.

Sunday: West Leeds Motor Club. National White Rose Trial, Cam Head, Hawes, 10am.