Diane’s charity trial again a winner
As Andrew Bingley remarked at Tow Tops on a sunny Sunday, “there is no better place to be in the world”. Of course, that can only be a matter of opinion, but certainly it was a great place to enjoy the Diane Shield Memorial Trial by the Barrow Club in memory to Diane who was an enthusiast of the sport and who officiated for many years.
Andrew Bingley and Nick Shield have both been enthusiastic promotors of the event since its inception, Nick for obvious reasons and Andrew for his close contacts with the landowners and together they managed to attract 58 riders to the trial – not quite so many as in recent years, possibly due to holidays and because the trial was a month earlier than it has been in the past.
Nick with friends had set out a four lap ten section course, one that had two routes through each section and which were just sufficiently testing to be ideal for the entry of 43 on the harder versions and 14 on the easier versions – one retirement.
Steve Dixon won the harder course event with a clean sheet with four riders, Shield, Mike Instance, Lewis Gaskell and Jonny Stott following close behind, all on the loss of 2. With past winners of the Pre 65 Scottish Two Day trial riding in the shapes of Jimmy Noble and Will Brockbank, both on big four strokes, either rider could have been winner, but both lost a five on the same ninth section in the trial which put to an end their aspirations of victory and getting their name on the large, silver trophy available to the winner.
Returning to the sport following a replacement hip operation, Robin Luscombe topped the easy course riders, though he occasionally rode the hard course version of a section to ease himself back into the sport. Lusky lost just one, whilst his pal Mick Grant was second on seven with Peter Ellis third on eight.
All told it had been a brilliant day at a brilliant venue and with many riders winning items from the raffle, Diane’s favourite charity, the “Make a wish Foundation” will again benefit from this annual trial, so well supported from riders happy to travel some miles to ride at Tow Tops above High Newton.
The organising Barrow Club also wish to thank the ACU for their generous contribution to the success of the event as well as to the landowners and observers.
Full results as always from the Home page link.