Holmescales home for a good turn out
The ground was frozen following the many days of below freezing temperatures, but as the day progressed, the frost came out of the soil at Holmescales Activity Centre for the Lakes Grass Track racing Club’s January trial that attracted 62 entries, with all bar four riders completing the four laps of ten sections.
One of the attractions for riders to the Lakes GTRC club events is that they include a very easy, easy course and this always attracts a significant number of riders eager to begin (or indeed complete) their trialing career. This time there were 21 riders on the course with scores ranging from the winning riders who lost seven – Graham Knight and Gareth Edmondson – and a very reasonable 45 – Callum Robson. What more can an event provide to attract enthusiasts into the sport?
The hard course had just seven riders tackling it with Sam Metcalfe finishing on 31 from Mike Irving on 36, though he was complaining of lost rear brake performance on the aged 315 Montesa he was riding, with Matt Edmondson in third some way adrift of the top pair.
Inevitably the bulk of the entry rode the clubman course, which initially proved very slippery on the open sections in the field above the start, but with the observers allowing some latitude in room to turn before the climbs up and down the grassy/rock bankings, the sections proved to be less hazardous. Karl Ratcliffe has been Scorpa mounted for some years, but has changed his machine for a 250 Beta and that proved to be a good move for he won the class, losing just five marks, all on the tight turns of section 10 to finish four in front of Scottish Borders clubman John Kennedy (lead picture from 2024 in drier conditions) who had one of his best rides to date.
Full results from the Home page link.