Sun shines on Barrow’s Boxing Day blast
Both the Clubman course and the easier Black course enjoyed a level of severity appropriate for the riders in the Barrow Club’s annual Boxing Day “Fun” trial, but judging by the scores, it was a tough day for the riders on the harder course, many of whom were expecting a less arduous day as they digested their Christmas feasting.
The trial attracted an excellent entry of 73 riders over the three courses set out by Peter Blowers, 22 on the hard course, 36 on the Clubman route and a dozen on the Black route.
Cameron Brice won the Hard course with the loss of 23 marks with Centre Champion Tom Swindlehurst second three marks adrift, but in his defence he was riding a much oder Gas Gas rather than his regular Scorpa mount. Retirements through the entry were few with only six failing to complete the course.
Brice and Swinny were leagues ahed on the hard course with Wilf Shuttlewworth ten marks adrift but Joel Hazlett’s ride was a good one for his fourth placed finish.
Three marks on section three and another three in the slippery stream of section six were all that Anthony Hayhurst needed to win the clubman course from trial secretary Angus Jenkinson on 10, a score shared with Mark Barrow, but perhaps the surprise of the class was Ronnie Looker taking his very basic 250 James into fourth place which must surely be one of his best rides to date on the older Pre65er.
The sun was shining, the shadows were deep out of the sunlight and there was honestly not a cloud to be seen over the Old Railway Line at Torver, but it was bitterly cold, though thankfully there was no frozen ground to contend with. The Black course is intentionally easy for those occasional riders or perhaps the less competent and at signing on 12 riders ticked that box on the entry form. Neil Buckley dragged out his 1998 – or maybe a 1999 model Montesa 315 – certainly a very early one – to win the Black course with an excellent ride to lose just 4 marks, all on section 8 to finish with half the score of his old sparring partner Mike Rapley (webmaster of this site), having his first ride in a trial since this Boxing Day trial of 2023.
Very soon a brief video of the trial will appear on You Tube channel “2 wheels off-road”, as regular photographer to the sport, EK, was unable to attend.