It is with sadness that we announce the passing of a great enthusiast of the sport, Claude Coutard from France.
He was a well-known rider who competed on Greeves machines in the 1960s. He was father to multiple French Trials Champion, Charles.
…
French super-enthusiast Oliver Barjon spoke to Trials Guru about Claude’s passing:
“I first met Claude Coutard in the seventies, at the world rounds when his was helping his son, Charles. We talked a lot, as Charles was very focused on his riding.
I will never forget Claude’s blue eyes, until his last years.
Claude discovered trials in the nineteen-fifities, in the woods near Paris (St Cucufa), it really was the beginning of trial sport in France. From that time, his life was dedicated to our sport.
Firstly as a rider, he was the vice French champion behind Christian Rayer, and as ‘the’ French promoteur of our sport for over 50 years, until recently.
I was 30 years and and one week younger than Claude, sometime on the trials we wish each other ‘happy birthday’.
After Greeves, he rode Bultacos and had a shop in Lyon named ‘Coutard Service’.
We will all miss Claude and our hertfelt sympathies go to his widow, Josette, son Charles and all the Coutard family.”
…
TRIALS GURU 
Rest in Peace, last week see him in a Charles Coutard history video.