Ilkley Grand National 2019 Report

March 26, 2019 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

Report: Barry Robinson

Photos: Lucy Ayrton

Glasshouses electrical engineer Danny Gamble lit up the moors above Beamsley on Saturday afternoon to ride his Sherco machine to overall victory in the Ilkley Grand National time trial. Only Gamble and Barnoldswick engineer Anthony Ayrton broke the two hour time covering three laps of moorland without an inch of tarmac. Ayrton, well into the over forties age category, won the Inter class just four minutes and three second behind the winner. Finghall youngster Robert Weatherill really hit the moors with a vengeance His descent down the face of Beamsley Beacon was awesome in speed. Bellerby’s Ryan Brown was also rapid but a sliding front wheel saw man and machine cartwheel into the into the heather. Ryan was up in a flash and motored off into distance at about the same speed. The actual times have no effect on the results as both expert three lap route and the shorter two lap club route are calculated of the average of the fastest ten finishers.

62 Steve Wild — **Steve Wilde in action at the 2019 Ilkley GN – Photo Lucy Ayrton**

The expert time average was 2hrs,5mins,45secs. The Clubman figures were 1hr,34mins,3 secs. Gamble, Glusburn builder Nathan Wrigglesworth, Robert Weatherill, and Anthony Ayrton did not incur time penalties. The coveted Freddy Clayton Trophy was won by Richmond Over 40’s contender Chris Tett. The shorter Clubman route was equally difficult as the entire entry rode all twenty section but only twice. Consett visitor Chris Barnett won the class with a best on observation and no time penalties from Coverdale’s Sam Lambert who was riding his first Grand National. Time penalties dropped Howard Gulley and Ian Myers down the results order the third and fourth. British Ladies Inter class national champion Bethanie Dunning finished in ninth place beating her father Jason by two penalties. Only seven retirements were posted from a total of fifty seven starters.

**Joe Bradley (Beta) fires some Ilkley moor in the general direction of Barry Watson – Photo: Lucy Ayrton**

Despite recent adverse weather conditions the ten mile lap was moderate underfoot and wheels. As in past years, a west wind and some sunshine lifts the moisture off the terrain.

The sting in the tale was section twenty where Airedale & Pennine Motor Club official John Rhodes spent much time lifting the section marker flags and washing them in any available pool of water. One spinning rear wheel in the swamp negated all John’s efforts!

Results.

Best performance: Danny Gamble (Sherco) 10 observation/0 time = 10 (Ilkley Trophy), Expert: Nathan Wrigglesworth (Beta) 21+ 0=21. (Scott Trophy). Novices: 1 Robert Weatherill (AGB Beta) 29 + 0 =29, 2 William Tolson (Beta) 33 + 2=35, 3 Arron Dugdale (Scorpa) 37+5 = 42. Best First Time: Chris Tett (Montesa) 58 + 29 = 85. Best Over 40: Anthony Ayrton (TRS) 39 + 0 =39. Team prize: Bradford A: Ayrton/Wrriglesworth/Aaron Dugdale (Scorpa) 102.

Fastest time: Danny Gamble 1hr-51 min-2 sec. Clubman class: 1 Chris Barnett (Montesa) 32 = 0 = 32 (G.A. Reed Trophy) 2 Sam Lambert (Beta) 39 + 0 =39, 3 Howard Gulley ((TRS) 35+5 = 40. Best First Time: Lewis Black (Montesa) 42 + 0 = 42. Best Over 40: John Bannister (Beta) 37 + 11 = 48.Best Over 50: Ian Myers (Sherco) 37 + 5 = 42.

Fastest Time: Chris Barnett 1.27.22.

Trials News

Richmond awards TY Ted

March 22, 2019 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

Katie Astwood. Ted Harston.Vicky Andrew.jpg — **Katie Astwood (Presidents Lady); Ted Harston & Vicky Andrews (RMC Awards Coordinator) – Photo: Barry Watson, Richmond**

Ted Harston is a living legend in Richmond Motor Club circles.

For over three decades the Craythorne, Yarm, man has overseen the tuition and trial riding activities of youngsters from the age of four years and upwards.

His nickname is ‘TY Ted’ coined from the original TY 80cc Yamaha machine on which many riders learned their craft.

Ted has marked out trials routes suitable for beginners and observed their activities. For his services the Richmond Motor Club (Yorkshire) Ltd presented Mr. Harston the Captain’s Cup.

Photo: Barry Watson, Richmond

Trials Guru Info

The oldest five year old

March 19, 2019 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

Trials Guru is now five years on the web!

Opened in March 2014, Trials Guru was a new venture, dedicated to motorcycle trials the world over. It’s popularity has grown and so has it’s follower base.

We don’t claim to be the biggest trials website in the world as we are just happy to bring you information and news from the world of trials.

Still free of any subscription or charges, Trials Guru is still doing what it set out to do with no frills, no hassle and no politics. We are still forum free, which allows us more time to bring you information and photos from the sport.

Made by trials riders and enthusiasts, for trials riders and enthusiasts

We are the oldest five year olds in the sport! Happy Birthday to us!

TRIALS GURU – Dedicated to the Sport!

SSDT

SSDT warm up

March 18, 2019 bigjohn2014 2 Comments

SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL 2019:

Main photo credit: Nigel Pearson/Trials UK Media

Excitement builds as the 2019 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) gears up to continue its long history when it takes place from Monday 6th May through to Saturday 11th May.

280 riders from the far corners of the world will descend on the loch side town of Fort William to face the annual challenge that this iconic event delivers in the rugged Scottish Highlands every year.

This unique and hugely popular competition remains the most famous and one off event in the international trial calendar more than one hundred years after it was first run.

The complete entry list has been released by the Edinburgh and District Motor Club organising committee including the most successful SSDT rider of all time, reigning and twelve times winner Dougie Lampkin.

Doug said recently, “I am burning to win another Scottish to equal a record of World Championships set by Spanish racer Angel Nieto. He won thirteen titles but being superstitious he called it twelve plus one. It would be really cool to have 12 plus 1 Scottish Six Days victories.”

However, The stage is now set for another epic head to head with fellow British rider, James Dabill but there is a very strong line-up with the likes of brothers Dan and Jack Peace, Jack Price and Michael Brown.

The Continental threat looks like coming from young Spanish rider Francesc Moret while countryman and former winner, the ever popular veteran Amos Bilbao will ride a factory Montesa in the event. Bilbao won the event in 2002.

No fewer than nine Ladies are proud to take their places including World Champion Emma Brisow and German challenger Theresa Bauml.

The Scottish Six Days Trial’s standing in the World attracts an eclectic overseas invasion. 2019 is no different and no fewer than 58 riders from outside the British Isles representing a total of 12 countries.

The largest foreign country represented is Spain which boasts 20 entries, led by the popular Carles Casas who this year, along with lesser-known countryman Cesar Lopez, will be competing in his 30th SSDT. Francesc Moret, an experienced Spanish rider on the European and World Championship scene will certainly be a contender for a top 10 place.

Another interesting newcomer is Italian Beta rider Filippo Locca. Vet Dennis Sweeten is a regular from the United States and other familiar faces include Swiss Dominique Guillaume, German Jan Peters and former SSDT winner and World Champ Gilles Burgat from France.

Kevin Gundry and Gary Samson represent New Zealand while fellow Antipodeans Luke Anderson and Connor Hogan fly from Australia. Stir in several entries from Costa Rica and Daniel Santos representing Guatamala and you have a truly International field heading for Scotland in May.

Obituaries

John Brittain dies

March 9, 2019 bigjohn2014 3 Comments

DSC_0868_01 — **Johnny Brittain with Gordon Blakeway; Sammy Miller & Nick Jefferies at the Centenary Scott Trial in 2014. – Photo copyright & courtesy of: Barry Robinson, Ilkely.**

John V. Brittain 1932 – 2019

It is with great sadness that Trials Guru has to announce the passing of one of the UK’s finest trials and ISDT riders, former Royal Enfield works rider John Brittain.

John Brittain, or ‘Johnny’ as he was affectionately known, was a regular national trials winner on the swinging arm framed Royal Enfield Bullet, when most riders were still preferring to compete on rigid framed machines. It was not until 1955 when Bob Manns won the West of England national on his AJS scrambler fitted with his trials motor, that the other factories strated using swinging arm frames on their trials machines. Brittain won the SSDT in 1952 & 1957 and the Scott Trial in 1955 & 1956 on the Redditch built machines. He was also a regular in the ISDT.

The SSDT committee made Brittian the ‘official starter’ of their centenary event in 2011 to honour his achievements in the sport.

Son of legendary Vic Brittain who was a pre-war factory rider and rode for Sunbeam, winning the Scott Trial in 1929 and 1931. John started riding on a DMW then a James, his first Scott Trial was 1949, but quickly secured factory support from Enfields in 1950.

In 1956, John won the ‘ACU Trials Star’, the equivalent of the British Championship.

Brittain competed in fifteen consecutive International Six Days Trials winning thirteen gold medals for his country.

Trials Guru extends sincere condolences to John’s younger brother Pat and the extended Brittain family.

Scott Trial

Scott Trial Charities Benefit

March 9, 2019 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

Photo: Charlotte Brown, Richmond.

Richmond Motor Club’s Scott Trial committee were pleased to host their annual Charity Presentation evening on Friday 8^th March 2019 at The Buck Hotel, Reeth.

The evening started with John Fraser, Scott Trial Chairman, welcoming everybody and giving a résumé of the history of The Scott Trial and how Richmond Motor Club came to take on the running of it some 28 years ago. John thanked all involved in the running of the Scott Trial and also the landowners, tenants, farmers and gamekeepers for their continued support. He then introduced local trials legend and former factory rider, Richard Sunter who, along with his family, has competed in numerous Scott Trials.

Richard presented the cheques to representatives of the various charities, many of whom expressed their gratitude and explained how the donation would be used.

A total of £10,000 raised from the 2018 Trial was given out on the night. This brings the grand total of charity money raised by the Scott Trial since RMC took it on in 1991 to a fantastic sum of over £180,000.

Beneficiaries of this year’s donations are (in no particular order):

Swaledale Scouts, Swaledale Mountain Rescue, Friends of Reeth and Gunnerside Primary Schools, Reeth and Gunnerside Schools Fund, Ravensworth C of E Primary School, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Great North Air Ambulance, Reeth Young Farmers Club, Swaledale Seedlings, The Bridge (previously St. Johns Community Centre), Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Hambleton and Richmondshire MS Society, Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Luncheon Clubs Association, Richmond Cricket Club Youth , Moorland Association, St. Teresa’s Hospice, Deaf Education Through Listening and Talking, Holmedale Pre-School, Richmond Cricket Club, Wensleydale Rugby Club Development Fund, Gamekeepers Welfare Trust , ACU Benevolent Fund, The Mowbray Suite at the Friarage Hospital, The Alistair Bullen Memorial Fund, Homestart, Just The Job, Robert Dent Memorial Fund, Marrick Parish Council Village Hall Fund, The British Lung Foundation, Reeth & District Community Transport Ltd, Rape & Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre CIO, Dementia Forward, Upper Wensleydale Sports and Recreation Association and Reeth Literary Institute Trust.

Obituaries

Jimmy Ballantyne ISDT and SSDT regular

March 3, 2019 bigjohn2014 1 Comment

It is with sadness that we bring the news that James Lockhart ‘Jimmy’ Ballantyne, an Edinburgh born trials and enduro rider has died following a heart attack suffered in France while he was watching an international rugby match in Paris. He was 77 years of age. He suffered a more severe heart attack on 3rd March, 2019.

ISDT Team 1974 — **1974 – Scottish ISDT team for Italy. Jimmy Ballantyne is third from the left. He rode a Monark in the event.**

J.L. Ballantyne had ridden three ISDT events by 1964 and went on to ride many more after then.

In the 1969 ISDT at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, he had problems with his 250cc BSA Starfire, riding for the Scottish ACU Vase B Team. Unfortunately the forestry authorities assumed that all riders had cleared a forest area and sent in heavy equipment, Jimmy met one head-on while trying to make up time. The resultant collision saw Jimmy break both legs and the BSA was immediately rendered a total wreck.

Jimmy rode in several SSDT events on a variety of machines including a Polish built WSK and Austrian Puch 125. He was an all-round off-road motorcyclist, having competed in scrambles, trials and enduro.

Born in the Borders town of Moffat, Dumfries-shire, Ballantyne was an inspector with the Inland Revenue service when he resided in Newbridge near Edinburgh, he left the service and bought the Blue Bell Inn and Commercial public Houses in Annan which he ran successfully for many years before retiring to enjoy support work at various ISDE events across the globe for the British teams.

Jimmy was the Chairman of the SACU Enduro committee, a man who put more back into the sport after he stopped competing.

Trials Guru send sincere condolences to his widow, Linda at this very difficult time.

Funeral arrangements: Jimmy’s funeral service was held in the Crichton Church, Bankend Road, Dumfries at 12:00 noon on Thursday, 14th March 2019.

Campbell Chatham delivered a very fitting eulogy to a congregation of many competition motorcyclists.

The final tune played was a recording of ‘Highland Cathedral’ by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the coffin was taken away to a private cremation.

Afterwards Jimmy’s family and friends celebrated his life at the Crichton Golf Club just a short distance away.

TRIALS GURU – DEDICATED TO TRIAL

Monthly Archives: March 2019