Report: Barry Robinson:

Photo: FIM

Thirteen year old Partridge Green, Horsham, trials rider Jack Dance excelled in the opening event in the European Youth Championship at Peitramurata, Italy, on Sunday claiming an impressive second place riding his JST Gas Gas heading fellow Brit, Ben Dignan From Roy Bridge, Fort William, Scotland by two marks.

East Keswick youngster Harry Hemingway was a close fourth with Buxton’s Harry Turner taking ninth place in a teenage star studded entry of the top Euro youngsters.

Dance was his typical cool self and Nicky and Adrian stopped off in Genoa and the Pro Park where some time and days were practicing on testing terrain before heading back up Italy to the trial venue. The short halt at the Pro Park gave Jack time to acclimatise in the altitude of the mountains but he was nervous initially at the trial venue. He knew it was going to a long tough day and took the morning build-up in his stride. Relaxing and drinking plenty of liquid to negate hydration paid dividends that were required when the chain let go in section three. The sprint back to parc ferme for another link and tools took some time and energy. It was a tough start for the entire entry. Only Dignan and winner Pau Martinez got through section four along with Harry Turner, Enzo Rossi and Fabian David. After the chain failure incident, thought to be that a loose stone tangled with the chain. Dance got his head down and did not let the opening sections rattle him. He settled down to serious business with more confidence.

His second lap was ten under his opening circuit and only bettered by winner Martinez. His style took him up the order and onto the podium. More than ever Jack Dance, at fourteen years of age, is a planner and thinker. He was quite surprised at the end result and it was time to smile – a big smile.

Results.

F.I.M. European Youth Trials Championship, Pietramurata, Italy. Sunday.

1 Pau Martinez (Esp) Vertigo         25 + 17 = 42.

2 Jack Dance (GB) JST Gas Gas     41+ 31 =72.

3 Ben Dignan (GB) JST Gas Gas          35 + 39 =74.

4 Jonathan Heidel  (Ger) Gas Gas  41 + 44  = 85.

5 Harry Hemingway (GB) Beta      47 + 42 = 89.

6 Jarmil Smith  (Ger)  Beta             47 + 43  = 90.

7 Linus Sandberg (Swe) TRS         47 + 47  = 94.

8 Valentino Feltrin  (Ita) Gas Gas   51 + 46 = 97.

9 Harry Turner (GB) Gas Gas         48 + 49 =102

10 Enzo Rossi (Fra) Scorpa            53 + 50 = 103.

11 Fabian David (Cze) Beta            51 + 54-105

12 Philipp Eberharter  (Aust)          55 + 51 =106

13 Jonas Schiele (Ger) Gas Gas      56 + 51 =107.

14 Rooney Bereiter (Ger) Gas Gas   59 + 48 = 107.

15 Nils Schwabedissen (Ger) Beta   61 + 49 =110.

19^th Owen Chestnut (GB) Gas Gas  66 + 67  =  62

Richmond Motor Club (Yorkshire) Ltd were delighted to recently present representatives
of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with a cheque for £500. This service has, on occasion been used by riders of the club, as well as the local community.

It is important to give back as much as possible to continue to support this charitable organisation.
The funds were raised from a raffle at a dinner held in December for all
the landowners, gamekeepers and farmers at The Garden Rooms at Tennants,
Leyburn.

Picture: Olga Ashton, representing Yorkshire Air Ambulance, accepting a donation of £500 for the charity, presented by Chris Wallis, on behalf of Richmond Motor Club (Yorkshire) Ltd

Photo: Charlotte E. Brown

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.

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.

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.

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