MOTORCYCLING enthusiasts packed into the Soccer Bar, Barrow, for the annual Furness and South Cumbria Motorcycle Sports Awards – and helped raise £1,000 for charity.

Co-hosted by Manx Grand Prix veteran Les Trotter and Askam`s Darren Hudson, the evening saw two of motorcycling’s biggest stars present the awards.

Chris Hodgson has 12 British Supermoto Championships to his name, while Christian Iddon held 10 Supermoto titles and is now better known for his television appearances covering the British Superbike Racing Series.

Junior Motocross rider Jacob Hayes, from Millom, was presented with the “Tups” Halfpenny Memorial Cup, while Barrow TT star Dan Stewart picked up the Duncan Mayvers Crash And Trash Award for the most spectacular spill of the season after his high speed fall on the Croft Circuit.

The leg injury he sustained hampered his progress in the 2016 season. Coincidentally, it was Ulverston marshall Ian Clark who was first on the scene.

Grange’s Tom McHale, still recovering from his horrendous crash at the Macau Grand Prix last year, received the Bridgegate Motorcycle Shield for the best Performance on the TT course by a Furness rider.

McHale had not been able attend last year after being hospitalised in China, so it was decided to present his trophy at this year’s awards instead.

The Evening Mail Award for the most successful rider in road racing went to Barrow’s Mike Walker. Still a lap record holder on the Aintree circuit racing Superbikes, Walker has focused on Classic racing this year aboard Askam enthusiast Mark Wall`s 750cc Triumph with some impressive results. The Nigel Birkett Trials Award went to fast-improving Tom Hodgson, from Keswick, who proved he had been the right choice by winning his class at the Bootle scrambles club trial the following day.

Other award winners included Molly Wernham, of Kirkby, who scooped the John Wren motorcycles award for the most improved moto-cross rider, and Ulverston’s Nick Penny, who picked up the Martin Crooks Award for the the most improved rider in road racing up to 250cc.

The awards evening is always full of surprises and fun awards.

Last year’s British Drag Racing Champion Dave “Rocket” Peters received the “Teddy out of Pram Award” for expressing his displeasure when his bike hit mechanical problems, while Barrow’s Michelle Pickering received a “Dinner lady of the Year certificate” for catering for the team at meetings.

A free draw took place for a hamper of goods supplied by Pauls Carpets of Dalton, two bouquets of flowers sponsored by Mike and Sam Walker, a session on the newly-installed Dyno equipment at MBR Racing in Barrow and bottles of wine from Walney’s Martin Wilson.

The admission charge and subsequent collection raised £1,000 for the Pride of Cumbria Air Ambulance service. Trotter would like to thank everyone who supported and sponsored the evening.