WhilE many of the regular competitors who support the Barrow and District Motorcycle clubs events were away competing in the Scottish Six-Day Trial near Fort William, those who did stay nearer to home had an excellent day at the annual Muriel Wilkinson Memorial Trial last Sunday.

Club stalwarts had again set out three courses starting from Lowick, The Green, the Clubmans and the Black course for beginners.

The weather was kind and ‘Team Brice’ from Seascale followed up their success at the Bootle club trial last month by featuring in the results again on the Green course.

Simon proved to be the man on the day with a loss of just 15 marks with Cameron only one mark in arrears with 16 taking third place.

Simon actually tied on 15 with Ben Cornthwaite, but having ‘cleaned’ more sections than Ben, he was adjudged the winner.

Results

Green Course: 1. Simon Brice (Beta, Seascale, 15 marks lost), 2. Ben Cornthwaite (Gas Gas, Ulverston), 15) 3. Cameron Brice (Beta, Seascale, 16).

Clubmans Course: 1. Tom Bleasdale (Twin Shock, Lancs, 2), 2. Andrew Bingley (Beta, Kendal, 5), 3. Pete Blowers (Scorpa, Walney Island, 7).

Black Course: 1. Nigel Furness (unspecified, Cumbria, 79), 2. Ted Beaty (Electric bike, Kendal, retired).

Meanwhile, further north in the Scottish Highlands, riders were just finishing the strength-sapping Scottish Six-Day Trial, in which competitors are required to cover around 100 miles per day through woodland, moorland and riverbeds around Fort William.

Around 300 competitors set off to tackle the various routes and sections and, amazingly, 259 completed the trial to collect awards.

Furness and South Cumbria riders did the area proud with most of them finishing in the top half of the field, collecting Special First Class awards.

Veteran Nigel Birkett from Broughton was one of them, finishing his 47th consecutive ‘Scottish’ in 79th place with a loss of 212 marks, despite being a late starter one day after replacing a crankshaft in Tom Minter’s machine in a record time of 33 minutes before setting off himself.

Near neighbour James Postlethwaite, who Nigel actually sponsors, finished two places ahead of him in 77th slot with a loss of 210 marks.

Grasmere’s Stephen Dixon was the highest-placed ‘local’ in 28th place with 74 marks lost, followed by Richard Gaskell from Keswick (33rd on 91), James Johnston from Coniston (56th on 176), Stuart Gaskell from Keswick (70th with 202) and Bootle’s Jake Gowan in 118th place.

*Yours truly spent a great afternoon at the revived Barbon Speed Hill climb last Saturday.

A sunny afternoon coupled with showers and even hailstones didn’t deter competitors from putting in some fast runs on the half-mile course. It was good to see Furness competitors supporting the event.

Phil Newbury from Dalton and Terry Walker from Ulverston contested the ‘Run what you Brung’ class with their Yamahas, whilst fellow Daltonian Keir McKenna was out with the Supermotos.

Askam Classic racer Geoff Hadwin added another fine trophy to his collection after winning the 250cc Classic event.

The fastest time of the day award went to Richard Blakeman from Huddersfield with a time of 27.01 seconds, marginally quicker than TT legend John McGuinness, who recorded a time of 27.22 seconds.

Smiles were raised when John presented his teammate with the trophy before rushing away to catch the overnight ferry to Belfast for the North West 200 races.

*Dalton’s Greg Fisher still leads the prestigious Bridgestone Masters Motocross Championship after the latest round at Wroxton, near Oxford.

Although he’s never actually had a win on the track, a string of second places and a third have amassed him enough points to stay ahead.

It was sad to learn the East Cumbria Motocross club have lost their track at Low Gelt, near Brampton.

Many Furness riders cut their teeth on the Brampton course, with many of them winning the club championships there.

The Cumbria Motocross club have offered them the use of the Haverigg venue until they can find a new track, so the club are holding the second round of their championships there this weekend.