Hundreds of trials enthusiasts descended on Broughton last weekend for the annual Lakes 2 Day Trial, which is now in it`s 44th year.

Founded way back in 1975 by the Barrow and District Motorcycle Club, the Bootle Scrambles Club and the now defunct Formula Furness Motorcycle Club ,the event has gone from strength to strength and is now firmly established as one of the biggest events of its kind on the trials calendar.

Now holding national status, The Lakes Motorcycle Trials Association had the unenviable task of turning down many would-be competitors as the 180 maximum was soon reached when entries became available.

Again, the trial attracted riders from all over the UK. Northern Ireland (8), Isle of Man (9), Scotland (6), Wales (7), and 35 entries from the Furness & South Cumbria area alone made up the list, which included World Ladies Trials champion Emma Bristow, who`d just won her sixth world title in Spain.

On Saturday, 180 riders set off in pairs from the start at the Broughton Auction Mart to tackle sections laid out around the Corney Fell areas.

Two courses made up the event; the Experts and the Clubmans. Thankfully, the weather held good and most riders completed the routes in cold but dry conditions and finished inside the mandatory seven-hour time slot involving two refuelling stops.

Sunday morning saw riders setting off in pairs again to tackle sections around Torver and Ulpha with a six-and-a-half-hour schedule. Thankfully, the overnight rain did not make conditions too difficult.

It was great to see local riders featuring in the results, with most of them finishing in the top half of the field.

Craig Seward from Millom was master on the Clubmans course, being top man on both days on his Scorpa, as he took the win with a loss of just 17 marks.

Jack Peace from Yorkshire, riding a Sherco, lost just 17 marks as well to take the honours on the Experts course.

Further down the field, Bristow showed the skill that made her a world champion, her Sherco finishing in 17th slot with a loss of 75 marks, with Grasmere's Stephen Dixon on a Birkett Scorpa in 18th, losing 91 marks just in front of Broughton's James Postlethwaite, on another Birkett Scorpa, on 93.

Not too far astern, Bootle's Joel Gowan brought his Gas Gas home in 20th slot on 105 marks, with Millom's Owen Gilchrist finishing 29th on his Gas Gas.

As always, the organisers would like to thank all the observers, land owners officials etc and the Broughton Auction Mart for all their help and cooperation.

*Ulverston ex-pat Syd Ormrod, who now lives in Silverdale, had another great result last weekend.

He's had a phenomenal season with his Mini Cooper-engined three-wheeler on circuits up and down the country, taking on the established stars with more powerful Morgan three-wheelers, 1000cc Sidecar outfits etc.

After winning the three-wheeler and vintage solo events at the recent Leighton Hall speed hill climb, he contested the final round of the British Historic Racing Clubs Championships on the demanding Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire.

In appalling conditions on Saturday, he led the five-lap race until it was stopped after another competitor had come to grief.

On Sunday, again in appalling conditions, with new passenger Alistair Wilson from Milnthorpe, he finished third, clinching him second place in the championship. Soon afterwards, the meeting was abandoned due to the weather.

*Race fans will be pleased to learn the new promoters that have taking over the running of the Olivers Mount circuit in Scarborough are planning a four-event calendar for 2020.

This will be the first time a four-race date programme has been held since the circuit's licence was rescinded on safety grounds after serious incidents involving spectators a couple of years ago.

The 2.25-mile narrow hillside circuit regularly attracted crowds of over 60,000 in the past with many world champions having competed there.

They are hoping to reinstate the many speed hill climb events that took place there too.

If you are looking to book your holidays to coincide, the provisional dates are: Gold Cup meeting (April 25-26), Cock O' the North meeting (June 20-21), Barry Sheene Memorial meeting (Aug 1-2), Gold Cup meeting (September 12-13).

*The Furness British Motorcycle club hold their next monthly meeting on Monday at the Ulverston Sports and Leisure Club at 8pm.

If you have an interest in British motorcycles of any size or marque, pop along and meet up with like-minded enthusiasts.

The Furness branch of the Motorcycle Action Group hold their next meeting at Dalton United Football Club on Beckside Road next Tuesday night, which starts at 7pm. New members are always welcome.

Still looking for that hard-to-find part? The last Autojumble of 2019, at the Penrith Auction Mart just off Junction 40 of the M6, takes place on Sunday from 7:30 am until 1:30pm.

Good hard standing is available for your bikes, with the venue having an indoor café and washrooms. Unfortunately, the organisers will not be holding any more meetings at the Crooklands Centre just off Junction 36.