Having hardly had time to wash off the mud from their machines after the Barrow and District Motorcycle Club's Boxing Day trial at Torver, the trial riding fraternity headed over to Bootle just three days later for the Bootle Scrambles Club`s fun trial on the Fell Green courses.

Four routes had been marked out for competitors ,by club member Joel Gowan, an accomplished trials rider himself, the Hard, the Green The Clubmans' and the Beginners'.

His brother Jake excelled on the Green course, taking the win on his Montesa having dropped just 13 marks with veteran Nigel Birkett just six marks astern on a less powerful four stroke125cc Birkett Scorpa.

Meanwhile, on the Hard course, Coniston's James Johnson continued on his winning ways. Having won on the hard course at Torver, he mastered the hard course at Bootle too.

The closest finish took place on the Clubmans' route, where only two marks separated the first three riders.

Grasmere's Jack Dixon improved on his second place at Torver by winning the class on a 125cc Birkett Scorpa by just one mark from Ulverston`s Paul Mashiter, who was riding a 300cc Beta.

Close behind, Newcastle's Andy Downham and Stuart Gaskell from Grasmere tied for third place , having both lost just six marks each.

Schoolboy riders filled the Beginners' course with Keswick`s Lewis Gaskell proving to be top youngster, losing a mere three marks on his 125cc Beta.

At the close of the meeting, competitors all headed for the Brown Cow Inn at Waberthwaite, where the club's annual prize giving took place.

Results

Hard Course: 1. James Johnson (300 Scorpa, Coniston, 19 marks lost), 2. Mark Batty (250 Scorpa, Kendal, 25). 3. Richard Gaskell (300 Beta, Keswick, 38).

Green Course: 1. Jake Gowan (Montesa, Bootle, 13), 2. Nigel Birkett (125 Birkett Scorpa, Broughton, 19), 3. Harry Towler (TRS, Kendal, 25).

Clubmans' Course: 1. Jack Dixon (125 Birkett Scorpa, Grasmere, 4), 2. Paul Mashiter (300 Beta, Ulverston, 5), 3= Andy Downham (Beta, Newcastle, 6), 3= Stuart Gaskell (Twinshock, Grasmere, 6).

Beginners' Course: 1. Lewis Gaskell (125 Beta, Keswick, 3), 2. Joel Haslett (Beta, Cumbria, 13), 3. Jayden Seward (Gas Gas, Millom, 20).

As always the club would like to thank all the volunteer observers, officials, and landowners etc who made the event possible.

* Members of the local branch of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club followed up their Boxing Day outing with another 'Tiddler Run' for smaller capacity Japanese machines on New Years' Day.

After setting off from their HQ, the Newton Arms in Dalton, they took a leisurely ride out through the Furness country lanes, terminating at the Manor Arms in the square at Broughton.

Their next one is planned for Sun, February 2 and non-club members are welcome to join them.

On the subject of club ride-outs, the Roundhouse at Biggar Bank on Walney has reopened after being closed for many years.

The new proprietors are biker friendly so if you want to call in for a brew or organise a run to terminate there, you'd be made most welcome.

They are also planning a bike show over there in the summer months... watch this space.

* Travis Shaw, five-year-old son of Barrow road racer Danny is still on a learning curve in his budding mini moto racing career.

After finishing in a creditable second place on the Tattersall track in Lincolnshire recently, despite a couple of tumbles, he headed back to Lincolnshire to the Stretton circuit for the latest round of the British Mini Bike Championship.

Holding his own in fourth place against larger machines machines, he clipped the kerb on the wet track. Although unhurt, he damaged the bike which ended his day's racing.

After hurried repairs, dad made the overnight dash up to the Rowrah Stadium in Cumbria for a test day where the plucky youngster slid off yet again on a wet track.

He's off to Spain for a couple of weeks in March to hone his skills at the World Mini bike Scholarship Championship in readiness for the UK season.

* Crooks Suzuki, as most locals motorcycle enthusiasts will know, are known worldwide for their achievements both on and off road.

Since Eddie Crooks founded the business way back in 1959, Crooks Suzuki have prepared and provided race-winning machines in most branches of the sport, with several TT and Manx Grand Prix wins to their credit and still hold a 24-hour World Endurance record.

Many of the sport’s top riders used Crooks machines, including world champion Barry Sheene. Eddie’s son Martin carried on the family business, which now clocks up over 60 years of supplying much-needed Suzuki parts worldwide.

With flexible hours, shift working and internet purchasing, many of the major high street stores have noticed a decline in Saturday trading, as has the motorcycle trade.

To this end, Martin and his team have decided to open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5:30pm but close on Saturdays.