No doubt about the popularity of Classic Trials in this country as the numbers at the Ilkley Classic Trial last week emphasize when ninety two competitors, forty four of which were motorcycles, rode a forty mile one lap course in Yorkshire Dales. Six three wheelers competed including one Reliant Rialto which just made the finish at Otley after limping past the eighteenth special test in Brown's Wood.
The usual format of stop and start tests for all competitors prevailed but the organizers also had two timed sections, Highfield Farm and Peels Wood, that were implemented to act as tie breakers.
Stan Peel had done his job well for the motorcycles and the tests were bike friendly but testing. Andrew Craddock travelled from Bodmin to ride his very crisp sounding BSA B40 through all the sections on a penalty free results two marks ahead of Keighley's Triumph Trophy mounted Frank Anderton.
Balsall Common Beta Alp rider John Kenny was one of the few that went through the tiebreaker with Ipswich contender. Eight tenths of a second decided who was the top rider. The tiebreaker also favoured Bootle's Gary Cowan who got his Gas Gas round clean and also set the fastest time of 24.1 seconds in the tiebreakers so he was declared top solo rider overall. Al Lidgate is no stranger to Ilkley Classic events on three wheels and the Solihull rider, with Paul Crossbie, headed the class riding his familiar Yamaha EML outfit. For a change the weather in Wharfedale and Nidderdale was user friendly.
Results.
Class A: Andrew Craddock (BSA B40) 0, Frank Anderton (BSA) 2, David Varley (Triumph Twin) 7.
Class B1: John Kenny (Beta) 0 s/t 25.4, Dave Godley (Beta Alp) 0 s/t26.2, Richard Harvey (Beta) 6.
Class B2: Gary Cowan (Gas Gas) 0, Derek Jones (Gas Gas) 4, Philip Sanders(Yamaha) 5.
Sidecars: Al Lidgate/Paul Crossbie (Yamaha EML) 13, Chris Bindle/Jill Pegler (Ariel) 33, Richard Clay/Alistair Gough (Armstrong) 105.
Three wheeler: Bernie Pugh/Mick Stead (Reliant Rialto) 64.