Well what a weekend!! It all started on Friday for me with my annual trip to the fantastic Reeth Three Day trial run by the very welcoming Richmond and District Motor Club (Yorkshire) Ltd. The trial is sponsored by White Brothers of Darlington with managing director Derek and his son Jonny actually competing in the event. With the 200 balloted riders on the starting field just out side Reeth for the 11.00am start.

I made my way to the sections at Hollin Wood where I could happily snap away without falling in the slippery river or “Beck” as they are known in this part of the world. Mark Sunter really helped me wind the clock back as he appeared on a Montesa Cota 348 complete with his fathers old TT Leathers one piece Montesa suit which I think was from the 1977 SSDT. The late Jim Sandiford would always commission a clothing supplier to manufacture some “special” clothing for the SSDT which carried some of the sponsors logo’s in recognition of the support they gave his Montesa team, Mark certainly looked the part. He was one of a hand-full of riders on twin – shock machines which certainly added to the atmosphere of the event.

As the riders returned from the first day they were all given a free can of Monster energy compliments of the drinks company and its European sports manager Jamie Dobb. The start area field is dominated by a massive marquee the club has erected to host all the riders, officials, land owners, game keepers etc who allow the clubs events to happen, for a free buffet on the Friday evening.

Close by literally on the edge of the start field is a new venture, Dales Mountain Biking: www.dalesbikecentre.co.uk This is s superb facility for your mountain biking adventures on North Yorkshire and more to the point it can accommodate fourteen people. The main man Stuart allowed me to use the shower block, where I was soon looking brand new and all for the price of £2.00 – thank you very much, this is a definite place to stay and replace the back of the van for next year.

The events in the marquee start at around 7.00pm where the tables are set for all to enjoy and the free buffet is available, as usual it was superb, the bar also comes into play around this time!! At around 9.00pm the top five results are read out with awards been made to the riders along with a raffle and spot prizes. The drinks flow into the night as many will testify as they awake to hang-over’s in the morning, me included. My Hotel the ‘the van’ does not help; believe me it was a little chilly on Friday night on the single mattress!

Saturday morning and it’s a bright and early 9.00am start. A quick trip to Dorothy Wardle’s superb “butty” wagon for a cup of coffee and a sausage and egg and all is good again. It was a look at the sections at “Bye Pass” and “Whaw Bridge” before the ride home to keep my loved one happy!!

Before I move on I must congratulate every body involved with the trial, three days of riding trials in possibly the finest trials country in the world and three totally different routes. If you missed out on an entry for the Three Day just remember that the famous Scott trial is coming up in October if you fancy a true blast around that part of the world on your trials machine visit: www.richmondmotorclub.com for an entry form. Remember also that in this part of the world the organisers have a very good relationship with the land owners and game keepers so under no circumstances what so ever must any body return to practise on the land.

Sunday was a sort of day off work until the world championship results came which are always eagerly awaited. Toni Bou had won his fourth out-door crown so congratulations must go to him but more importantly James Dabill had finished in sixth place, good on ya “Dibs”. He was followed home by “legend” Dougie Lampkin who was only one mark behind showing he is still has what it takes to return a good world round result

The Junior results had me jumping for joy as Jack Challoner had taken the win with Jonathan Richardson coming home fourth. For Richardson this was a major hurdle to cross as he was so disappointed to retire in France a couple of weeks earlier with an injured leg. These are excellent results for our younger riders who all want to follow in Lampkin’s foot steps on the way to world round glory. For Jack Sheppard it was disappointment though as his championship hopes disappeared but he is right at the beginning of hopefully a world championship winning trail.

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