GLASSHOUSES electrical engineer Danny Gamble ruled supreme at the Wetherby & District Motor Club third Norman Crooks Trophy Trial at Bayliss Gap Farm, Bewerley.

The Sherco rider managed to ride the tough woodland hillside course incurring a mere two penalties.

Observer Sarah Laws was scoring at the tenth section where Gamble incurred a single penalty on laps one and three. He was the only competitor in the hard route class to get up the section without penalty.

Harrogate’s Joel Sadler managed to beat Richmond Motor Club’s top youth Ryan Brown and Scorton Vertigo rider Elliott Laws in the novice class.

The dynamic Hemingway boys, Harry and George dominated the youth hard course class, finishing first and second.

Chimney sweep Phillip Hammond brushed aside all the mid-course class contenders with a single figure final score.

Darren Mitchell snatched the over-50’s class from building supplies director Neil Gaunt and Darley garden machinery retailer and repairer Michael Platts.

Ilkley heating engineer Andy Tales missed second place by one penalty, but won the novice class.

Richard Shepherd rode his prototype Honda to victory on the novice easy route, while Stewart Molloy won in the over-50s race. The course preparation was courtesy of Jeffrey Bennett, Tam Hain and Patrick Darbyshire.

The club put on record their thanks to observers Nancy Laws, Steve Wicks, Sue Wainwright, Jim Hare, Gill Hare, Jim Benson, Rob Shepherd, Mick Shorrock and Sarah Laws.

The next event in the series will take place at Clockensyke Farm on Saturday, August 15 (5.30pm).

Results: Hard course - Experts: Danny Gamble (Sherco) 2. Inters: Anthony Ayrton (TRS) 35. Novices: 1 Joel Sadler (Beta) 20, 2 Ryan Brown (Beta) 33, 3 Elliott Laws (Vertigo) 34. Youth Class A: 1 Harry Hemingway (Beta) 14, George Hemingway (Beta) 22, 3 Richard Pulman (Scorpa) 75.

Green course - Novices: 1 Andy Tales (Fantic) 13, 2 Ben Raynor (TRS) 17, 3 Errol Brown (Montesa) 21. Over 40s: Phillip Hammond (Sherco) 8, Andy Townson (Gas Gas) 66 Over 50’s: 1 Darren Mitchell (Beta) 13, 2 Neil Gaunt (Vertigo) 18, 3 Rob Hardisty (Sherco) 21.

Youths: 1 Jack Bennett (Beta) 48, 2 Lucy Ayton (TRS) 77.

Easy course - Novices: 1 Richard Shepherd (Honda) 6. 2 Thomas Simpson (Beta) 25, 3 Chris Watson (TRS) 25. Over 40s: 1 Andrew Walters (Honda) 16, 2 Peter Hollingworth (Beta) 38, 3 John Henfrey (Beta) 90. Over 50s: 1 Stewart Molly (Beta) 9, 2 Michael Benson (Beta) 6, 3 Ian Bradley (Beta) 91. Over 60s: 1 Ian Brogden (Beta) 36, 2 Steve Gossop (Montesa) 51, 3 Graham Parker (Montesa) 57. Twin Shocks: 1 Les Ashby (Fantic) 72. Youth: Arran Sherwin (Beta) 37.

Elsewhere, the Airedale & Pennine Motor Car Club’s grass Autotest at ‘Timbertops’ in Guiseley had been long-awaited by the grassroots motorsport fraternity for many weeks, and the weather held out to give us a splendid afternoon’s fun.

Most of the competitors have been unable to get out to events since March, so an entry of 28 people was a good turnout.

Much thought and preparation had been put into the precautions for this Autotest and extra land had been provided to ensure social distancing was never an issue.

The competition consisted of six tests, each one laid out as a slalom covering one or two acres. Competitors had to complete each course without hitting any of the marker poles, in the shortest time.

Four laps of six tests on such a large venue was both exciting and surprisingly strenuous.

It was a roaring success for all concerned and a great relief to be back competing again after the enforced layoff.