Heavy dark clouds lingered above the Start Field in Hurst with the threat of rain as the riders signed on and got their bikes scrutineered. A lot of wet days in the lead up to the event meant the ground was damp and boggy – ideal conditions to replicate the Scott Trial for those older riders who soon start to think about entering the event when they turn 17!
Clerk of Course Matthew Maynard held a safety briefing at 9am, before 64 riders set off onto the course at 30-second intervals. The course consisted of 2 laps of 30 sections across some well-known Scott Trial ground. Last rider away was Bill Reeves (TRRS) who came second in the 2024 event.
After coming second place in the 2024 event, Reeves was keen to return again this year. Dropping just 26 marks on observation put him in the running for the top position. Max Golla (GASGAS) made a huge improvement on his 2024 result of eighth position, also dropping just 26 marks on observation. Local lad George Hird (Vertigo) came fourth in the 2024 event and raced round the course, also finishing on 26 marks lost. So it was down to time penalties to settle the podium positions. Hird set an impressive Standard Time of 2 hours, 46 minutes and 21 seconds, awarding him 0 marks on time, the Mintex Cup for the rider creating Standard Time, the Mintex Trophy for first place, as well as a rear tyre kindly donated by Michelin.
Golla finished with 10 marks on time, putting him in second place and awarding him the Barry Robinson Trophy alongside a rear tyre donated by Michelin.
Reeves lost 11 marks on time and was awarded the W. C. Stones Trophy for third place, as well as a rear tyre donated by Michelin.
Mason Vasey (GASGAS) came in fourth place, dropping 40 marks on observation and 15 on time, giving him a final score of 55 and receiving the Lowther Engineering Trophy. In fifth place, Josh Dent (Beta) received the Mark and Mags Lundberg Trophy, with 53 marks on observation, and 12 penalty marks on time. Max Dance (GASGAS) came in sixth place with an impressive 12 marks on observation – awarding him a Mintex Salver, alongside the NLS Contracts Trophy for the rider with the best performance on observation. Unfortunately mechanical issues caused some delay, meaning Dance finished with 59 time penalty points, pushing him down the scoreboard.
Also receiving Mintex Salvers were Ollie Gundry (Sherco) in seventh place with 53 on observation and 28 on time; Ross Allen (GASGAS) in eighth place with 61 on observation and 20 on time; Zain Pugh-Hutchinson (TRRS) with 62 on observation and 27 on time and Harrison Lightfoot (Beta) with 52 on observation and 39 on time.
Josh Dent also received the Luscombe Suzuki Trophy and a rear tyre kindly donated by Michelin for the best performance by a rider under the age of 15 on the day of the event. Ollie Gundry also won the Syl Palmer Trophy for the best performance by a First Timer.
Elliot Tennant (Beta) was the last official finisher on time, receiving the Suffell Trophy with 209 marks on observation and 141 on time after finishing in exactly 5 hours, 10 minutes and 11 seconds.
Matthew Hall (Scorpa) was awarded the Harkers Coaches Trophy for the rider showing Best Endeavour, finishing the trial out of time in 5 hours, 37 minutes and 5 seconds. Holly Dixon (Beta) won the J. S. Johnson Trophy for the best performance by a female rider, finishing with an observation score of 113, time penalties of 85, giving her a total score of 198.
A huge well done to all riders who came and rode the trial, and thank you to parents and guardians for all their support. Richmond Motor Club would like to say a special thanks to the landowners, farmers and gamekeepers for the use of the land. Also to the Clerk of Course and all his helpers, to marshalls, observers, sponsors, secretaries, petrol stop officials, and everybody else involved in the running of the event. Thank you to Swaledale Mountain Rescue for their continued support of the trial.
Results
1. George Hird (Vertigo) 26; 2. Max Golla (GASGAS) 36; 3. Bill Reeves (TRRS) 37; 4. Mason Vasey (GASGAS) 55; 5. Josh Dent (Beta) 65; 6. Max Dance (GASGAS) 61; 7. Ollie Gundry (Sherco) 81; 8. Ross Allen (GASGAS) 81; 9. Zain Pugh-Hutchinson (TRRS) 89; 10. Harrison Lightfoot (Beta) 91
Awards
The Mintex Trophy for best performance on Time and Observation, together with a rear tyre kindly donated by Michelin: George Hird (Vertigo) 0 Time, 26 Observation; Total 26
The Barry Robinson Trophy for 2nd best performance on Time and Observation, together with a rear tyre kindly donated by Michelin: Max Golla (GASGAS) 10 Time, 26 Observation; Total 36
The W.C. Stones Trophy for 3rd best performance on Time and Observation, together with a rear tyre kindly donated by Michelin: Bill Reeves (TRRS) 11 Time, 26 Observation; Total 37
The Lowther Engineering Trophy for 4th best performance on Time and Observation: Mason Vasey (GASGAS) 15 Time, 40 Observation; Total 55
The Mark & Mags Lundberg Trophy for 5th best performance on Time and Observation: Josh Dent (Beta) 12 Time, 53 Observation; Total 65
Luscombe Suzuki Trophy for the rider under 15 with the best performance on Time & Observation: Josh Dent (Beta) 12 Time, 53 Observation; Total 65
The Mintex Cup for the rider creating Standard Time: George Hird (Vertigo) 0 Time, 26 Observation; Total 26
The NLS Contracts Trophy for the rider with the best performance on Observation: Max Dance (GASGAS) 59 Time, 12 Observation; Total 71
The Suffell Trophy for the last official finisher on time: Elliot Tennant (Beta) 141 Time, 209 Observation; Total 350
The J.S. Johnson Trophy for the best performance by a girl, together with a rear tyre kindly donated by Michelin: Holly Dixon (Beta) 85 Time, 113 Observation; Total 198
The Syl Palmer Trophy for the best performance on Time and Observation by a First Timer: Ollie Gundry (Sherco) 28 Time, 53 Observation, Total 81
The Harkers Coaches Trophy awarded to the rider showing Best Endeavour, together with a rear tyre kindly donated by Michelin: Matthew Hall (Scorpa)
