The local trials scene was finally kickstarted back into action at Lindale last Sunday after a three-month delay due to the Government's Covid-19 restrictions.

Around 70 competitors from Furness and further afield took the opportunity to give their machines and themselves a long awaited try-out in perfect weather conditions at the Westmorland Motor Club`s Kefty Watson Trial, which was held on the Back O' the Fell Road venue near Lindale.

Entries had been made on line and social distancing measures had to be adhered to.

Riders were restricted to just one pre-course inspection of the sections, and with this in mind, the organisers did make many of the sections slightly easier than usual, which is reflected in the results.

In the Adult Clubman class, the leading two riders completely 'cleaned' all 12sections.

Competitors in the Adult Clubman Easy route fared even better, with the leading trio 'cleaning' all the sections too.

It was good to see many Barrow and Bootle club members supporting the event, with Barrow's Jonathan Clark and Pete Blowers and Millom's Owen Gilchrist all finishing in the top ten in the Adult Clubmans class.

The club are now going ahead with their next planned trial at Firbank near Sedbergh on Sunday, July 25 and will run in the same successful format.

Results

Adult Clubman: 1. Sam Metcalfe (Gas Gas, Carnforth, zero marks lost), 2. Thomas Swindlehurst (Sherco, Kendal, zero), 3. Jonathan Clark (Scorpa, Barrow, 1).

Adult Clubman easy route: 1. Jack Metcalfe (Jotogas, Carnforth, zero), 2. James Iball (TRS, St Helens, zero), 3. Robert Hughes (TRS, Staffs, zero).

Twin Shock Clubmans: 1. Andrew Johnson (Unspecified, Sheffield, 8), 2. Tony Swindenbank (BSA, Kendal, 18), 3. Harry Towler (Bultaco, Kendal, 54).

Twin Shock easy route: 1. Dave Broderick (Bultaco, Bolton, 8), 2. Andrew Potts (Honda, Appleby, 26), 3. Keith Goodwin (Fantic, Chorley, 48).

Youth A: 1. Will Shuttleworth (Scorpa, Lancs, 1), 2. Robert Whalley (Beta, Chorley, 16).

Youth B: 1. Jasper Fox (Beta, Lancs, 2), 2. Jacob Potts (Beta, Appleby, 15).

As always the club would like to thank all the observers, officials, and landowners etc, that gave up their time to make the event possible.

* The Cumbria MX Club got their second meeting under way last weekend on the Route 44 track at Haverigg.

Regular competitors found themselves racing with riders of national calibre trying out their 2020 machinery before competing in the forthcoming British Championships.

Amongst the locals were Dee Jay Walker, Callum Bircher, Greg Fisher, JD Leake, Taylor Smith and young Jamie Keith.

I'm sure there were others but at the time of going to press I have not had access to the results.

Poor Jamie took a heavy fall on Sunday, wrecking his MBR Racing KTM, but undaunted, the plucky Askam youngster grabbed his spare bike to finish fifth overall in his class against the leading four, who were all British Championship contenders.

Ethan Brierley (picture by Donna Coward Brierly) rode well in the Adult C under-30 class, taking a hard fought eighth place in a field of nearly 40 riders.

* Manxman Mike Evans was back in action at the Jurby Autodrome on the Isle of Man last weekend.

Using Barrow-based Graham Wilcock's 1000cc BMW Superbike, which had been prepared here at the MBR racing concern before being shipped across, he qualified on pole position on the Saturday.

Unfortunately, due to some confusion at the circuit access point, he had to start from the rear of the grid. With a lightening start, he went from last to seventh by the first corner, ploughing through the field taking a hard earned second place.

There was no mistake in the next race though, which he won and set a new lap record, meaning Wilcock is now the proud owner of the fastest-ever machine round the Jurby circuit.

Sunday saw Evans again take the victors' laurels in his first race, but a poor start relegated him to second in the last event.

* Although some sporting events are starting to take place, coronavirus pandemic is still causing havoc to motorcycle-related gatherings.

However, organisers of the two classic motorcycle shows at the County Showground in Stafford that were postponed from April and this coming August are planning to combine both shows on October 10 and 11.

Nearer home, the popular Iron Ore Rally at Egremont, organised by the MAG group, were hoping to run their rally on August 1 and 2, but they too have had to cancel.

The Lakes Motorcycle Trials Association, who organise the Lakes Two-Day Trial here in Broughton, have also decided to cancel this year’s trial.

They had no qualms about riders complying with social distancing measures during the trial, but the hundreds of riders and followers who annually converge in the small village of Broughton would have made current restrictions too difficult to comply with.