Ripon MC members pick up awards at presentation night (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Ripon MC members pick up awards at presentation night

3:40pm Friday 1st February 2013 in Sport

LAST Saturday evening 120 guests and award winners battled through the snow to attend Ripon Motor Club’s annual dinner, awards presentation and dance at the Millstones Restaurant at remote Felliscliffe.

Just another club function?

Not really. Way back in 2009 the foundations were laid for a remarkable motorsports club.

From those humble origins, Ripon MC has survived two world wars, the latter almost closing the books on the organisation until British Trials Expert winner Tom Ellis opened his motorcycle shop in High Skellgate.

Mr Ellis turned his attention to reviving the motorcycle sporting activities of the club.

Top quality trials were held and they in turn attracted such riders as Malcolm Rathmell, Bill Wilkinson Ray Sayer and Artie Ratcliffe. All were factory sponsored riders. In the early 1960s the club also turned to scrambles at Hutton Conyers and those events attracted spectators from far and wide.

Murray Walker and Denis Parkinson commentated on one BBC televised event which was broadcast live.

Last year, the club staged ten trials and in total attracted 1,034 competitors from the ages of four to 70.

Acklams Motorcycles Summer Championship series alone brought in almost 900 contestants in the seven qualifying trials. The events include categories for young riders and beginners. Nothing is left to chance as far as safety is concerned for either adults or children.

Acklam Motorcycles has signified its intention on sponsoring their 13th consecutive Summer Championship series.

On Saturday evening a raffle raised £200 for the Wilf Ward Trust. Since 1996 more than £10,000 has been donated to a range of charities including Macmillan fund, £1,100; Claro Enterprises £600; Yorkshire Cancer Research £1,900; Mencap £650; Help for Heroes £200; Auto Cycle Union Benevolent Fund £2,200; Yorkshire Air Ambulance £3,000.

A Christmas charity trial organised by Kirkby Malzeard’s Dave Mawer raised significant sums for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and British Heart Foundation.