SIXTEEN times Isle of Man race winner Ian Hutchinson was star guest the Charity Evening on Friday at The Comrades at Newbiggin.

Richmond where Barry Watson and Stuart Lowther staged a fund raising evening in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance fund.

The entire print run of two hundred tickets were sold in three weeks. Long standing Colin Appleyard staff member Barry Walton contacted Ian Hutchinson by phone with an invitation before Christmas and Ian accepted without any delay.

The venue chosen were able to accommodate up to one hundred and eighty in the main function room but many bought a ticket and stood in the bar where the sound system relayed the question and answer proceedings.

A barrel of T.T. Special ale breed by a local brewery was gone by 8.30 pm!

There was a mighty rush to buy raffle tickets and the bidding for memorabilia was even faster.

One member of a large Rochdale contingent bought a race winning tee shirt but found it it was too small for his frame but he just laughed.

Thoralby’s Mark Cooper bid £100 for a T.T. winner’s hat, and got it as well as a photograph.

Thirsk lady Stephanie Scurr bought a Hutchinson protective knee slider for £50.00 and also got her photograph taken with the owner.

Fifty Hutchinson autobiography books were sold in minutes.

The six enthusiasts who made the trip from Rochdale each bought a fivers worth of raffle tickets which yielded one box of chocolates.

One individual paid £60 for a used raced helmet visor.

All six bought a Hutchinson autobiography book.

Vera Watson and Tina Walton controlled the raffle and auction under great pressure.

The moment compere Larry Carter announced the books were on sale a wide queue formed.

It was long day for Ian Hutchinson who drove to Cambridge to see his surgeon and then up to Richmond where he stayed until 11pm.

In monetary terms the raffle yielded £480 and the auction a further £390.

The entire event was only discussed on December 15 and Stuart Lowther had all tickets printed within a week.

The total raised for the North North Air Ambulance is £2,421.

The event was organised by L &W Promotions. The organisers thank all who supported a worthy cause with special thanks to the Charles family and his staff at the Comrades.

Consett M.C. Trial, Butsfield Quarry, Castleside, Sunday

CHRIS BANKS celebrated his 60th birthday last weekend in the company of over eighty North East riders at the Consett Club’s trial at Butsfield Quarry near Castleside in County Durham.

After feeding the entry via the Catering van, Chris completed his day by taking the win on the Easy Route, losing three marks, all in the first section, where Martin Dennis, Karl Laurie, Graham Knight and Brian Johnson all went clean.

The winner tied with Mark Jewell but took top spot after the tie decider went in his favour.

Another trying to spoil the party was Ian Cheetham who also dropped three on his ageing Greeves. Adrian Harrison needed just the one prod in section nine to take the Clubman Course win, Eddie Aitkin losing out after two single marks in sections three and six, with Gary Pears finishing third on the same total.

The Expert route went to Andy Huddlestone who remained feet up all day, while Colin Ward was his only real competition, finishing on two, both dropped in section seven. James Harland finished third on ten.

Events cancelled

THE organisers of the West Yorkshire Championship trial schedule for Addingham Moorside last Sunday cancelled the event at the eleventh hour mainly due to the icy road surfaces leading up to the venue. The trial is now scheduled to run next Sunday (January 28th) at the same venue.

Pickering Motor Club cancelled their easy trial at Yatt’s Farm, Newton on Rawcliffe on Sunday. No redate has been announced.

FIXTURES

Sunday

Guisborough & D.M.C. Alan Fothergill Trial, The Quarry, Aislaby, 10.30am.

Horsforth & D.M.C. Club championship trial, The Parkwood Offroad Centre, Tong, 11.00am.

Yeadon-Guiseley Motor Club, West Yorkshire Championship trial, Addingham Moorside, 11.00am.