Husband's perfect day (From Stroud News and Journal)

Husband's perfect day

WITH a top line entry drawn from all over the country, it was always going to take a special ride to win the Guy Fawkes Reliability Trial on Sunday, November 4 and it was Barry Husband who came up with a faultless performance.

The Gloucester BSA rider negotiated all 30 sections without putting a foot wrong and won the specials class, ahead of Cheltenham's Nick Draper (250 BSA) on three marks lost, Ken Sedgley (175 BSA) on eight and Bisley's David Thomson (350 BSA) on 14.

And Peter Salt (250 Greeves) only planted his foot down once all day in what was the first round of the Sammy Miller British Bike Championship. He took the honours in the two-stroke class ahead of Chris Denney (250 James) and Colin Dommett (250 Cotton) who both lost seven and Dave Spurgeon (250 Greeves) on 11.

The sidecars could not have been much closer with just a handful of marks separating the top three in both main classes.

Cheltenham Home Guard's Steve Venn (225 Yamaha) stayed ahead of a competitive trailbike pack by not dropping even one maximum five. He headed the trailbike entry (hard route) on 15.

Golden Valley MCC and the landowners produced a challenging trial which tested the best and gave the also rans an enjoyable day out.

A twisty opening section at Sapperton Vent caught a few out, as did the slippery rocks and roots at Battlescombe, Bisley. Sections followed at Mackhouse quarry and Old Neighbourhood, then ten in Cowcombe Woods.

Long ruts had most paddling along at some stage, although there was plenty of variety before heading for Beech Twist at Tarlton and the finish at the convivial Tunnel House, Coates.

Results. Pre-unit sidecar 1. John/Paul Young (500 Ariel) 20 marks lost; 2. Adrian Moss/Simon Morgan (500 Ariel) 23; 3. Peter Pesterfield/Keith Laker (500 AJS) 24; 4. Ady Matthews/Jim Parker (500 Ariel) 27.

Unit sidecar 1. Doug Sherborne/Richard Ince (441 BSA) 35; 2. Terry Hall/Grant Howard (500 Rickman) 43; 3. John Pearson/David Evans (441 BSA) 43; Gerald Dyer/Gary Jones (Triumph) 56.

Modern sidecar - Simon Knight/Steve Gould (320 Gas Gas) 30.

Girder fork rigid - D Pykett (350 Ariel) 48.

Telefork rigid 1. Bill Haines (500 Ariel) 11; 2. Bernard Rodemark (410 Matchless) 12; 3. Mike Endean (350 AJS) 15; 4. Mick Nicholson (350 Matchless) 16.

Vintage two-stroke - Graham Steward (197 James) 66.

Pre-unit springer 1. Mick Ash (500 Ariel) 15; 2. Martyn Wilmore (Matchless 350) 15; 3. Andy Bamford (500 Matchless) 22; 4.Graham Howes (500 Ariel) 22.

Unit construction 1. John Kendall (350 Triumph) 4; Mark Worsfold (250 BSA) 28; 3. Steve Clarke (250 BSA) 33; 4. Colin Smith (200 Triumph) 39.

Trail bikes - hard route 1. Steve Venn (225 Yamaha) 15; 2. Steve Cox (185 Honda) 18; 3. Tim Cheetham (250 Gas Gas) 18; 4. Ady Clissold (350 Yamaha) 21.

Trail bikes - alternative route 1. David Bathe (350 Suzuki) 9; 2. Guy Mansfield-Smith (200 Honda) 29; 3. Sam Wilson (220 Kawasaki) 32; 4. Ben Falconer (320 Gas Gas) 37.