Horsforth Bob Owen Trial

Do you ever wonder where some of the names of our trials come from?

The Basic!!! Well it’s not got its name from being easy! I’ll touch on that closer to the time!

For now attention is on Bob Owen.

Who’s Bob Owen and why do we have a long standing trial named after him.

The Bob Owen memorial trial is now in its 36th year, so I was interested to find out more about Bob and why we are so dedicated to his name.

Bob was a Horsforth member, but a member with a difference. He had fingers in lots of pies!

Mr Owen not only rode Grass track and Scrambles but by all accounts was a well respected Speedway referee.

Did this get the respect for a trial to be named after him?

Nope, Bob not only was a very active HDMC member but also heavily involved in the ACU, The Centre and a delegate to National Council.

Did all this get the respect? Hmmm, getting there, certainly gave a lot back to our sport.

ACU Benevolent Fund! As an ACU member do you know about this Charity? Bob did.

Bob Owen amongst all the other aspects he gave back to our sport, took it upon himself to raise money to gift to the Ben Fund. He did this mainly by car boot sales selling all sorts of items and memorabilia.

That is why the Bob Owen memorial trial is named what it is, as he gave so much to our sport, and that’s why proceeds raised from this trial are still gifted to this amazing charity.

To date, HDMC has raised £69,203 towards its chosen charities with majority going towards Ben Fund. Other charities did include Children in need.

I have first hand gratitude to the Ben Fund charity, who came to the support of someone extremely close to me after a serious motorcycle incident. So I am personally thankfully it’s there. But it is only there by donations and fund raising activities from its members.

1988 was the first ever Bob Owen trial.

Pre 65 was won by our very own Graham Wilson

There were 119 entries, with some names you may know.

> Hemingway brothers in the B class

> Martin Crosswaite riding C class with dad Neil Crosswaite loosing out to Graham by 1 mark in Pre 65

> J Liddamore on his 175 Yamaha loosing out to Ben Hemingway by…. Well a fair bit to be honest.

So, make the time, get your entires in, support your clubs ‘it’s an open trial’ and support this great charity whilst having a great day out.

Entries open Monday 21st October.

Let’s look to beat the entries of 119 from 1988.

Same format as our club trials, so Main course has 4 options of routes.

Easy / Middle / 50:50 / Hard and a separate Conducted.

Hope to see you all there.

Please note, it is Remembrance Sunday weekend. A 2 minute silence is held before the start horn sounds at 11:00

Please consider the time and ensure no engines are running, and we invite you to remember all those Human and Animal who we have lost through conflict.

Chris Bancroft