Wild & Woolly 26/12/16
Northampton
Motorcyclists Club's 91st Annual
Wild & Woolly Scramble
Report:
Fraser Law
Pictures:
www.motoxphotos.co.uk
The Northampton Motorcyclists
Club annual Wild & Woolly scramble is undisputedly the world’s oldest off-road
motorcycle race that’s still running. The 2016 Boxing Day event was incredibly
its 91st time of running. For the second year in succession the
preceding December weather was very mild. This meant the track was fast and
relatively dry despite the four water-crossings. Record crowds of between 5000 -
6000 spectators were treated to a glorious sunny day.
Last year’s winner Neville Bradshaw returned to defend
his title on a 125 Yamaha. However the Woolly is rarely predictable, and with
eight of last year’s top ten finishers also on the full start-line he was always
going to have his work cut out. At precisely 11am the start flag was raised once
again and bikes roared into life. By the end of the first lap things were
looking very similar to last year, Neville Bradshaw taking his 125 to the front
of the field. Ady Smith followed closely behind in second, exactly where he
finished last year. Next through was four time Woolly winner Jack Lee, with
South Midland Centre Expert Champion Michael McClurg in hot pursuit. With a much
better start this year ten-time winner Ryan Griffiths finished lap one in fifth
place. Next through in sixth was Matthew Smith, these first six soon distancing
themselves from the following pack.
As Nev and Ady started to pull
away from the chasers, Michael McClurg took his CR250 past Jack Lee for third on
lap two. This began a close battle with pair going back and forth until around
lap eight when a small slip followed by an extended pitstop allowed Jack to move
clear. On lap five Matt Smith finally overcame Ryan Griffiths and moved up to
fifth. At the same time Joe Tobutt looked fast moving up to 7th
before his engine seized on lap nine.
From mid distance little changed at the front. Nev
Bradshaw continued to show impressive speed at the front, though Ady Smith
refused to give in and was never more than around 10 seconds behind. Matt Smith
continued to close in on Jack Lee in front of him, as Michael McClurg recovered
to fifth place. Nev and Ady eventually lapped the entire field, but Ady refused
to be shaken off. John Gill made great progress coming up through the field to
eighth at one point from starting outside the top 15. James Plant, Ash Rilings,
Max Barnett, Charlie Lee and Jonathan Lee all rode consistently around the top
ten.
With two laps to go Michael
McClurg’s clutch gave out and he was forced to push it over the finish line in 7th.
Ryan Griffiths added a fifth place to his impressive Woolly tally. Matt Smith
caught Jack Lee and the pair battled back and forth for third place on the final
lap. Jack ended up overcoming Matt’s challenge, only to lose out in a
misunderstanding at the finish line.
Results:
1. Neville Bradshaw, 2. Ady Smith - 23 laps
3. Mathew Smith, 4. Jack Lee - 22 laps
5. Ryan Griffiths, 6 . James Plant, 7. Michael McClurg -
21 laps
8. Ashley Rilings, 9 John Gill, 10. Max Barnett, 11
Charlie Lee, 12 Jonathan Lee - 20 laps
13. James Chambers, 14. Trevor Jeeves, 15. James
Flannigan, 16. Andrew Morris – 19 laps
17. Simon Klemis, 18. Jamie Berry, 19. Edward Kelly – 18
laps
20. Glenn Warren, 21. Graham Frazier, 22. Christian
Livesey, 23. Tom King, 24. Peter Chinn, 25. Daniel Loveday, 26. James Higgins,
27. Steve Marlow, 28. Jordan Ryan, 29. Mark Page – 17 laps
30. Tom Kruger, 31 Roger Titman, 32. Hayley Rilings, 33.
Nathan Skinner, 34. Ross Mitchell, 35. Luke McQuarrie – 16 laps
36. Timothy Newbrook – 15 laps
37. Richard Ford – 13 laps
38. Tony Homer – 12 laps
39. Martin Streeton – 11 laps
40. Warren Bridle – 10 laps
41. Corey Blackwell – 9 laps
1st
- Neville Bradshaw- Ladies Cup
2nd
- Ady Smith- Griff Jenkins Bowl
3rd
- Matthew Smith- Harrison Cup
Oldest Finisher- Richard Ford- Doug Desborough Cup
First Junior- Ashley Rilings- Margaret Anderson Cup
First Novice- Trevor Jeeves
Youngest Finisher- Ross Mitchell- Doug Griffin Tankard