Running since 2004, the Annual Kirkby Christmas Trial has raised over £55,000 for various charities to date. Winners and previous riders have included Ripon’s own Danny Gamble and Joel Sadler along with Billy Bolt, Graham Jarvis, Jonathan Richardson, Guy Kendrew, Richard Sadler, Jack Peace, James Dabill and Dougie Lampkin.
In December 2022, in conjunction with Ripon Motor Club Ltd, the annual trial was ever bigger than last year with 190 riders entered! The entry was phenomenal with names like Dougie Lampkin, James Dabill, Harry Turner and Brad Bullock to name but a few. Dougie Lampkin won losing no marks with Harry Turner coming second for the 2nd year in a row.
At the helm was Dave Mawer, Joel Sadler and Nigel Simpson ensuring the planned event was one to remember, along with the help of all the Ripon Motor Club Committee and some other willing volunteers. The Mawer family have been hosting the trial at their farm nr Kirkby Malzeard for years, and are very much involved in the planning, organising and running of the event. Without them, there would be no trial so a special thank you has to go to all of them for their continued support.
This year, 2 charities were chosen to benefit from the event proceeds. They were The Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service and Dementia Forward. Both charities are close to the hearts of the organisers and Ripon Motor Club. Given the remote location of trials, we never know when the services of the Air Ambulance will be needed, therefore the worthwhile charity felt like a must choice, and Dementia Forward is a charity that affects us a club.
The trial raised a total of £2,900 with Ripon Motor Club donating an additional £1,100 so both charities could receive £2,000 each. Yorkshire Air Ambulance are always in need of money to help keep them running day to day so they are extremely grateful for any donations, big or small. The donation to local charity Dementia Forward will assist in allowing expansion of this specialist service to the wider North Yorkshire Community.
The Kirkby Christmas Trial will once again be running under the umbrella of Ripon Motor Club in December 2023 and it is set to be another epic trial. As was once said “if Carlsberg did trials, the Kirkby Christmas Trial would be it!”
Full details of all trials that Ripon Motor Club are running can be found on their website: www.riponmotorclub.co.uk
