Braidley Hall Farm located in Coverdale and owned by the Lambert family plays host to one of Darlington and District Motor Clubs annual motor bike trials. The trial has run since 2009 when it was established as a charity trial and has now raised a total of £6,643.00 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. With the nearest hospital well over an hour away the Yorkshire Air Ambulance plays a crucial role in responding to emergencies within Coverdale and the surrounding area, treating and transporting its patients to the nearest hospital.
In 2007 Geoff Lambert, owner of Braidley Farm and classic trials enthusiast suffered a heart attack whilst tending to his sheep on the moor. With no phone signal or nearby road the situation was stark however son, Steve Lambert was on the scene to assist and transport Geoff back down to Braidley from where a 999 call was made. Within minutes of the initial phone call the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was in the air and on its way to Braidley arriving at the scene in 7 minutes from the original phone call. With Geoff in a stable but critical condition the Yorkshire Air Ambulance left the scene as fast as it had entered, transporting Geoff to Leeds Hospital in just 5 minutes where he was diagnosed and treated. Geoff Lambert recovered from the event and still farms at Braidley Hall Farm now aged 84, with his sons, daughters and grandchildren.
Darlington Motor Club originally held their charity trial on Ministry of Defence land in aid for Help the Heros however due to unforeseen circumstances the trial could no longer run. Searching for a new venue to hold their annual event, the Lambert family kindly offered their land to be used for the event with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance fittingly chosen as the respective charity. Braidey has been used as a Trials venue since the 1956 originally used by Ripon Motor Club organised by Syl Parmer, Leyburn with the likes of Ray Sayer and Tom Eliss riding.
Geoff competed in this event as one of his first trials on a 197 Francis Barnett. The current event has been influenced by its present and past Clerk of the Courses to make the event feel fresh and exciting for its riders. With a selection of over 60 sections to choose from with more found each year there is plenty of variety at the realms of the Clerk of Course to plot a challenging and exciting course for its competitors ranging from narrow streams, steep gorges, vertical limestone steps and hill climbs. There is enough variety offered every year to keep its riders coming back and wanting more and it is certainly becoming a massive calendar event!
Most recently the trial raised £865.00 to add to its grand total after the 2024 event which saw 80 competitors of all ages and ability’s attack the challenging course plotted by current Clark of Course, Sam Lambert, with help from brother Scott Lambert, Geoff’s Grandson’s. The event consisted of 20 traditional sections plotted around a 5 mile course of 2 laps. Previous Clark of the Courses include Nigel Cummins, Colin Ayre and Steve Lambert who have all put their mark on the event and still help to this day. Graham Sid Sanderson, a Darlington motor club Trial stalwart who managed not only the Braidley trial, but all other DDMC trialing events sadly passed away in April 2022 who was greatly respected in the trialing community and a massive supporter for the Braidley Charity Trial.
The Braidley Chairty Trial continues to thrive each year with no limits to its potential thanks to the hard work and devotion of its organisers and generosity of its landowner. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a vital emergency resource for rural areas like Coverdale and it’s the generosity of people that fuels the lifesaving mission of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
