THE final round of the Richmond Motor Club youth championship was held at Ironbanks near Richmond last Saturday.

An entry of 52 young riders and their fathers rode the four-lap, ten-section course mostly based round the slippery banks and wood.

Overnight rain had made the conditions very greasy, but this did not cause too many problems for the talented youngsters.

Jonathan Richardson was once again the outright winner, although he still competes in the C class. Kathryn Wardle was not far behind, taking the B class victory, although her friend and rival Becky Rennison took second place on the day to clinch the B class championship.

At the first section, young C class riders Tom Rennison and Richard Sadler both lost five marks on the first lap, but went on to clean after that, Tom taking enough points to clinch the C class championship. Kathryn Wardle and Becky Rennison cleaned each lap, as did A class and championship winner Martin Bainbridge.

The toughest section and the one that decided the winner was section eight, in among the trees over slippery roots.

Only John Fraser managed to clean on the first lap, while Jonathan Richardson managed it for a quick dab, as did Paul Sadler. Conditions did not improve on the next laps, but despite fives and threes on previous laps, Thomas Fraser and John Wallis both rode easily through for just a dab each on their last laps.

One of the best rides overall here was from B class rider Paul Hayward, who got to grips with the mud and got through each time without loss of a five.

The Ty80 and small wheel class had their own sections, but had to traverse the full course.

The little wheels found conditions difficult, but the riders all managed to finish. Bevan Blacker once again came out on top to take the Ty80 championship, but Jack Stones, in his first year of riding, finished a very creditable second.

Results. - A class: 1 Martin Bainbridge, Beta, 20; 2 John Walker, Beta, 24; 3 Jamie Rutter, Beta, 75. B class: 1 Kathryn Wardle, Sherco, 15; 2 Becky Rennison, Beta, 22; 3 John Horn, Sherco, 27. C class: 1 Jonathan Richardson, Beta, 12; 2 Tom Rennison, Beta, 29; 3 Richard Sadler, Sherco, 35.

Ty80: 1 Bevan Blacker 30; 2 Jack Stones 52; 3 James Stones 89. Small wheels: 1 Christopher Hunt, Beta, 32; 2 William Burrell, Sherco, 61; 3 Thomas Parkin, Gas Gas, 85.

Fathers: 1 Paul Sadler, Sherco, 3; 2 John Fraser, Sherco, 14; 3 Malcolm Reynolds, Sherco, 15.

* Larry Carter's round-up of all the local rallying action is on page 32.