Melville Motor Club 2012
The Melville Motor Club continues to run enjoyable off road events and with the recent large numbers at our Motocross and Hare and Hounds it proves that there is still a strong demand for the right type of races despite the financial situation. Both events at Lochhouses had more than 150 entries each and the results were published on the Tuesday with a full page report in TMX the following Friday providing excellent publicity for off road motorcycling in Scotland.
The Melville is also looking forward to running trials again with Tam Weir, this was the discipline that established the Melville Motor club in the early days. The trails will be run in a similar manner to the other off road events, not too challenging, weather permitting, designed to appeal to riders of all abilities. Tam is hoping to run about six trials throughout the year. There will be date clashes but that is something that we cannot avoid and as you need a completely different type of motorcycle we do not see this as a problem. The trials will be run by a new group of people from the other Melville off road events. Information will be placed on the Melville website www.melvillemc.co.uk with the dates for all our events.
The Melville has applied for Scottish Championship status for all Enduros and Hare and Hounds as we have not had a problem with numbers at any of our events although a couple have seen numbers down slightly on previous years. The Melville is committed to run as many events as possible and if there is one or two that are on the borderline financially we will run the event if the demand is there. The club membership as a whole is down a little this year although this was expected as part of a long term strategy, we run our events as National or Championship status to ensure we do not monopolise the off road licence holders. We are hoping that the numbers will rise slightly next year with the re introduction of trials events.
Melville members have preformed brilliantly at all levels, Ricky Mair, a first time Melville member, won the Hare and Hound and Enduro Scottish Championships, plus a Silver medal at the ISDE in Finland. Neil Chatham won the Under 23 E1 British Enduro Sprint Championship and won a Gold medal at the ISDE and finished 5th Under 23 rider in the British Enduro Championship class. Fraser Flockhart won the E2 British Clubman Enduro Championship with Dean Reid and Steven Currie Junior splitting the Scottish Clubman and Hare and Hound Championship between themselves following many a battle, congratulations to all the winners.
There is a decision expected regarding the Enduro at Pathhead shortly, Kenny is hoping that he will be able to run the event with a new start area with an additional forest. The timing of the events and results will be handled by the SACU although we will need volunteers at each event to assist Graham Barron and Charlie on the day.
Iain Gilhooley and Gordon Paterson are stepping down from the Melville committee leaving a couple of spaces if any members would like to become more closely involved with the club. The Melville committee meeting takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at the Pentland Road House in Loanhead, any Melville member can attend if they are interested in giving their input regarding any Melville events. Valerie O Neill is also stepping down as Enduro secretary and therefore we are looking for a volunteer who would like to take on that role. I would like to thank Iain, Gordon and Valerie for all the work they have done over the years, it would not have been possible without them.
I am very pleased that we have had such a strong finish to 2011 and look forward to 2012. I would like to thank all the riders who supported the Melville Motor Club this year and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I look forward to seeing you at an event next year.
Yours in Sport
Campbell Chatham
Melville Motor Club Vice Chairman
