Mud, mud, glorious mud ...

During 1927's Victory Trial, Finch (Triumph) and Jack Parker(BSA) slither up Brock Hill, though the winner was perhaps somewhat unexpected.

Sunbeam star George Dance was the top performer in the 1927 Victory Trial, beating a highclass field of riders on a mixed bag of machinery - ranging from H Harper's budget hybrid, comprising of a 250cc BSA with a 350cc Blackburne engine levered in, through to T Morton on his SSlOO Brough Superior.

Bert le Vack, George Rowley, Graham Walker, Bert Perrey, Tommy Meeten, Jimmy Simpson, Jack Amott, Harold Willis, Marjorie Cottle, Peter Bradley, Tommy Bullus, Bert Perrigo, Freddie Edmond, Bert Kershaw, Ernie Nott, Len Crisp - all of them and many more were among the entry. It was top class.

The Victory Cup for best performance though, was won by Mr Dance, the Sunbeam employee and all-round competition star. There's no explanation of which model Dance used, just its 493cc capacity, though there is mention of Bradley and RGG Beesley having 'touring fourspeed Sunbeam outfits with overhead valve engines: Mention of the four-speed gearbox is interesting - it was 1932 before Sunbeam used such a device on a production machine.

That both Bradley and Beesley were using ohv models would suggest that Dance would be on the same, possibly one of the range-topping 'Bullnose' Model90s.

Here, the two riders are on Brock Hill. TheMotor Cycle described it thus: "Brock. .. a macadam hill with a treacherous top dressing of mud . The gradient was harmless, but the surface distinctly was not!" Tactics were varied - some charged it (Frank Giles, AJS sc, earning particular mention) while others neatly trickled up (Juggins' Rex

Acme and the immaculate

Crisp on his Humber). Also drawing comment was the antics of the Morgan crews; Chippendale's passenger (after some concerted bouncing) sat backwards on the tail, to no avail, the Morgan slithering the way he was facing ... Mr and Mrs Morgan - makers of the machines - successfully bounced their car to the top, and though they were classified as finishers, weren't among the awards.

What of the two men in our picture? Triumph rider Mr

Finch, initial H, is a study of concentration, feathering the lever throttle on his side-valve single, which would seem to be a Model P or one of its derivatives - the N (which is the hunch), Q or QA. Alas, though he made the finish, Finch didn't earn an award to perch on his mantelpiece.

Jack Parker fared rather better, being the recipient of a gold medal. He's riding an overhead valve 350cc works BSAand it was on a machine from the same marque that, within a couple of years, he had become a well known name. Not in trials though, but the (as of 1927) notyet-introduced sport of speedway.

Parker (born 1905) was one of those who rode the first UK meeting (1928, High Beech; BSAsent him to observe and he got involved and shone straight away) and went on to be one of its first stars, initially on his bespoke BSA- who he still worked for - before swapping to

Douglas - then whatever bike was provided and in vogue.

During the 1930s, he was a full-time professional speedway rider although he always had business interests too; he first captained England in 1931, the year he was crowned British

individual champion. He was a bona fide star, who was even Australian champion in 1938, while at home he consistently topped the scoring tables.

After the Second World War, Parker was soon back to the top table, winning multiple honours in the UK, as well as recording his best finish in the world final - second in 1949. Still racking up wins and championships (British in 1947 and most years' match race champion) despite his increasing years, he suffered a bad car crash during the 1951/52 season (during which he was NSW champion), and never regained his top form.

He retired in 1954,having represented England in 96 matches, dying aged 84, in 1989. Not one for false modesty, and irked by his lack of a world title, he was once asked who he considered the greatest speedway rider of all. He replied ... Himselil

So, like Victory Trial winner George Dance, Parker was a man who excelled on any form of two-wheeler. Mud or • no mud.