1970 Cotswold Cups

While sitting in my warm office in March with the snow falling, I had an idea for an article very appropriate for that time of the year, from 1970. Having seen the pictures and results from the Cotswold Cups Trial, I called my good friend Mick Andrews to see if he could remember the day; he did. Prior to the event, he spent time in Spain, developing the new Ossa; the difference was it was warmer and, most importantly, the sun was shining! It also answers another question as to why, in the present day, the top riders head out to Spain in the closed season: to get some much need practice under the warmer blue skies of Europe!

Starting at 10.00am at Brockworth House

Club near Henley, on the A46 Shurdington to Cheltenham road, it would be a snow-covered early-morning start for many of the 68 riders entered. With icy roads being the order of the day, some of the entry would not even make the start; one of the notable absentees would be the British Trials Champion, Sammy Miller.

This event, promoted by the Wessex Centre, would take in 44 hazards on a 38-mile lap situated around Birdlip and the surrounding areas and was very popular with the trials fraternity.

The early action had seen a close fight for the victory opening up between Gordon Farley (Montesa) – who led the action, Malcolm Davis (Bultaco), Lawrence Telling (Montesa), Jack

Galloway (Bultaco) and, the eventual winner, Mick Andrews (Ossa). It was Andrews, the Ossa factory development rider, who made his move for victory in the closing stages, opening up an advantage which would prove invaluable as the event concluded with a single-mark victory over Farley, with Davis holding on to an eventual third position.

COTSWOLD CUPS TRIAL SATURDAY 2ND MARCH 1970

RESULTS: 1: Mick Andrews (Ossa) 50; 2: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 51; 3: Malcolm Davis (Bultaco) 58; 4: Lawrence Telling (Montesa) 60; 5: Charlie Harris (Montesa)

66; 6: Scott Ellis (BSA) 67; 7: Jack Galloway (Bultaco) 67; 8: John Close (Bultaco) 68; 9: Dennis Saunders (Bultaco) 71.

BEST 200CC: Chris Leighfield (Sprite) 90. BEST 250CC: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 51. BEST WESTERN CENTRE RESIDENT: Malcolm Davis (Bultaco) 58.

BEST CHELTENHAM HOME GUARD CLUB MEMBER: Jon Bliss (BSA) 84.

BEST STROUD VALLEY MEMBER: Mark Kemp (Bultaco) 75.

BEST GLOUCESTER AND COTSWOLD CLUB MEMBER: Bill Andrews (Cotton) 143.

Lawrence Telling (Montesa): With both feet down ‘Sparky’, as he was known, fights to keep forward motion in the mud and ice. Malcolm Davis (Bultaco): This superb all-round off-road rider competed in trials but is better known for his scrambling exploits. Brother Tony was forced to retire from the event with gearbox problems on his Montesa as Malcolm won the award for the best Wessex Centre rider. Charlie Harris (Montesa): One of the very early Montesa development riders, you can see that he is still using the earlier model Cota 247 with the larger diameter wheel hubs. He has also removed his front mudguard to stop it blocking up with the heavy mud. Dennis Saunders (Bultaco): If you ever wondered where Steve Saunders acquired his superb mud riding skills from it was his father Dennis. Here it’s not throttle control that is required to keep moving though, but brute strength. Jon Bliss (BSA): A builder of many special machines, Jon is seen here on what we think is his BSA B25 powered home-built model. He would take the award for the best Cheltenham Home Guard Club Member. Chris Leighfield (Sprite): The ‘Micro’ machines were still very much a competitive package. Chris is seen here on the 125cc Sprite built by Frank Hipkin on his way to the Best Up To 200cc engine-capacity award.