MEMBERS of the Woolbridge Motor Club gathered at Frampton Village Hall for the club’s annual awards presentation.

This was not only to acknowledge the successes of their fellow competitors but also to witness presentations to four charities and organisations which the club have supported during the season.

In conjunction with the Clay Pigeon Raceway, the club annually promotes an endurance kart race with proceeds being donated to local charities.

The beneficiaries of the August event were the Fortuneswell Cancer Trust at the Dorset County Hospital (£1,000), Frampton Youth Club (£500), The Front Skate Park in Weymouth (£500) and the Bridport Bandits Autograss Racing Club who received six tyres and a battery charger as part of an ongoing support arrangement.

Competitors who partake in rallies, trials, and speed hill climbs celebrated the success of their fellow members and in particular Mark Hoppé from Sherborne who received the Field Trophy as winner of the car trials championship along with the Autotechnics, Golden Springs and Crewkerne Trial trophies for victories on individual events.

Weymouth drivers Andy Webb and Alastair Stevenson took third in the trials championship and first in the Silver League Car Trials championship respectively.

Having previously won national Championships, Hoppé’s trialling prowess is well known but he also claimed second position in the autotest championship behind Paul Coleman, who claimed the Jonathan Mears Trophy, as well the award for best beginner navigator in the club’s series of navigational challenge events.

Success across the different motor sporting disciplines offered by the south Dorset-based club saw Hoppé collect the prestigious Victor Ludorum Award as a reward for competing in a number of different types of events against more than 200 other drivers who qualified.

Sarah Kirby emerged as the most talented young driver winning the award for the best junior driver in trials for four-wheel-drive vehicles as well as the Roscoe Engineering Trophy as the winner of the Junior Victor Ludorum Championship for drivers under 23 years of age.

Kirby’s trophy haul grew even further when she received the Joyce Elizabeth Weaver Cup for the best lady competitor.

The club’s trials championship for four-wheel-drive machinery was won by Gary Morris who received the Misubishi Trophy with John Kirby claiming the CCV class (Hogcliff Trophy) and Simon Webb taking the RTV division (50th Anniversary Trophy).

Bridport’s Bob Blackstock claimed first place in the drivers’ division of the Navgitional Challenge series with Rob Rhodes receiving a similar accolade in the navigator’s competition in addition to the Rod Purkiss Trophy to acknowledge his feat in winning the championship at the conclusion of his first season in the expert category.

Andrew Forsyth received the Silver Jubilee Trophy as winner of the club’s speed series for those competing in hillclimbs and sprints.

Having only been beaten on one occasion in his Suzuki-powered Westfield the Shillingstone driver has also claimed third in the Wiscombe Park Hillclimb Championship and fifth in the Bridge Tyres and Wheels Association of South West Motor Clubs Hillclimb Championship.

The Carpenter Shield, an award made to non-competing members for the person who marshalled at most events, was won by Sharon Kirby while husband John was awarded the Chairman’s Trophy for his work on behalf of the

club.

Following 10 years in the post of competition secretary, Dave Hiscock from Blandford, received the Motor Sports Association Silver Salver is recognition of his service.