The Wirral Hundred club is synonymous with early season race meetings at Anglesey and the meeting last Sunday (25th March) saw a transformation in the weather with blue skies all day, only a handful of fallers, no red-flag stoppages, and some top-class racing.

For once it was the Open Sidecars entry which attracted most attention. The 19 crews were generally having their first outings of the year and it was three of the younger teams, getting in some valuable track time ahead of their British 600cc Cup campaigns, who put on impressive performances in both races – Sam & Adam Christie and Lewis Blackstock & Patrick Rosney on their beautifully-prepared long wheel- based outfits came first and second in the two races, whilst Alan Founds & Jake Lowther were the best of the shorter outfits.

As for the solos, in the two ‘big’ classes the club’s 2017 champions both again had good days – Johnny Blackshaw won the first Powerbikes race and the Anglesey Senior Open, but knee-slider issues in the second Powerbikes race saw him drop down to 6th place on lap one, but after some adaptions to his riding style he gradually moved his way up to 2nd place behind Jamie Harris having probably his best day yet on his GSXR1000. Jamie Harris also continued his ascendency in the Paul Bland Motorsport Formula 600 class with two wins, but the returning David Jones had two solid 2nd places on a borrowed bike, to make up for two DNF’s on his own ‘big’ bike. Mike Norbury and club debutant Scott Shand were 3rd and 4th twice in the Powerbikes class, and Chris Eden, Adrian Kershaw and Mike Norbury, were the next fastest in the F600 races, although both Kershaw and Norbury each spoiled their day slightly with slow speed falls

Former 650 Twins champion Barry Furber returned to W100 action and the two races saw him finish ahead of Mike Bampton, the 2017 champion, and Manx visitor Tim Sayers. 650 Twins riders Thomas Molloy and David Evans also topped the points in the Anglesey Junior Open. Adrian Kershaw dominated both of the 100-500cc Allcomers races, but there were also good rides from Paul Tye, Bryn Owen and Darren Jones

In the classes designed for older bikes, John Jackson, Neil Percival and Sean Martin were the best of the Pre-Electronics Powerbikes, whilst in the SSR Suspension Golden Era Supersport class there was a win apiece for former club champion Tim Bradley and another club debutant Liam Turberfield. Gethin Edwards was 3rd in both races. In the Forgotten Era & Classic Bike races the two 250 Yamahas of Paul Tye and Andrew Jackson were at the front, followed home on both occasions by Hefyn Owen on his classic 500 Seeley.

The W100’s next race meeting will be at Oulton Park on Saturday 28th April, when it will be catering for all of its usual classes, as well as hosting rounds of the Earlystocks and FSRA Sidecar championships. This meeting will also feature the David Swallow Memorial Race for classic machines.

Other Wirral witterings

CTC & BRA – 16 new or returning riders satisfactorily completed our course / riding assessments during Saturday’s activities, including several who had never been to Anglesey before and several who intend making their debuts at our Oulton meeting. Big thanks to all those who helped, either in the classroom or out on track.

Test Day – It was a tad chilly but importantly it was dry. 100 or so riders ventured forth on track, no-one hurt themselves, a good day all-round. Particular thanks to the marshals who braved the cold, particularly in late afternoon, and came back for more the following day.

Quote of the weekend – from one of three males, who were signing on in the Race Office early on the very frosty Sunday morning. Asked whether they had been cold sleeping in the van overnight the one replied: “No, we all cuddled together and were as warm as toast” Ho-hum.

Surprise of the weekend – an entry of 19 sidecars!

Disappointment of the weekend – a rather alarming drop in the number of solo riders compared with the equivalent meeting in 2017. The appalling weather in the few weeks before the meeting no doubt put off many; hopefully they will have safely come out of hibernation by the time we get to Oulton Park!

Most serious injury of the weekend – a suspected broken toe.