Personalities

Not just once but three times did John “ Moon Eyes “ Cooper win the ‘Race of the Year’ at Mallory park .Though best known for his 1971 success against Giacomo Agostini and the mighty fire engine MV the modest Cooper had already won the £1000 race on a Manx Norton in 1965 and on a Yamsel in 1970. Each time the best riders in the world like Hailwood and Read were up against him but John was simply the master at Mallory. The 50,000 crowds that went there in those years loved it. John also had massive success elsewhere, like at Ontario in 1971 when on the Rocket 3 Triple he beat all opposition to win the coveted £6000 prize before a competitor claimed, as he was entitled to in those days, the bike! Or what about when John crashed badly at Brands when chasing Paul Smart? As the crumpled Rocket was recovered, a blooded John hobbled in to the paddock with cuts all over him saying “Get it ready, I’m out in the next one”, before proceeding to win the superbike race and tie up another British championship title.

Neil Hudson
Before becoming World 250 M/X champion of 1981 riding a factory Yamaha, Neil had a traumatic 2 years. After finishing runner up on his Maico to Hakan Carlqvist for the ‘79 series he switched to Yamaha. After just one race Maico took him to court for breach of contract and Neil was forced to contest the 1980 series once again riding his West German steed . But in only the second GP he crashed and broke his leg. By the autumn he was fit again and trained harder than ever for the ‘81 series under the watch of Team Advisor Heikki Mikkola. After a season long battle with the Suzuki team leader, Belgian’s Georges Jobe, Neil took the crown amidst incredible circumstances at the very last race in Holland. He switched to the 500cc class for the following year and took a great 3^rd place behind Brad Lackey, yet surprisingly Yamaha didn’t bid for his services again for 1983.

Chris Horsefield
The stylish Stratford on Avon based ‘Horse’ made a massive impact on the ultra competitive sixties scrambles scene on Matchless and CZ machinery. Taking over from Dave Curtis as Matchless team leader Chris vied with Bickers and Smith for early sixties success and tied up the 1964/5 BBC TV Saturday afternoon Grandstand Trophy series to become a household name . The sight of the mighty Matchless with its superbly fit jockey taking on the lighter BSA victor and Greeves in the winter mud enthralled millions of viewers. But a year later the time had come to switch to the new CZ, to which Bickers had also moved. Regular wins in the TV series and abroad ensued, but the ultimate prize of the world title eluded Chris with the iron curtain based Czech factory crucially favouring their Russian and East German riders.

Geraint Jones
The quiet but determined Welshman was Britain’s top enduro rider in the seventies and eighties. He won 10 individual British championship titles between 1979 and ‘89 and many ISDT gold medals riding virtually exclusively for the West German Maico concern. Whilst UK riders now regularly compete in European rounds abroad Geraint and Mick Bowers were the continental forerunners. Now a successful hill farmer at Llanidloes, Geraint now runs Yamaha’s Off Road Experience Days around his extensive hillside land . He is also active in running events in mid Wales in an organisational capacity for the ACU, the biggest of which was the highly successful European round in 2008.

ISDT reunion
Big Arthur Browning has organised a reunion for those who rode in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s events. Amongst those to attend are Sammy Miller, John Knight, Colin Dommett, Michael Martin, Pat Slinn, Ernie Page, Dai Jeremiah, John May, Derrick Eddy, John Pease, Mary Driver, Wyn Hughes, Alan Bates, Nick Jefferies, Peter Fletcher, John Giles, Ron Langston, Jim Jones, Andy Roberton, Ady Smith, Rob Sartin, Scott Ellis, Brian Higgins, Carl Tiley, Mick Extance and Katrina Price .